Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-09-12


every year to the average.
Just beyond the Leadville junction
is Tennessee Pass, the highest point in
the mountains, the Continental Divide,
where we passed through tunnel
1000 feet long. at an altitude OF
10, 240 feet. On one side of this pass
the streams flow toward the east an
on the other toward the west.
Eagle River Canon was soon reached,
where besides the beautiful and grand
handiwork of nature similar to that in
the Grand Canon, are also the wonders
of human handiwork, for the sides
| and SUBMITS of this canon are dotted
with shafthouses and dwellings OF
miners, many perched 1900 feet above
the track, resembling the aeries OF
eagles.
Passing on down the descent of the
mountains, we come TO the Canon of
the Grand River, greater in extant
and more varied in character than
that of the Canon of the Arkansas.
The coloring is marvellous, and in
places the effect is that Of Egyptian
art and architecture. suggestions of
the Sphinx and of the pyramids being
noticeable in the gigantic rock piled
structures on either side.
Several tunnels have been cut in this
canon, and as the train emeEges from
the third. Gle1wood Springs, Colo
radios most famous resort, is reached.
Shut i'll by Alpine hills, margined by
river of wonderful picturesqueness,
and supplied with hot springs of we'll
known healing properties. Glenwood
Springs is a rendezvous for capitalists
and men of wealth as well as those
of ordinary means, who are seeking
for delightful, quiet place to rest
and recreate. The magnificent Hotel
Colorado is one of the finest places
of the kind in the country, and is
unrivalled in excellence of service and
perfection of architecture In the
court yard fountain of pure noun
tain water spurts into the air several
times as high as the hotel. On the
grounds is one of the largest bathing
pools i'll the world, a bath house of
splendid and luxurious equipment,
and everywhere is an air of refinement,
culture and beauty. The great hills
which surround the city on every side
are covered with murmuring pine and
hemlock, and further back on the
mountains may be found large game
for the sport of the hunter, while
neighboring streams abound in fish.
Numerous hotels and boarding houses
are provided for the tourists, and es-
pecially during the summer months
all are crowded.
We spent the night and part of the
next day at Glenwood Springs, and
then boarded the train for Grand June.
ton. The road runs along the valley
of the Grand river at the foot of the
mountains for some distance, and
gradually the valley widens until the
great Grand Valley of Colorado is
reached, where the greatest fruit
country of the west is situated. A few
years ago this was barren desert,
but now under the process of irriga-
tion it blossoms with natures most
glorious harvest. and has very
brilliant future before it. AS the
valley is approached the barren
mountains of cobble stones AMI sand
gradually widen out and in the
valley here and there are small ir-
rigated farms, where alfalfa, a few
potatoes and vegetables and some
grain is raised. now and then an or
chard, and general air of primitive
development is evident. Further on,
where the valley is more thoroughly
irrigated, the orchards increase. and
running along the Palisades the
beautiful valley is everywhere covered
with orchards loaded down with fruit
which is not excelled in any part of
the globe. Stopping at Grand
Junction. we soon met Mr.. f. E.
Schuck, and after looking about the
city couple of hours, We're taken to
the hospitable home of Mr.. and Mrs
Earl Barber, ten acre fruit ranch
within mile of the city, where Mr..
Schuck has been making his home dur
ing the summer. Here we were enter
tanned at supper, and after making
arrangements for camping trip ont,
| the mountains after our return from
Salt Lake City. returned TO Crane
Junction, where we learned somethins
of the city and valley in which it is
situated.
Grand Junction is the garden spo
of the western slope, and produ ce
more and better varieties of semi
tropical fruit than any other section
of the state. 1t is in the center O
the Grand Valley, "a rich, productiv
valley we'll watered by irrigation
from the mountain streams, and is th
gateway to the rich mining district
of Silverton, Ouray, Lake City
Telluride and Ophir, where tens c
thousands of miners are constantly EN-