Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-08-26
FAvoRiTE SCENIC TRIP.
Attractions of Ride Over the Sill
verton-Red Mountain Road.


One of the favorite scenic trips In
San Juan county is the railroad jour
ney from Silverton to Red Mouniain.
After leaving the Silver.on depot,
the road branches off by Sultan noun
tain, passing the North Star mine.
where they are working quite fore.
By the way. San Juan count boasts
of two North Stars. usually distinm-
uished by adding the uaaic of the
mountain where each is located Thus
the North Star which has lately nc
come the property of the Smugglar-
Union company, of Telluride, is the
Solomon North Star being located on
King Solomon mountain
The Sultan North Star has plenty
of water for power and it is at present
putting in new machinery.
The track begins to wind around AMI
around the mountain side, steepiy as
cenain,; With every curve Th4 grade
is helvy-said TO be five per cent
1t was simply impossible to keep
track OF the diicction in which We
were going. Orc moment we were
heaiei north. aud the next steanins
due south. W.'b every curve the lii
rectior ohange1 We made all the
points of the compass every quarter
| mile.
Before we ha | made many m'.cs
the train stopp moment to couple
on the hind engine. since it takes
both ''pullee' and ':pushee' to get II
train over that grade. The cars
would run down the hin If there .,as
no engine in the rear tn hold them on
the track. While this interesting
performance was going on the pass
enger cars were stopped opposite "A
powder magazine. a toulIst from
Bostol asked a fellow trnvcl,r. whn
happened to be native of these
parts. what We were waiting for.
Possibly to take on a load Of pow
der" was the reply. "They do some
times for the mines above"
| The answer clearly disconnected
the Bostonian.
Why, dear me! Good gracious!"
he ejoculated. Is that really true.
ISN'T it dangerous
The westerner laughed. Maybe
he said. carelessly, with a twinkle i'll
mis- eye. But you'v" got to ttke
chances on everything, so one more
or less don't matter"
| His companion figitted n little, then
finally got up and went out. AS he
| opened the door he asked. with an ef-
| fort at unconcern, rs il far back to
| Silverton?"
This was almost too much for our
western friend, but he managed 10
stammer out-"he could not say ey-
| actly just how far-he was sorry
| really, the curves We're so deceiving-
the train men would know"
With that our eastern friend betook
himself ont side.
In a short time he returned, beam
| ing.
I'VE don't carry any powder to-
day" he said.
over to the left we passed the peaks
behind which Ice Lake Basin is sit
uated. The basin is said to be about
| one mile across the mountain and 21a
miles in extent Several Slverton
people own property in the basin, Mr..
George Lacey being among them.
On the divide between Cascade and
Bear Gulch, which we passed later
on, the Woods Investment company,
lof Cripple Creek owns property.
The formation is said to be similar to
that of the La Platas. and also like
Cripple Creek.
We turn up the north fork of Min
eral Creek. On our left. running par
allel with the south fork of the creek.
are broad strata of red dolomite. the
formation extending as far as Rico
The Bonner mine is also one of the
places of interest we note on the way
This property has been largely deye-
oped and some very rich ore taken out
sale is said to be now pending.
The New York Brooklyn is anoth
er property being developed. Work
was started there last spring. We
also passed the Gold Bug and the
Dollar, where such rich strike was
made a few months ago.
At Chattanooga the railroad loops,
aifording very pretty view after the
little town is passed. and the train
again climbing the mountain side.
The scene reminds one of a pano-
rama. Below in the valley the town
nestles in green glades. through
which the silvery creek winds like a
serpent. Along the side of the near
er hills the railroad winds, crossing
the Ophir wagon road at one or two
points-the later cleaning yellow
against the surrounding vegetation.
Chattanooga town is said to have
been laid out by John Kane, who was
a member of the gorilla band. and
named the little hamlet in the Rock
les after the southern city of wartime
fame.
About mile beyond Chattanooga
the writer's destination. the Silver
Ledge mine. was reached.
JrEpNT T.