Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-09-05
THE CRIPPLE CREEK
GOLD DISTRICT.
GREATEST GOLD PRODUCING DISTRICT
ON EARTH.
BEAUTIFUL SCENIC TRIP.
Ride Over the Mountains From Colorado
Springs to Cripple Creek. "The One
Day Trip That Bankrupts the
English Language"

One of the grandest one-day trips
on the American continent is the ride
over the short line' from Colorado
Springs to Cripple Greek. 1t has
been appropriately styled "the one
day trip that bankrupts the English
language. and in novelty and grand.
uer OF scenery, in wonderful feats of
railway engineering, in variety of
climate and in all that goes to make
up an ideal sightseeing trip for the
tourist, we have seen nothing to equal
it.
The magnificent panorama of noun.
tain scenery which is unfolded to
view in this trip of forty-five miles
has. no equal in the world. Leaving
Colorado Springs at an altitude of
5000 feet, rising by steep grades to
the very top Of the great mountains,
spanning mighty canyons and piercing
the mountains through nine different
tunnels. crossing and recrossing it's
own pathway on the sides of the noun.
tains in it's struggle for mastery over
the forces of nature. it finally sue
ceeds in rising to an altitude of 10, 800
feet. and taps che richest gold pro.
ducing district on the face of the
earth. More inspiring scenery, more
seemingly impossible feats of railroad
engineering, more delightful surprises
for the tourist are crowded into these
few miles of railroad, costing four
and One-half millions of dollars, than
any similar spot the world affords.
Here the forces of nature have left
their masterpieces to impress the hu-
man mind with the subiimity of crea-
tion. Here may be seen the grandest
mountains of the continent. Rugged,
storm swept mountain peaks. capped
with snow and suggestive of the
eternal in their still, solemn grandeur,
giant canyons crowded with pine
trees and a gorgeous panorama of
noble valleys and mountains in full
view of the train, stretching away in
the distance for hundred miles and
more, keep the spectator in an ecstacy
of delight. 1t is one continuous sue
cession of scenery beautiful beyond
description.
Swinging around a sharp curve high
up on the mountain side, a novel and
unexpected scene is unfOlded to view.
Bull Hill. or Battle Mountain. and
the various mountains in the gold
district. about four by six miles in
area, are literally covered with mines
in operation, prospect holes being
worked and many more deserted,
some on an immense scale and others
just by some lonely, plodding, faith.
full. rugged miner with pick and
shovel, some destined to a life of no.
verify and untold hardship, others
to reap millions from the strike, al
most always just little ahead of
them. Fifteen years ago gold was
first discovered here in paying guam
titles. Since then it has become one of
the greatest gold producing districts
in the world, and in rapid develop
ment and the richness of it's ores
nothing like it has ever been known
before. In thirteen years these cattle
ranges have been transformed into
populous district of 10000 people.
The production of gold has been
approximately $2l5, 900. 900, with an
average monthly production of s2.-
600. 900. or $50 every minute, hight
and day. There are 800 gold produc-
ing mines, with yearly dividends to
mine owners exceeding $1,000, 900.
The story of Cripple Greek is one
of continued romance. For years
prior to 1900, this vast field of gold
was but barren cattle ranch. One
night in his lonely cabin, the herds
man Bob Womack dreamed that the
peculiar looking rock up in Poverty
Gulch might contain gold, and taking
some with him. ho went to Colorado
Springs to test it. 1t returned pay
values. and as there were great
stretches Of the same rock in that Sec
tiOn it did not take long to prove that
it all contained gold, and the great
rush was OH. The golden wealth of
pthe hills attracted hundreds and thou
sands. and Cripple Greek soon became
a thriving city.
We stopped off at Victor. one of the
best towns in the district, in closest
proximity to the richest mines, where
wa yxar, autartainai at iunci,,,nu INV
the Victor Elks, and shown the great
mines which have produced millions,
as we'll as taken through one of the
largest of them. That afternoon we
went on to Cripple Creek by trolley
car, past hundreds of mines and pro.
spect holes, enjoyed the entertainment
provided for the visitors by the Elks
Of that city, and in the evening
returned to Colorado Springs over the
same delightful route which we went