The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-09-14
Wonderful Scenery on the
Denver & Rio Grande.
Cogwheel Railroad, Pixies Peak and the Garden
Of the Gods Life al Colorado Springs.
Home for Union Printers.

Following down from the headquarters
of the Arkansas river we saw much life
among mining camps. For a hundred
miles the monnt1ins on either side of
the river are bored into until they look
like the mud banks Of a stream that
have been occupied by swallows nests.
In addition TO these quartz propositions
there are hundreds Of placer claims
still being operated, besides thousands
Of landmarks in the way Of deserted
claim shantes of the palmy days OF
the past. The grand canyon of the
Arkansas is a sight long to be remem-
bered. 1t is about seven miles long, and
is Just west of Pueblo. 1t would be
useless - undertake to describe it, but
to give our Oregon readers an idea Of it,
will say that the stream at this point Is
about like the Santiam near Mehama,
and the cliffs on either side are 'perpen-
dicular. ranging from 400 TO l0C) feet
from the water. The width Of the can
yon is from 40 to 100 feet. At the foot
of the cliffs runs the roaring steam, with
the Denver 4 Rio Grande railroad run.
ming beside it,. In one place the gorge
is A. narrow that il would have been
impossible for the track to get through
beside the narrowed stream, and TO ef.
feet the passage a hanging bridge was
put in, suspended from the pinacles
above. This skillful piece Of engineer
ing permits the trains 10 pass by and
over the water without obstructing the
stream, which at seasons is most dan.
gerous.
When we see paintings Of these gor-
ges and cliffs we are apt TO question
the bright colorings developed by the
artist, and question their genuineness.
But after once seeing the originals one
is con inced that full justice could not
be done natures work Of art upon can
vas or otherwise. The colors embrace
every shade and hue known to Dame
Nature and they are alternately con-
trasted and blended 30 wonderfully as
TO astound the most eXtrayagant i'm.
agination. The most striking effects |
are produced for instance by u solid |
block OF bronze green angled against a
similar exposure Of terra Gotta, yellow,
red, ultra marine blue, or the more del.
icate tints OF pink, azure, helitrope, sea
green, etc. Of course the conventional
artist would question the combinations,
Of color, hut for the Master Painter who
executed this work Of decoration, all |
harmonizes regardless Of man made laws. |
The twenty minute ride through this
gorge Is most refreshing and inspiring |
in the highest degree. The hand of
God is everywhere in evidence even TO
the most skeptical, aud fortunately the
head Of man has been unable TO deiace
this masterpiece of the creator. Even
Hoods Sarsapari.la" and "BeC hams .
Pills" signs nowhere decorate these
sacred precincts.
We reached Colorado Springs at p.
m. Friday and went sight.seeing until 8
p. NJ, when we resumed our journey in
the original Rock Island sleeper, which
left us at Salt Lake the day before.
Here we visited Manitou Springs, the
Garden Of the Gods" aud other attrsc.
tions. An electric took ny to Manitou,
five miles up little valley or gorge,
whore there is an iron and sulphur
spring. The latter il the mineral water
of commerce aud is put up here by the
Of bottles Oregon undoubted-
ly has score Of just as good mineral
springs, and everyone Of them il just ss
capable Of development as these. The
fact that these springs are here at the
foot of Pixies Peak, and the enterprise
Of the Denver Il Rio Grande railroad
Las taken advantage OF the opportunity
Ia boom this region has made il world.
famed. The Siskyou water put mp at
Ashland is no doubt just as good as the
Manitou, and the surrounding country
is much more beautiful All needs is
pushing
The "Garien of the Gods" is freak
Of nature that is not easily accounted
for and next to Pike Peak is the lead.
/ ~ attraction. 1t consists of series of
buttes with strange rocks standing on
them, some shaped like cathedral
spire, others like a gateway, and many
imaginary forms OF animals aud other
Objects:
Pixies Peak is reached by cog wheel
nilrcad. 1t costs 50 to make the trip mp
an ! back, and there are no limitations
on the money you can spend while
there, as the company has IS a day
hotel and other places OF amusement up
tn re.
Colorado Springs is visited by hun
lreds of wealthy people from the East
a. a summer resort, and is the Mecca of
P 'rsons troubled with lung ailments.
Thus the rich aud consumptiye keep up
the town and the residents have learret
Ia the meant me how to rob the COM
tourist.
The most meritorious institution in
he place is the Union Printers Home