Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-08-18

sublime. II winds around the mount
ain In an easy grade between a wilder
ness OF rustling trees, of tall, hardy
brush. Of sudden, grassy slopes. re-
yeaIing little valleys, like fairy dells
below with shade and sunshine play
ing over the velvet green Of their car
pets. the silver thread OF their tiny
stream singing towards the sea and
beyond. a group OF picturesque crags
rising from the yerdure at their feet.
short way mp the slope we STUN
BILE upon little village. a few frame
houses. unpainted scattered over the
wild. the homes OF some of the min
ers. who are happy in having their
| wives and children to cheer the hours
when they are freed from the cold.
| dark sepu!chres OF their daily toll.
Further on are Iowa and Silver Lake
| terminal buildings, the Iowa mine be-
ing closed.
Passing these. the road grows rug
ged and rocky Beautiful scenes still
lie below and forests of spruce above.
| but In many places. for several feet
| rough. sharp rocks have come tum-
bling down the mountain side In the
pathway and beyond. making a scene
of desolaiion
Up and ever up. The road is steep.
the odor OF spruce trees flls the thin
| ming air. Timber line is passed. but
in the crevices OF the wild. bare head
OF rock. wild flowers OF various and
| lovely hues spring up. and the green
of low brush surrounds a ripping
lake. rejecting In its clear waters the
craggy heights that frown above it.
Now and then a tram bucket goes
mp or down, some loaded with ore,
some empty. all seeming strange. half
animate beings in the lowIy stiffness
whore no other sound save their soft
| gliding breaks the spell of natures
silence. The top is In sight. but far
away. The road creeps along the
edge Of sharp high bluffs. growing
rougher and rougher AS II nears the
bald summit OF the patriarch mount.
ain. The peak once reached. what a
scene Is spread around. below. above
Man Is forgotten, the hand of the Al
mighty alone is here. Under the
| biVoNiiiE uf'D VI an dLhIt ShN, III
close communion with the airy flakes
OF cloud. throng of giant heads
hoary with their never-melting SHOWS
stretch to the horizon. north, east
south and west Nothing in nature
can compare with this wonderful
scene. which stirs the soul Of the be
| holders with the realization OF the In
Unite. Here men live and toll, and
the sight Of the panorama OF peaks
becomes to them as familiar as the
foothills to their brothers below.
| Immense sums of money have been
| spent in the development of the old
North Star mine on King Solomon
but not in vain. It has been predict
ed that 1t will rank fourth. possibly
third. among the San Juan shippers
and the grand old mine, under the
hands of It's new owners and mana
| gers, is not proving disappointment
Within year the Contention mill
with its boarding house on the Animas
river, belonging to this property. has
been built and connected with the
mine by tram line two and one-hal
miles In length. and men are at worl
day and night extracting the rich
metal from It's native rock.
| If the ride up King Solomon's
mountain was sublime. the return 4.
too beautiful for words. The after
noon is growing old Slowly the sur
sinks toward the western horizon, his
golden face reddening as he goes
A million gems he sets among the
crystal of the snowy peaks, rejecting
In each one the image of his glory
Down through the profound depths as
We journey he throws long rich bars
OF light touching crag and glen, with
q lingering glow ere he disappears
Then dusk comes on. The mountain
way grows weird. The trees and
bushes seem to hold strange shapes
the very silence is appalling. King
Solomon, in all his glory. is a fearful
companion for the night. and We
hasten past his crags and glens to the
little homes, the tiny lights that hu
man hands have wrought.
PAULINE.