Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-01-31
GRAND CANYON OF ARIZONA.
Interesting Letter From Mr.. Byers Des.
cribing One of the Natural
Wonders of America.


Canyon of Arizona is the most widely
known wonder in America. There is
scarcely man, woman or child who
has not heard or read of this famous
Titan of clasms. This picturesque
conglomeration of vari- -colored rocks
which sheaths in It's Gilbralteran
fastness the silvery ribbon like Colora-
do has been the subject of fiowery
paens and tongue orators galore.
They have painted it in glowing
cOlOrs, but never in colors too glow
ing; nor have they painted it too
often. 1t is a subject that is ever
new, and subject that no one, no
matter how skillful he may be, will
ever rise with to the point of exag-
geration. We may speak of the won-
ders as being grand, but this descrip-
tion applied to the Grand Canyon of
Arizona conveys realization of less
than half the canyons real grandeur.
To appreciate it to the fullest extent
one must visit the canvon, and even
then his senses may seem incapable of
copying with it's immensity.
The Canyon OF the Colorado, with
the grandeur with which it is known
to be endowed, today, first became
known to the civilized world about
1857, through Lieutenant Ives of the
War Department. Spanish explorers,
however, visited the lower part of the
Colorado river in 1541, and Spanish
priest travelled along the upper por-
tion of it in 1776, but these and other
similar expeditions, did very little to-
ward establishing knowledge of the
real canyon. Even the exploring done
by Lieutenant Ives, while sufficient
to afford fair knowledge of the can
yon's grandness and greatness, lacked
much of being complete. In fact it
may be said that the region has not
been robbed of the secrets vet, aud
for many years more there will be op-
porJunities for the explorer to wander
over new routes and through new
arms to the canyon proper.
The most extensive exploration of
the canyon ever made was conducted
by Maj. J. W. Powell in. 1869. He,
with nine men and four boats. started
on the Green river in Utah and
travelled the Colorado river for dis
tance of more than one thousand
miles. Over three months were re-
quired to make tha trip, and alth ough
the journey was difficult and full of
dangers, he landed safely-minus only
four men by desertion. He and his
party, by this trip, acquired knowl-
edge of the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado tina. no one else yet shares,
except to such an extent as he has
been able to convey through his de-
scription thereof.
The extensiveness of the canyon can
hardly be realized. One stands ON
the rim at the head of the Bright
Angel Trail near the ElTavor Hotel,
and gazes with sort of dizziness
across the unnumbered towers and
crevices, colonnades and gulches, Ca
thedral spires and yawning chasns.
At this point the canyon is thirteen
miles acrOss-as far almost as the eye
can reach. And to say that the scene
is grand expresses it very mildly iu-
deed. 1t is picture that no ones
imagination can pre-portray. The
eroded walls Of the canvon glow with
many bright colors, as though they
had been stepped in dyes of many
hues. There are trees, too. that girth
the canyon with hoops of green, and
then, as the halo to the whole,
vari -colored atmosphere, blending
mainly toward purple, seems to en-
velope the rugged area and cause it to
repose as if swathed in soft celestial
fres. 1t at times reminds one of a
vast area covered with the crumbling
ruins of one elegant castle-a dead
city of an unknown world, wierd and
uncanny.
But the picture is not yet complete.
The onloOker gazes over the nearer
tower of fiower-colored stone and far
beneath him. winding along at the
base of the castle-like formations like
a silverv snake. he beholds what he is
told is the Colorado river. 1t is true
that it would not be recognized as a
river 800 feet wide, but why should
it? The depth of the canyon is almost
6, 900 feet. or over a mile, and the
nearest route to the river from this
point is in excess of five miles, and
very rough one, too. One may try to
follow the silver ribbon, either up or
down its course, but it is soon lost
amid it's rugged setting and only the
CANYONS conglomeration of towers
and chasms remain to greet the eye,
which lend their protection to the
river which lend their protection to
the river for distance of more than
two hundred miles.
Continued on 5th page.