The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-10-16
Under the Turquoise Sky

The writer of these articles has at
tempted, In his poor, weak way, to
give the readers of the GRAPHIC few
glimpses OF the far west where nature
is seen at Its best-or worse-as the
case may be-buJ in so doing but the
br1etiest mention has been made of
Colorado section of this wonderful
country Of ours unequaled in many
respects and without a rival in all the
world for beautiful scenery. Under
Its turquoise Sky almost every con-
ceivable degree of climate may be had
peculiar to the temperate zone, in
any of the twelve months of the year,
enhanced by delightful surroundings
valley, mountain, plain or yale-of
which California is a beggar in com.
parison.
The feeling is one of impatience
with those who make tour of Europe
without first seeing the wonderful
country west Of the Missouri. 1t is
with a feeling of pity one contemplates
the conceit which holds thousands
around and about the New Jersey
coast, the White Mountains, the st.
Lawrence and the Great Lakes season
after season.
To see Colorado once in life time
is the duty every American owes to
himself. 1t is almost an essential
part OF education. The contemplation
of such scenery as found in this state
cannot be otherwise than enlarging,
enobling, uplifting and its influence
remains for all time to come. 1t makes
for patriotism, for love of country, of
pride in her resources. For Colorado
scenery does not belong exclusively to
Colorado any more thans the Atlantic
ocean belongs to Massachusetts, or the
glorious sunsets to the Pacific slope.
The Rocky mountains are the peoples
heritage. individuals may own the
gold and silver mines, railroads the
fright Of way, but the real grandeur of
peak and canon, the silent story of
the sculptured rocks, the true subli-.
nifty of the infinite expanse, belong to
all humanity.
'There is nothing says Oliver
Wendell Holmes, ''gives glory and
grandeur and roma nee to a place like
the presence Of high mountain. :"
The doctor was writing about North
hampton, Mass, and his 'high mount
ain" was probably one Thousand feet
above the level of the sea. Suppose
he had multiplied it by fourteen!
/ For the first distant, comprehensive,
contemplative view of the mountains
there is no better place than Denver
i though it is forty miles away from
any considerable elevation. The city
itself is one worth seeing, it being not
only the largest city between Chicago
and San Francisco but in many re.
spects a marvel-a CITY of clubs,
theatres, churches, libraries and art
galleries apparently a city of the
plains, and yet one a full mile above
the level Of the sea. To one who has
j, Just covered the interminablv Ions
stretch of apparently fiat countr,
lying west Of the Missouri river, thi
seems incredible; but a steady averag,
rise of only ten feet to the mile, multi
piled by five hundred miles, tells th
story.
It's claimed that this altitude
this lifting OF atmospheric pressur
from the human body, and the conse
quent quickening of the hearts action
lungs and brain, partly accounts 70
the enterprise for which the inhabi
tants are noted. Denver is certainl
proud of itself, with reason, an
trolley car trips of twenty-five mile
are made daily with lecturer t
1oint out and explain points of intel
est. The city has one hundred an
fifty miles Of street railways, and il
business section is one of the fines
and cleanest found in any America
city. 1t more closely resemble
Minneapolis than any other. Anon
the beautiful buildings in Denver
the SO 5000, 900 state capitol, a Carnegi
library costing 100000, free JEWS
hospital maintained by the Jews I
the United States, and q woman
club erected at cost Of SAC, 900. II
city park contains 32o acres and is or
of the most beautiful in the Unite
States. The city has a population
100000 and is growing rapidly. IT
union depot is one Of the sights of I'll
west. If 1 had the figures it would
interesting to note the number Of pc
pie who arrive and depart from til
station daily during the summer rus
to and from the mountains. II
daily crush is simply awful and the
is nothing like 1T to be seen an
where else between the two ocean
Many worsesfate could hefall mi
+,,o,, ~, M &C 3fl1n remair1darlOf his Ca,