Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-26
ARiZONA'S GRAND CANYON.
Railway About Ready Right Up
Into 1t.

INTO
Minneapolis, Sept. &C. c. Car
penter, northwestern passenger agent
of the Santa Fe, is home from a
months tour through the southwest,
as far as California, where he spent
some time The most of his visit was
devoted to tour of the grand canyon
of Arizona, which Mr., Carpenter says
beggars description.
Heretofore tourists to this wonder
full country were obliged to leave the
Santa Fe trains at Flagstaff, Ariz., and
| journey 20 miles by stage to Barry S
Trail, from which point tourist parties
were made up to go into the canyon.
| However, of late years there has been
such a desire on the part Of the tray
cling public to enjoy the canyon the
Santa Fe has built branch from its
main California line, from Williams,
Ariz, 67 miles to Bright Angel Trail,
at which point in a short time a
splendid hotel will be built. This
branch will be opened for service by
the Santa Fe about Sept. Is, and it is
expected that it will not only do a
| tremendous business, but also really
open the grand canyon to the casual
| tourist. AS it is really the only unex-
plored territory in the United States,
| Of course the opportunity for investi-
cation and exploration will be eagerly
seized. The territory is covered by
| the largest single tract of pine timber
| in the United States, which is held in
reserve by the government. 1t will
always be maintained in it's wild
state.
Mr.. Carpenter says the English Ian
guage, the artists brush or the pho
| tographer's lens cannot do justice to
the grand canyon, and cites an Incl
| dent to illustrate the powerful effect
this wonderful sight has on the most
blase traveller. In his party there
the world over and seen all the great
| sights. He said the grand canyon
was the last great sight for him to
| see. That evening the party reached
| the hotel on the rim of the canyon,
and the Englisbman stood on the piaZ-
"a and Toasted his eyes on the mighty
| panorama for full half hour in ST.
| lence. When he turned away he was
crying like child.
The descent of the canyon is made
on trail ponies and mules and takes a
| full day. The trail was built by a
N o WI nIvin
the use of the trail, stock and guide.
While the trail is narrow and exciting
| it is not perilous, and ladies and per-
sons with ordinarily good nerves can
enjoy the experience with pleasure.
Ladies for the most part wear divided
skirts and ride the mules.
Mr.. Carpenter says that from Rowe's
Point, near the hotel, one can look
in either direction thirty miles. Noun
tains in the bottom of the canyon
which look like small mounds are
really higher than Mount Washing,
; ton. In a general way, the grand
canyon is PIT miles long with an
average width of from six to thirteen
miles and is 1000 feet deep. Through
the bottom runs the rushing, boiling
Colorado river, from $50 to 800 feet
wide. From above it looks like a
thousand Niagara whirlpool rapids
In the sunlight the canyon reflects a
thousand shades and the experience
Of witnessing an Arizona sunset in the
| canyon is one never to be forgotten.
Simply to illustrate the immese
heights and depths of the canyon, Mr.
Carpenter recalled an experiment OF
rolling rocks over the brink of the
great chasm. One rock as big as a
bucket wa srolled over, and by stop
watch took just fourteen seconds to
make it's first hit on projecting
ledge. 1t fell into the top of a pine
tree about eighteen inches in diameter
and cut the tree like piece Of cheese
And still the rock rolled, from point
to point, until it fell into the base OF
| the canyon, over 1000 feet below. Mr.
Carpenter says the public has the
| greatest possible treat in store in
being able to visit this place in com.
fort in the near future.