The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-08-04
ARGENTINE ROAD
NEW SCENIC LINE OPENED ABOVE
SILVER PLUME.
THE GOLDEN SPIKE DRIVEN
Fifteen Miles Of Railroad. Running to
Top Of Mcclellan Mountain-Reach-
es Fourteen Thousand Feet Aiti-
tude.


tude.
Denyer.-More scenic attractions
have been made accessible from Den
yer by the practical completion Of the
Arge ntine Central railroad The gol-
den spike was driven Wednesday, at
an altitude OF 14.oO7 feet, by A. d.
Parker, vice-president OF the Colorado
e. Southern railroad.
Mr.. Parker went UP in his private
car. accompanied by ]. II. Young, gen
eral superintendent OF the Colorado &
Soul hern: Edward j. Wilcox. president
and practically the sole owner of the
Argc ntine Central; W. II. Stiilwell
formerIy with the Rock Island rail
| road. general manager of the Argen-
tine Central; Thomas Tonge, Colorado
correspondent Of the Mining Journal.
London, and representatives OF the
Denver daily papers.
a large delegation OF the business
men of Georgetown and Silver Plume
also went by special train to attend
the ceremony.
The primary object Of the building
of the new line was to furnish t:ans-
portation facilities to the extensive
Waldorf group of mines. Having
reached that group, it was obvious that
The extension of the new road TO the
top of Mcclellan mountain would fur
nish an unsurpassed scenic attraction.
The main line of the new railroad is
fifteen miles long, with an additional
two or three miles of switches. 1t is
narrow gauge, being the same rs that
of the Colorado a. Southern from Den
Yer to Silver Plume. so that cars are
interchangeable. Connecting with the
Colorado & Southern at Silver Plume.
altitude 9,17O feet, the new railroad.
by series of switchbacks. climbs the
north side of Leavenworth monLtain
to an altitude of upward of 10 900 feet.
1t affords ever-changing birds-eye views
of Silver Plume and Georgetown and
ever. widening scope of the snowy
range 1t then passes along the south
side of the same mountain, looking
down into Leayenworth gulch.
Nine miles from Silver Plume it
reaches the Waldorf tunnel and mill.
altitude II, 400 feet. Thence. by series
OF switchbacks along the eastern face,
ii climbs to the top of Mcclellan noun
tain. altitude 1907 feet.
The view from the summit is prob
ably unsurpassed in Colorado, includ-
ing Mount Rosalie, Mount Evans
Gray's peak, Torrey's peak, and many
others of the snowy range.
/ Near the terminus of the road is a
| wonderful ice cave. consisting of an
ancient mining tunnel and Slopes, the
rtlaGa whore Load -Siiyar first
| discovered in Colorado and in which
the ice is eternal and in the most beau
| tful shapes. Practically the entire
party visited this wonderful natural
! phenomenon, and was enthusiastic as
| to its weird beauty.
The new road and its present equip
ment have cost considerably more than
| 100000 Three engines, specially
| suited to local requirements. are al
ready in use, and seven more have
| been ordered, as the freight and tour
| ist passenger traffic will need that
| number.
1t is interesting to note that con-
struction work was commenced August
| /. 1905, and that the final spike was
| driven on August !, 1906. the work
| never having ceased in the interval
| for lack of funds. the only stoppages
being OF account of weather during
the winter months.
1t is said the probabilities are that
| the road will be extended at no dis
tant date to Rathbone. Montezuma,
| keystone and Dillon, on the western
slope.
No trains will be run on Sunday
MIR. Wilcox, who is a former minister
objecting to traffic on the Sabbath.