The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-12
Engineers Feat in the Mountain
Businesses Of Colorado-Rail-
reading in the Gold Country
The Cripple Creek Short Line
10000 Feet Above Sea Level
Scenic Beauties of the Route.

Cripple Creek, Col.-One of the most
marvellous OF engineering feats whose
country is the so-called "Short Line,
or Colorado & Cripple Greek District
railroad. Primarily built to carry gold
from the famous Cripple Creek region
TO the smelters, it affords ride winch
is one continuous panorama Of nature,
so sublime in its attractions that it
seems as If the glories OF the world lay
unfolded at one s feet.
1t is morning when one leaves Colora-
do Springs for this ride and it is late in
the AFTERNOON when one returns, but the
marvels OF mountain, canyon and dale
that are constantly changing make ali
sense Of time flee. From Colorado
Springs the road has run over a level
tract OF six miles before it begins it's
mighty climb. At starting many were
IN the observation car or on the side of
the train from which view of the
depths below could be obtained, but,
later, the precipitous heights caused
some tlmld ones to change to the other
SIDE or the car, which at first was al
most deserted, and to view the magnif
cent scenery at distance.
we start at an altitude Of 5000 feet.
In the distance Pike IS Peak looms up
proudly and as we gradually ascend the
foothills the nearby towns seem like
panorama before us. Across the canyon,
and the train begins the ascent with a
gradual unfolding Of beautiful scenery
that battles description. Down in the
valley below, hemmed in by foothills,
the summer resort, Broadmoor, with it's
crescent-sshaped lake, is disclosed to
view lew A twist in the road and we are
1,2oo feet above sea level, gazing down
mo nf ,10.~
trees and diversified bylases a an ont1o og
so hmitless that measurements seem
m13eaningless. There is a breathless
"sAh' from all on board, quickly
checked, tor the ever shifting panorama
changes again and another scene pre-.
sents itself. The engine turns and
twists on its sinuous way. We see it
anead gong over trestles, we pass thru
tunnels that bewilder and we look down
cheyenne canyon into the winding trail
peloW and the winding ribbon Of water
oy It's side. Slowly we wind, ever wind,
around the rims and over the tops of
the famous Colorado mountains, afford
ing long-distance views Of bewlderine
grandeur. Majestic peaks are not alone
above but below.
A Revelation Of Engineering.
A short distance and St. Peters dome
ntursts into view, huge mass Of gran
lite that seems to stand alone. The as
, cent is revelation of engineering skill
Inc dome itself is 10000 feet and the
railroad climbs to $500 feet. GLORY
seems to succeed glory, yet the trai1
goes steadily on, winding almost i'm
perceptibly around until we look OF
tracks beneath and tracks hundreds O:
feet above and wonder at the marvel
GUS engineering that can climb by ser
pentlne ascent the frowning buttresse
and mountain Businesses. Looking dow
on the blue and green below as tn
train winds slowly to the top Of peaks
the panorama is bewildering. A shor
scends gently, hundreds of feet abov,
our heads. The flag,r12 BY Is feet. on
the top Of st: Peters dome, looks Xix,
a speeck in the distance, but grow
larger as we ascend. Many stretche
In this locality are clothed with pin
and nearby, we are told, are fort,
girls camping. We stop and leave then
some camp necessities.
Continuing the serpentine ascent W,
reach Dufields, then Summit, 1O,OOl
feet high, whence we see Pueblo, 9th,
Pittsburg of the west,' laid out ik,
a panorama in the distance. A stop at
Rosemount and we glide down the west
ern slope, past rocks torn by tempests
over creeks and through bewilderins
forests In some places four tracks
one below the other, are disclosed tt
view, the higher one being visible al
times. In the distance on its 1000 fee,
above sea level stands Altman, thu
highest incorporated town in the world
and we realize we are nearing the ia