Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-08-09
~ BY &&
Fred G. Shaffer

perpendicular At either side giant
sentinels of granite stand in the way
of the traveller. But there is one gate
through which the lover of the beau
tiful may enter-he must follow the
rays of the rising sun. Come along
with me and let us take a trip through
this gateway. Let us stand upon the
summit where Jupiter Pluvius appor-
tions the waters of the heavens. Come
with me and stand by my side over
14,OOO feet above the level of the sea.
1t is the first day of August. You tell
me that the people at sea level are
sweltering in the heat. You say that
hundreds of little children are dying In
the great cities of the East because
they cannot get one healing breath of
this air. How l would like to take
them across the glacier, walking on
snow and ice for over mile. How
would like to take them into the gar
den of flowers on the great mesa be-
yond the glacier and near the summit
of the great peak. One sip from the
vial in this great laboratory of nature
would accomplish more than all the
other medicine in the laboratories of
the world. But you must go with me.
along your overcoat The fact that it
is the first day Of the hottest month
in the year makes no difference to the
giant ruler of the Rockies.
We leave Denver at sos o'clock in
the morning and come thirty-seven
miles over the Colorado & Southern
through the beautiful Clear Greek
canon, where nature with the ADJ of
INN hae hnr
mountains. At 1920 we arrive at
Idaho Springs. Here the hot and cold
soda springs, the beautiful scenery and
a pretty city of 1000 people bid US
welcome. A bath in the pool and then
we take the stage at 1870 for Yankee
Hill. 1t is a twelve-mile drive with
four-in-hand up Fall River canon,
where the roar of the surging and tum-
bling waters makes conversation al
most impossible. At $50 we arrive at
Yankee Hill. 1t is a mining camp
where 200 miners are employed. The
holes in the mountain sides are paying
tellers' windows from which run rivers
of gold and silver to water the plants
of commerce and industry of the world.
As you enter Yankee Hill you catch
glimpse of Reva Peak and the little
spots of snow on the mountain sides.
You are now 10000 feet above the
level of the sea and the atmosphere
whispers to you of health and happi-
ness and renewed energy. We will
rest for the night at one of the rustic
cabins in the camp. Any one of the
people will give you the royal western
welcome and no hand outstretches with
a more royal welcome than the hand
of the West. The first man you meet
is Harvey Preston, the veteran mining
man and prospector, who has covered
the field of gold and silver-bearing
zones from British Columbia to OLD
Mexico.
you bet you can bunk with me. |
You must put up with what 1 have and
l will cut it just the best can.
Mighty glad to have you come and
stay with me because it gets fearful
lonesome here sometimes"
In the evening you sit in one of the
prettiest little cabins in the world. |
The walls of the rooms are literally
covered with beautiful mountain views.
On the exterior the logs are neatly |
and look as If an artist had
put them in place. The walks are
made according to the plans of the
skilled landscape gardener. Along these
walks are little WallS OF mluefdl-Dedf-
ing ore-the iron cubes and mica glis-
tening in the sunlight until the tender
foot would dream of walks beside walls
of solid gold. Perhaps they would re-
turn values If run through the mills,
where the values could be extracted.
You spend the evening pleasantly be
cause Mr.. Preston is an exceptionally |
good entertainer. He tells you one
story that appeals to your sense of hui
NOR and seems to exactly fit the sur
"a night or two ago a couple of fel-
lows from the East were stopping with
me and they had a real rich scare be-
fore they got settled down to break
fast 1 let them sleep in that room
there and at daylight the next morn |
ing both of them were awake.
heard them talking about the bracing
atmosphere and all such things and
finally l heard one fellow suggest that
they raise the window and take peep
out over the snow glacier. Just a Sec
ond after that them two fellows came
tearing through my room in their night