The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-06-28
UP Pixies PEAK.
Scenes en- Route and the Views from the
Summit, I4,l47 Feet Above Sea Level.


should never fail to take, is that from
/ Colorado Springs to the top of Pixies
/ Peak by way Of the Colorado Springs
and Manitou electric line to Manitou
afd from there by the famous Pixies
/ Peak RailWay-tamiliarly known as the
| Cog Wheel Roulette the top Of the
peak. On this ride the tourist passes
from the heat OF a summer day at the
base to the snow. and chill of winter at
| the summit Pixies Peak has been
called the "Monument of the CONT
nent and a more appropriate name
/ could not have been found.
a sentinel it stands
In rugged majesty"
Here it has stood for thousands of
wears. The rains of summer have
/ beaten against its rugged sides and the
/ SHOWS of winter have melted from its
slopes for ages. The savage Indian en-
camped at it's base for hundreds OF
wears before ever white man stepped
upon our shores 1t stood as land
mark with its summit, lofty and grand
and capped with snow, to the first eX-
plorers of the trackless plains. To the
| later adventures it served not only as
a monumental landmark but it gave
name to the cragged mountains at its
| back and to the broad eXpanse of plain
extending from its foot. As it stood to
! the gaze of the Indian thousand years
ago so it stands today to the gaze OF
/ the traveller as he speeds rapidly across
| the plain 10 its froWning foot. There
are the same rugged sides, the same
| grand, majestic, snoW-capped summit,
/ the same streams tumbllng over the
/ rocks down the canon from the melting
| snow nigh upon the summit. We have
no history of Pixies Peak during the
/ past ages since it was upheaved to its
present position. Yet scientists tell us
that it is older than regions whose
| thrilling tales are written on crumbLlng
parchment Its history down through
! the ages is unknown. It's obscure past
is concealed in oblivion.
However, the object of this article
is not the Pixies Peak Of the remote
past. nor is it our purpose to relate the
earliest authentic history of this an
/ cient landmark, which dates from No
yember Il. 1906, when Major Zebuion
/ NJ. Pike. after striving III vain to reach
it's summit. declared the accomplish
ment of that feat beyond the power OF
man. But it is the purpose here to re
late some Of the experiences OF a party
of thirty tourists who assembled the
peak on May l., 1906.
The party started from Colorado
Springs at clock in the morning OF
that particular day. The day with the
turquoise skies of Colorado in all their
glory and splendor, was all that could
be desired. The ride to Manlt0u, the
terminal Of the cog road, was on the
electric cars. Here a good remote
survey of the peak could be obtained as
it lowered white and grand above the
other mountains in the distance. Here,
too. the eye could travel along the
range for miles in either direction as II
rose high and rugged. seemingly i'll
superable barrier to further progress.
At first all was dim. obscure, and VeiIed
in cloud but as the car approached
nearer and nearer the towering noun
tain that rose abruptly from the plain.
great rocks, trees, paths up the SIDE,
and cabins became visible.
AEanitou, where the change was
made from the electrics to the cog
road, is situated at the mouth OF Engie-
! mans Canon, up which the cog road
begins its ascent. 1t is one of the most
famous summer resorts i'll the world.
! Close by are Tie Garden of the Gods,
! CRYSTAL Park, Glen Eyrie, Rainbow
Falls and Cheyenne Canon. 1t has
some of the most famous mineral
I springs in the world. Its waters may
be found in almost every part OF the
> world. where they have been shipped
+ on account of their health giving quail
ties. Its caves and cayerns are Won
; der in themselves. Even on the hot
: test day in summer the air is cool and
4 invigorating, coming as it does iron
the snoWclad SUBMITS thous ands o
, feet above. Its clear sparkling waters
: flow from the melting snow and lc'
I above. The odors of the pine tlmbe
{ are being continually waited from tn
$ height. Cool shaded hooks. beside tn
e rushing streams in the canon above tn
5 village are an attraction to those seek
: ing rest and health. This place wa
J. held in SO great reverence by the In
n dams that they gave to it the name o
J. their Great Spirit, Manitou.
s Before passing to the top OF the peal
V the cog road commands our attention
r In distance of miles the road over
U comes an elevation of 1918 feet. Th
Abt Rack Rail is used, which forms
n continuous ladder into which tn
r toothed wheels of the locomotiv
~ work. In foreign countries there ar
railroads made on plan similar t.
this, but in size and Importance the
are not to be compared with it. Th