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


made productive by extensive ir-
rigation, to the Leyden coal mines
Here one can see north and south
across a radius of $50 miles, Pixies
Peak being plainly visible So miles
dietant to the south and Longs Peak
60 miles TO the north. Passing on into
the Clear Greek Valley, past monster
placer dredge mining operations where
mile after mile of the creek bed is
turned and sifted and sorted, pro-
ducing tons of precious gold, through
the gap in the foothills to Golden,
formerly the capital city of Colorado,
the home of the state industrial
school, the state school of mines, the
former home of Gov. VIM. L. Doug
lass OF Massachusetts, and his first
shoe shop; the ranch of George Pull
man, where he invented the Pullman
car, and the gold strike he made and
sold for $25, 600 from which he got his
start in the Pullman car business !:
also of Horace Greeley when he ex-
plored Clear Greek in his search for
gold in 1859: in all most delightful
and interesting trip, and back to
Denver past the Cakes Home for
Consumptives, and by hundreds of
conservatives homes, canvas tents
made as tight as possible for winter
abodes.
That evening was spent in seeing
some of the many sights about Denver.
one of the finest cities of the con-
tinent, and the next morning we
boarded the train for trip up Clear
Creek Canyon, around the famous
loop to Georgetown and Silver Plume,
a trip rivalling in grandeur and
scenic beauty the one to Cripple
Greek, the difference being that the
bottom of the CANYON is followed in
stead of climbing the mountains.
Passing Golden, we plunged at once
into the gorge, and for about forty
miles followed this picturesque marvel.
Passing rapidly alongside beautiful
rapid mountain stream, winding in
and out in serpentine trail at the
foot OF this great crevice in the
mountain range, a narrow passage for
miles and miles between gigantic
mountains of solid granite. whose
81 Cfa or SOL, 70
cut by the hand of man, presenting
grctesque figures and unrivalled scenes
of grandeur and beauty, one is kept
in constant ecstacy of delight and
wonderment. Right at your side,
almost within reach is rushing,
roaring stream; overhead a mere
handsbreadth of visible sky 1T YOUR
side the grim walls of the canyon close
enough to touch: here balmy, warm
spring atmosphere, right above You
on the mountain tops the cold.
clustering snow of winter. 1t is a
wonderful "trip, full of surprises, of
Joy and of grandness. Now and then
hole in the base of the mountain or
farther up on its side, indicating the
burrowing of man into this storehouse
of nature for bounties buried beueath
| it's surface, or men with shovels aud
sluice, washing the golden treasure
from the gravel. Gradually the iron
trail rises with the contour of the
canyon, the narrow -Ruage track max
ing sharp curves and qnick turns in
all directions, a marvel of railroad
engineering, passing quaint towns
and cities of considerable pretense.
beautiful lakes, cliffs and gorges, with
new scene unfolded before you every
moment.
AS we went further up in the canyon
the weather began to grow colder,
there were traces of snow in the valley,
and severe wind storm came up, SO
intense in fact, that we were COM
PEELED to seek the shelter of the
mountain-side within a mile of
Georgetown and remain there for a
couple of hours. not daring to venture
across the valley for fear the train
would be blown over the precipice,
as it had been on previous occasions.
Finally the storm subsidized, and we
made our way to Georgetown, an
enterprising city at an altitude OF
8, 476 feet, with four Thousand people,
where we heard the rumble of mills,
the blasting in the mines, and on every
side were long tunnels and deep shafts
driven into the mountains in search
of the precious gold. Scarcely score
of wears ago this country was known
only to geography and explorers.
Just beyond Georgetown is the far
famed Georgetown Loop. that wonder
full piece of engineering skill known
all over the world. Passing above
West Clear Greek, with glimpse OF
tine circular bridge that spans Deyil's
Gate, the road runs under this great
viaduct, and rises until we left the
CITY hundreds of feet below to the
north. when, with a sudden turn it
is again seen. the train rushing back
toward the city and still climbing;
another turn, and directly below us
the track just passed away again on
Al e A 49,.