Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-08-15
DENVER AND THE WEST
A SUMNER VACATION TRIP TO COLORADO.
Some Impressions Of Denver and other
Western Cities Gained by the Editor
During Trip Through
Colorado.

See Europe if you will, but SCI
America first" is a slogan one ma,
willing agree to after having spen
some time among the granduers o.
Americas natural scenery in Colorado
and the western states.
Let him who will delve among tn,
ancient ruins of Europe, the musty
relics of antiquity, the Wondering
treasures of kings and queens of the
middle ages; but give us the noun
tains Of Colorado. the clear, exhiler
ating atmosphere, the beauty, the
grandeur and the magnificence OF
natures playhouse, where for hun.
dreds of miles in every direction dame
nature has We'd with herself in pro-
ducing an embarrassment of riches in
grand and beautiful scenery.
A year ago we had but taste OF
the rare enjoyment and recreation tC
be found in this beauty spot of the
nation, and our appetite was whette d
for more of it. AS result in plann.
ing vacation from the cares of bust
ness and needed rest this summer
we naturally turned our attention in
the same direction, for of the many
different parts of the country we have
visited, this is to us by far the most
attractive.
We were exceedingly fortunate in
having the company, as far as Colo
RADIO Springs, of Mr.. G. H. Bromley,
and during the entire trip of Mr.. B.
J. Mckay, both of whom, like my
self, were enjoying a vacation from
business.
Leaving Decorah ON Saturday,
July IA, we spent the evening in
Cedar Rapids. and going to West
Liberty boarded the Rock Island's
Rocky Mountain Limited for Denver.
where we were attracted by the
Grand Lodge of Elks, which was in
session there during that week.
Awaking in the morning we found
ourselves at Omaha, and soon was
speeding southwest through south
eastern Nebraska, where the country
was rolling in a wealth of abundant
crops that were never better, and the
farmers were busy with the harvest
past Lincoln, the state capitol, where
we saw the farm home of w. j.
Bryan. and on across the country
through Fairbury,a a thriving division
point.
About noon we crossed the state line
into Kansas. and sped rapidly on
through western Kansas, at frs,
through good farming country and
then across almost a desert, past
Belleville, Smith Centre, Phillips.
burg, where we set our watches back
an hour to conform with mountain
time, and spent the afternoon reading,
watching prairie dogs in the fields
along the railway, and conversing with
the fellow passengers. The train was
packed. as were all trains going into
Denver those days. The following
day it was said that there were TWEEN
ty-two special trains. besides the reg
ulars, on the Rock Island alone, carry.
ing thousands into Denver to the
greatest Elk reunion ever known.
We arrived in this western metro
polls late at night, and found the
streets thronged with people, the no.
tells packed to the limit, and the citi-
zens doing everything in their power
to care for the crowds. We were
fortunate in having hotel accommo-
dations reserved in advance.
Never has there been such a reunion
or such extensive preparation for a
crowd. 1t is said that the city OF
Denver spent 500. 900 for the enter
tainment of the visitors, and that
there were $4,000 strangers in the
city during the week. The streets
were thronged incessantly with the
happiest, jolliest, best natured,
whole souled class of men and women
we have ever seen. Everyone seemed
bent on having good time and max.
ing everyone else enjoy themselves.
The electrical and other decorations
of the city were magnificent be.
yond description, and on a scale never
before attempted. The western hos.
pltality, famous as it is, made q
new record in Denver, for the city
was practically given over to the
visitors. In talking with the mana.
ger of one of the big stores he
told us that his firm spent 81, 800 in
decorating their store alone,
which gives some idea of the magni.
tude of the decorations.
The program of amusements was in
accordance with the other prepar.
ations. On Sunday there was a re.
ception to the grand lodge officers
and members, with carriage ride