The Washington herald., 1906-10-21

Denver, Colo. Oct. 2e.-There is a dizzy.
thrilling time in store for the individual
who travels over the new Argentine Cen
trail Railroad, which has Just been conf
pIeted in Colorado. and which climbs up
one Of the shoulders of Gray's peak un-
Ill it reaches the appalling altitude OF
lA00 feet above sea level
Aside from a railroad In South America
which crosses an. Andean pass some 500
feet higher than the end of the Argentine
Central, this Colorado road is the high
est actual railroad in the world II Is
nearly as high as the world-famous cog
road up Pixies Peak and is more than
400 feet higher than the celebrated Jung
frau Railroad in Switzerland. which Is the
marvel Of European engineers. Grays
peak. whose grim top this new railroad
comes within 20 feet Of scaling. is higher
than Pixies Peak, and is one Of the
mightiest mountains on this continent
Years ago il was used as government
weather bureau observatory, and the ruin
ed building is stin on the peak. Adjoining
GTay's peak IS T0rrey's.
These giant peaks, Of exactly the-ssme
height. are connected by d slightly de
pressed ridge. making a great saddle. and
Tho sight of these mighty twins OF the
range. streaked with huge banks Of eteT-
nal SHOW, is alone worth the journey TO
the end Of the new railroad.
Project of a Denver Man.
This new railroad TO cloudland is the re-
suit of the foresight and pluck OF one
man. Z. J. Wilcox. one Of Denver's sue
eessful mining magnates. Six years ago
Mr. Wilcox began buying up and develop
ing mining properties IN the Gray's peak
region. soon ne controlled a large num-
Der OF properties under the names OF the
Waldorf and Manhattan groups
The problem Of transporting ore was a
serious one. and Mr.. Wilcox began 10 fig
ure on a railroad connecting with the
Colorado and Southern at SILVER Plume,
fifteen miles away Il IS AT Silver Plume
that the Colorado ana Southern makes
the celebrated Georgetown loop, which
viii always be regarded as one Of the
greatest feats of engineering in the
world. Silver Plume is at the bottom Of
canyon. the mountains Dsing almost
sheer 10 a tremendous height
In order to make this first dizzy ascent
out Of Silver Plume Mr. Wilcox laid his
tracks in a series OF switchbacks Thus
the trains literally climb a Eight Of stairs
until they reach the top Of the valley
overlooking Silver Plume. And at the top
of the climb Is one Of the grandest sights
ever vOuchsafed 10 man.
Up steep Grades.
After a pull Of several miles up stiT
grades the train reaches Commonwealth
tunnel. one of the Waldorf properties.
near the timber line. Here the crowpins
difficulties of travel begin. Mount Nc
ClelIan. one Of the shoulders Of Gray-s
peak, rises some 2.UC0 fet higher. and 10
scale it looks like sheer impossibility.
But the engine rUshes at an $ per cent
grade and the last ascent begins. There
are four switchbacks from the Common
wealth tunnel TO the top of the mountain.
and the grades will average nearly s per
cent. This means that the train climbs
eight feet out Of every hundred il ad-
vances. in fact. the entire road from
Silver Plume 10 the mountain top aver
ages a 6 per cent grade. which is SOM
thing hitherto unhearG Of in railroad con-
struction. The curves. which are so mt
merOus as TO leave the impression that
there is not straight rail in the entire
railroad, average thirty degrees.
soon the train is above timber line and
a veritable sea Of peaks bursts upon the
vision Of the beholder. On every hand
the gaunt granite heads Of mountains lift
f
the north can be seen the mountains IN
the djacent State Of Wyoming, while 10
the west can be made out the Gore
range well tOwaz1 the Utah line. If the
day is clear u bright yellow streak can
be disceTned between the Uttermost peaks
fifty miles to the east. That streak is the
vast plain east of the Rockies, and some
days the smoke of busy Denver can be
discerned. As many as 10 snow-capped
peaks have been counted from the end OF
the Argentine Central road. TO say moth
ing Of numberless other peaks above tim
Der line.
Houeycombed with Tunnels.
The bald side of the mountain has been
houeyconbed with mine tunnels and
shafts. Some Of the properties are in the
prospect stage, while others are paying
as high rs $500 a day. Through the mine
dumps the train threads its way, and
soon the last switchback has been made
and the last grade climbed. The pas
sengers tumble out and are escorted to
an abandoned mine whose workings,
owing to the dripping of water and the
constant action of frost. have become
coated with snow and with ice crystals
Of wonderful formation. The CLEAN Of
candle light against these crystals makes
i wonderful sight
This mine was the first silver mine
opened in Colorado. Ore from 1t was
shipped across the plains by OK team
transportation long before the first stage
coaches werCagun. The pioneer miners,
who are lo0hshg for silver only, had no
idea they were working in a district
which would some day become a great
gold mining center.
Breath Comes in Clasps.
SO quickly has the last ascent been
made that the traveller hardly realizes
that he is l4.O00 feet above sea. level. But
Us soon is he takes few steps along
the side of the nGountain he finds out.
His breath comes in sobbing gasps, his
knees grow weak and his heart beats as
II il would leap from his breast. He must
stop and rest every few feet Even old
I and experienced mOuntaineers can not
climb long without stopping to breathe
At such u tremendous altitude.
This little fifteen miles of railroad cost
more than S250,000 to build. II is narrow
gauge. and every foot of the road5ed has
been firmly ballasted The engines are
OF tho Shay-gec a JyDC-a kind OF engine
that. like Kiping's screw guns, can
"clumb up the side of a signboard and
trust to the stick of the paint" The eight
drive wheels are geared together, so tho
/ pulling power is enormous. And I'm case
! the engine should leave the track it al
ways leans away from the outer edge,
/ so that it will not plunge into an abyss.
/ This makes travel over the dizzy rail-
road absolutely safe,