Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-08-07
Editorial Outing Concluded.

Thursday OF last week was another
very pleasant day OF the editorial outing.
An early start was made from George
town in a carriage. tho road leading up
Clear creek beside the famous loop OF the
Colorado & Southern railway. While the
ride over the loop on the train is won
dsriully interesting experience, trip over
the carriage road gives one much better
view Of the intricate doublings Of the rail-
way and Of the grand scenery on every
side. No eastern visitor to Colorado
should fail TO see that famous gorge from
both a coach window and from the car
riage road.
In the vicinity OF Silver Plume arc many
rich mines, including the Terrible. which
was one Of the most profitable mines in
1868 when we visited il as an lllinoisan
when on three months mountain tour.
The Terrible is yet a large producer OF
silver.
side tho creek wa left the water level and
started out over the toughest and steep
est OF mountain roads. But there was
new beauty at every turn. AS We went
up the surrounding mountains grew more
abrupt and the grades sleeper. When in
the midst Of the wild and rugged noun
tsins we passed large. neat ,wo-s,ory
building. over the main door Of which was
the following sign:
"a. p. r. T. Co.
Office"
Above tho building on tho preeipilous
side Of Mt. kelso was another building
and 4 dump. This was the entrance TO
Brick Pomoroy's famous lslmos; infam-
ousl k,lsn,ie-Paeifie Railway tunnel.
About twenty years ago Brick Pomeroy.
'gho attained national reputation for his
fiery democratic editorial work. formed a
company for tho purpose oi providing a
railway tunnel through ,ha, portion Of the
Rocky mountains. Stock 10 the amount
Of perhaps 81 100000 was sold and tho
tunnel pushed almost one mile into the
mountain. whon the public coasing TO put
up more money tho proiees was abandon
cd. I, is { charitable view 10 take Of tho
affair that tho stockholdeTB never saw the
tunnel site. Had they done so they sure
ly would never have supplied money for
such a wild scheme. Had tho tunnel ever
been completed Il would hay1 baen al
most impossible to reach Il with q rail-
way grade. such Is tho ruFgodnnss Of the
mountains and the depth Of the RorRes
whose difficulties must be overcome
MoFe wi dom was shown in tho abandon
meni than in the inception Of this enter
price. However. tho WORK done has not
been wholly useless. The large Office
building is u very convenient free camp
ing station for tourists and prospSstors
who visit that portion OF tho mountains.
attor four hours climbing wo reached
,imbnr line and the celebrated Stevens
mines. Hero, years ago. tunnels were
driven into tho granite sides Of MeClolland
mountain and several millions Of silver
taken out. Tho death Of the principal
owner Of the mines and the slump in sill
yor caused cessation Of work. But tho
mine is yet u most valuable one. much
rich ore being in sight with probability
that the mines best days are TO be in tho
future. investigation are now being
made looking towards resumption OF
production.
Our party took possession Of ono Of tho
mine houses where We found stove
most convenient for making coffee. Here
on level with the lower banks Of per-
petual snow. short distance across tho
beautiful circular valley, we lunchod with
appetites such as always accompany
mountain air.
Ono Of the enjoyable features Of the
trip was filling the lungs with tho health
ful. balsam laden air Of the pine forests
Pomeroy's Folly is a great
park and the pleasant Odor Of the pines,
brought out by the warm July sun, was
agreeably abundant.