The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-12
!" CRIPPLE'S !" WONDERFUL
SHORT LIFE DESCRIBED

~.
nous gold district, the end of this mar.
Vicious Journey: It has grown cooler and
The burrow trails seem to intersect the
clouds, but nothing seems to daunt the
purple and white flowers that grow bv
the. Wayside and that glow with color
against the red sod. Mariposa lilies vie
with bluebells in beauty to attract the
eye nearby, while farther away across
limitless space On a clear day can be
seen the snoW-capped ridge Of the con-
tinental divide
City Famous In Ten Years.
AS the train, in its descent, passes
by. the Hoosier, Moon, Anchor and Gold
k1ng mines, we see at our feet Cripple
Creek, a thousand feet below us, but a
soon at the city made famous in the
last ten years, the greatest gold camp
on earth. 10 get here we have crossed
over almost imperceptible mountains
ana enJo-ed a panoramic view of
heights anu plains that can be had in
few parts of the, world, for magnificent
prospects in quick succession burst upon
the vision with dramatic effect. 2.
So much for the scenic beauties of
the route. AS for the engineering won
ders few facts may serve to give a
faint idea Of this remarkable railroad
which is built around the rims and
oyer the tops Of mountains There are
nine tunnels on the stretch, which rep
resent an expenditure of four and a
in the west. according to mileage, for
there are only forty-fve miles of track.
Near st. Peters Dome, in going over
the several elevations of track, one
travels over three miles by rail to gain
a distance Of 1000. feet and an eleva-
tion Of ffty-four feet. One mile Of
this stupendous undertaking cost $175,-
100000. While some railroads boast
horseshoe curve, this has them by the
score, forming the letter 8, with loops
Of all kinds and lengths
Cripple Creek itself and it's neighbor,
Victor, are wonderful towns. For many
years a cattle-grazing country, Cripple
10000, while Victor lays claim to 5000.
In 1891 Bob Womack, ranchman, af-
cattle by digging holes to prospect,
found some good.looking ore, specimens
of which he brought to Colorado
|Springs. He interested few men with
capital, who located the Ell Paso Gold
King mine. 4 rush Of fortune seekers
followed the discovery Of gold and new
mines were opened with rapidity, until
today considering it's area, this is the
woFd 6pe mne alone een fRur m 5si
| $2,0O0,o00 toward the building of the
| famous "Short Line' and the whole
region around Cripple Creek is SO dot
ted with prospect, holes that, at a dis
lance they look like prairie-dog towns.
Employed at Good Wages.
Statistics are dry reading, yet it may
be of interest to know that under or.
binary conditions over six thousand men
for the lowest age. There are 800 prop
critics which produce with more or less
regularity, and in and out among them.
stopping at times to inspect them. runs
! the Glow and high line,' the electric
railway which skirts Victor and Col
/ orado Springs. It is trip of absorbing
interest, for it IS not every day that one
can past thru region where the out
put in twelve years has been $14l,395,-
!! OS9. All high-grade ore is shipped to
Pueblo and Denver and the low grades
area of this district is only six miles
i square, yet from this small patch Of
:. ground more gold is being produced
than from the entire states of Califor-
mia, Idaho and Montana.
- AS for the towns, themselves, they
! bear evidence of rapid growth, vet
u there. is substantial appearance that
, surprises. Cripple Creek boasts of thir.
i ty- churches. By taking the circle, the
u, ride on the electric road around the
!: towns, a good idea is obtained Of the
mines and towns, before entering the
train for the return journey. This is
one Of the most unique experiences Col
orado affords Interesting is a feeble
! word to express the glory Of mountains
| and the wide stretches of plains which
) come to view as one ascends and de-
sends on the train. Add to this the
wonderful terra Gotta hue of most of
the formations, the thousand fantastic
shapes the ridges and mountains as
sumo, and every mile of the wonderful
road seems bold attack on the Rock
! ies,s herculean effort which leads to
theRgreatest gold camp on earth.