The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-08-09
A FLYING TRIP TO THE GREAT SALT LAKE
A Short Sketch of the Towns. Cities and Scenery
on the Way.
MANITOU. THE garden OF THE GODS"
Missouri Editors, Their Wives and Daughters Have
Memorable Outing.
)U, THE GARDEN OF THE
Written for the Inteliigencer by W. c. Mussrove.

lcer by W. G. Musgrove.
With wide streets, which are kept
clean and well sprinkled. The people
have to nurse their trees and grass,
and water them thoroughly every
day. The soil of nearly all Of Colorado
is composed of a chalky substance,
literally mixed with gravel. This
soil is very productive if literally
supplied with water, but will pro-
duce nothing if not given an artificial
supply Of water.
Saturday morning at five O'Clock
we left Colorado Springs, and at
seven o'clock were in Denver. The
editorial party were taken in charge
by committee and given trolley
ride over every street car line in the
city, and a guide went along to point
out places Of interest. Denver has
splendid streets; many fine hotels and
residences. four blocks OF 9-story
buildings; a fine system Of street
railways; ten artesian wells, which
supply the city with an abundance Of
excellent water, and being the capital
of the state, has a magnificent capitol
building, there being only two finer
or more costly in the United States
those of New York and Texas. The
grounds contain three large city
blocks, and the building is of Colorado
granite, the inside being finished
with Colorado onyx and agate, all
beautifully polished, and no two
pieces being alike. The building was
erected, finished and paid for during
democratic administration of the
state, and is strong contrast TO re-
publican Kansas, whose capitol is not
yet finished, and is being damaged
because there is no money in the
treasury to complete the job OF
protect what has been done. AZ
The editorial party took trip over
the "Georgetown Loop" 1t is fifty
miles from Denver to Georgetown,
and the trip is exciting enough, with
the crooked road, narrow gCage track
and about ten car loads Of passengers.
But the trip from Georgetown to Sill
yer Plume was far more exciting.
The distance by wagon road is one
mile; by railroad Al miles The
grade is 81 per cent Of the distance,
or 1856 feet perpendicular rise to each
mile. Georgetown is 8,476 feet above
sea level. Silver Plume is 700 feet
higher. Nothing but cog wheel
could make grade Of 700 feet In a
mile, so the road had to be made
longer, to give less grade. The ri ad
runs north up the side of mountain
then makes a curve to the east and
crosses to another mountain; theI
curves south, then west, then nortt
again, always going upward at the
rate of 3! per cent. The road crosses
itself, the bridge over the lower tracl
being IS feet high, and being 100 fee
above the creek. Two hours werl
, spent at Silver Plume, and most 0
: the party complained of dizziness, th,
elevation being 9,l76 feet. This is
! great mining place; the sides of tn,
! mountains being full of little holes
and each hole represented a silve
, mine or gold mine. The air wa
! very clear and bracing, coming as I
, did from the snow which was visible
= a few miles away. A clear stream 0
cold snow water ran through thi
carp. All small towns are callet
camps in the mining regions.
Z The return from Silver Plume wa
o d)wn grade and the engine only hat
e to hold back enough to keep the trail
t from running too fast; and the wa,
Z that train whipped around the shor
5 curves made the passengers quit
nervous In many places the side o
r the mountaip was blasted away jus
S enough to let the train pass, will
. seemingly not an inch to spare. Som
d OF the passengers thought the coache
q could not take another coat Of pain
p on the outside for fear il would b
t knocked OIL by the rccks
Returning to Denver at $50 tn
editorial excurslonists got togethe
; aud made up party 10 visit Sal