CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1905-11-23

Canon City is situated at the base
of the front range of the Rocky
Mountains, near the point where
the Arkansas river emerges from
that mighty chasm or cleft in
the mountain range known as the
Royal Gorge. The city and its en-
virons rest upon the bed of a prehis-
toric lake, or widening Of the river. and
is consequently quite level. Mount
aims surround the city on three sides.
shutting off the winds that sweep the
plains and tempering the severity of
winter by radiating the heat ac-
cumulated in their walls. For ages
past the disintegrated rock from the
mountain sides has Washed down upon
this little plain covering the granite
boulder that once lined the bed of the
ancient lake with deposit some ten
to twenty feet in depth. Scientists
tell US, and experiment has proven.
that this soil, in conjunction with
the Colorado sunshine, is productive
of some of the finest fruit grown in
the temperate zone. The Canon City
apple has already invaded the mar
kets of California. of Texas. of New
York, and is everywhere noted for its
color, flavor and soundness.
The Royal Gorge of the Arkansas,
near Canon City. ranks with Niagara.
the Big Trees of the Yosemite valley
and the Geysers of the Yellowstone as
natural wonder Here, in some
places, the perpendicular walls of the
canon rise to the dizzy height of 3, 900
feet Through The narrow gorge be-
low the waters of the river rush and
roar with an almost deafening sound.
Through this gorge. by the side OF the
river, the Denver & Rio Grande rail-
road runs. a fine example of the en-
gineering skill of the present age.
One of the most inspiring sights in
the world is view from the top of
the canon looking down into the gorge
thousands of feet below. The river
looks like q tiny, silver thread. while
q train of forty cars. running at high
speed. appears like a little snake
sluggishly creeping through the val
ley
The citizens of Canon have recent
ly built a new driveway to the top OF
the Royal Gorge and the drive is
about ten miles. Many tourists stop
off at Canon to take this drive and to
view one OF the greatest csnons of the
world from the top.
Where the Arkansas river comes
out of the canon several large bitches
divert its waters for irrigation pur-
poses and as these bitches spread out
over the valley like the rays Of fan.
15, 900 acres are made to blossom as
the rose. Orchards have sprung up,
long avenues of shade trees line the
streets, while alfalfa and market gar
dens form a border around the whole.
Viewing the city and its surround
ings from the nearby mountains. in
the summer time especially. one may
see u beautiful picture-a sight that
reminds one of Frank Carpenters de-
scriptions of the city Of Algiers, be-
lieve 1t is, in which he compares the
city to an emerald gem set in an i'm
mense charm of whitened plain edged
with the shining hills.
But the practical is also mingled
with the beautiful. for looking out
towards the south and east you may
see the smoke Of the busy coal camps
Of Fremont county. Extending for
miles southeast from the city limits is
one Of the richest coal fields in the
West. Within a radius of eight miles
from here twenty mines are daily
raising great quantities of hard.
semi anthracite coal to supply the
cities and farms of this and adjoining
states. Throughout Kansas, Nebras-
ka and other states Canon City coal is
noted, for it is clean to handle. makes
hot fire and leaves but few olinkers.
It is estimated that these mines pro-
duce, daily, $40 tons, and yet this
great body of coal remains practically
untouched.
Seven miles down the river, and in
plain view from the hills back of this
city, is rhe Florence oil field, out of
which hundreds of derricks are daily
pumping oil for the supply of many
states. Practically every bit of IL
Illuminating oil used in Colorado. Wy
oming. Kansas, Nebraska. Oklahoma,
New Mexico and Utah is produced in
this county. 1t is said to be the only
oil field west of Ohio that produces an
oil with parafne base or that can
be used for illuminating purposes.
This area has been producing for
many years and yet new wells are be-