Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-12-06

Cutler. from whose peak we looked
down upon massive rocks and boulders,
great canyons and caverns, beautiful
and awe-inspiring beyond description.
and five thousand feet below near the
base Of the Cheyenne range the beauti-
ful city of Colorado Springs.
Another beautiful drive is to that
wild and romatic retreat at the en-
trance of Queens canyon, Glen Eyrie,
where many handsome summer re-
sideDces are located. In the glen is
much scenery of surprising grandeur,
including the famous Cathedral
Rocks" the "Major Domo, "The
Sisters" 'vulcan's Anvil" and
"Melrose Abbey" These stones OF
grand and impressive shapes glow
with the most brilliant hues Of red
and pink. Of cream and white and
umber.
No one pretends to visit Colorado
Springs without seeing 'The Garden
Of the Gods" . place which has pro.
bably been described and photographed
more than any other in the United
States. The portals of its natural
gateway through which we drove
spring from level plain to height
Of three hundred and thirtv feet and
glow with the most beautiful coloring
Of red. With an outer parapet of
pure white and inner columns Of
varied hues, this famed gateway to
the mimetic formed rocks resembles
the vast ruins of an ancient temple,
and we could hardly convince our
selves that the hand of man had had
no part in it's formation. Passing on
into the garden the handiwork of
nature was found continued with the
same marvellous effects; and as we
viewed 1.-THE Needless the "Siamese
Twins" and the Balanced Rock"
and distinguished the outlines of
other figures of men and women, of
beasts and birds and of strange freaks
in architecture. we conld not but think
of the appropriateness Of its .naIne.
1t is truly garden filed with pagan
gods. . place where the idolator would
need never want for an image 70
worship.
Manitou, six miles west of Colorado
Springs, and immediately at the foot
OF Pixies Peak, has been fittinglv
styled "the Saratoga of the West. -
Il is . delightful little city, located
considerably over q mile above sea
level, aud has the most equal climate
the year round of any town in the
United States. The summers are
cool and the winters warm, which,
together with the mineral springs
scattered over the city, makes it a
favorite resort for invaiids, especially
those suffering from throat and lung
troubles. There are tnn of these cold
mineral springs within the city limits,
divided into two groups, soda and
iron. The water from the soda springs
makes delightful drink, and many
spend the summers here in this ideal
resort.
The trip to the top of Pixies Peak
is an alluring attraction to every
tourist. Many climb the mountain on
foot, long and tedious method. bat
now nearly everyone goes by the
"cog-wheel route" This railroad,
completed in 189., and which climbs
to point IA, lat feet above the level
of the sea, il in itself worth seeing.
It is little less than nine. miles in
length. with a mean grade of l6 per
cent, maximum Of 25-a rise of
one foot in fonr. Inside the outer
ordinary rails is a double cog track,
upon which the propelling power of
the engine is exerted. Its construction
entailed an expenditure of half
million dollars. Speeding rapidly up
ward, it passes Minnehaha, a quaint
hamlet Of rustic cottages, next the
halfway house. and then on through
the pinnacled rock portals of He'll
Gate. A little further on is . station
where is pablished souvenir daily
paper, giving the names of those who
visit Pixies Peak. Soon there is q
change in the atmosphere. Besides
gradually growing less dense it he.
comes cooler. The trees no longer
obstruct the view, for the timber line
has been passed. Looking down the
mountain slope is seen the placid sur.
face of Lake Moraine, and to the
southwest, the Seven Lakes. Nearing
the top of the peak, after making
seven stops, snow and ice are seen
everywhere. capping huge boulders
and filling crevices several feet in
depth. King Winter here reigns
within nine miles of Summers
domain, and ride of only ninety
minutes separates one from the other.
Standing ON the summit of the peak,
where its discoverer. Zebulon M.
Pike, on Nov. Is. 1903, after attempt.
ing to scale the mountain, declared
"no human being could ascend to, .
the view is picture far too grand
to be painted in words. Il ia even SO