The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-10-31
IN ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
Oskaloosa Boy Writes Of His Inter-
esting Explorations.

2
ing oskaloosa our first stop of any
Importance was Colorado Springs.
While here we had the opportunity Of
visiting Pixies Peak. This peak is
unrivaled among American noun
tains. 1t has more prominent place
In the story of exploration and occu-
patton OF the great West than any
other name. Difficult indeed is the
task of trying to describe what may
be seen from train ascending Pixies
Peak. A picture for the mind, of the
varied tints and colors and constantly
changing panorama can reach it only
through the human eye. The lower
terminus of the cog-wheel road is sit
uated at the mouth of Englemanns
Canon, whose sides are formed by
the slopes of Manitou and Hiawatha
Mountains. Rushing through this
canon, now swiftly flowing beside us,
again far below us, dashing madly
over the massive boulders and form
ing numberless cascades and water
falls, is Ruxom Creek, a sparkling
mountain stream, whose source is per-
petual snow.
Interesting Places Enroute.
The scenes and points of interest
enroute are many. Among them are
Echo Falls, about half way to the
summit, so named from the echo
rocks above, from whose high walls
the sound of dashing waters is dis
stinctly reyerberated Another inter-
esting sight is The Garden of the Gods
and passing through natural gate way
we come into view of Minnehaha Falls
Here is a picturesque group of Swiss
cottages among the pines and occu-
pied by pleasure seekers. Up through
the narrow ragged walls of Hells Gate
we go and enter the yerdant RuxtonI
and Aspen Parks, over which Bald
and Sheep mountains stand as senti-
nels. Here for two miles a compare
lively level stretch is Travelled and a
good view of the Grand Old Noun
tain" is had; and as we are almost
directly under the summit we gain a
better idea of the altitude than from
any other point of view. After reach
ing the summit the world is now be-
fore us; and rare indeed would be the
art that could picture to the soul un.
aided by the sense of sight, the I'M
approachable magnitude of the view
that now greets the bewildered eye.
Spread out before us is a mighty pan
Drama of $4,000 square miles. To the
east is a gay confusion OF buffalo
plains, streams and Towering fields,
dotted over with villages and cities
Colorado Springs, Manitou and the
Garden of the Gods are at our feet and
OK like Hover beds. To the south
and west may be seen many of the
important Colorado towns, and APP
pear to be but stones throw away.
To the north we see Denver, Castle
Rock and Manitou Park. Few men
comparatively know the sensation OF
looking from a mountain top over
thousands of miles of the earths sur
face.
An lndelibIe Impression.
To those who have realized this
sensation it affords an indelible re-
collection, one of the cherished ex-
periences of a lifetime. The barom-
eter on the summit stands near seven.
teen inches and water boiIs at 1874 de-
grees, F. The U. S. Signal station,
the highest in the country, is situated
on the summit. 1t is 14,147 feet above
sea level. The next point of interest
visited was Salt Lake City. Many
points of scenic and historic import
ance were visited in our short stay.
The Mormon Temple.
Naturally our first interest centers
around the historic spots, which mark
the era when Utah was almost an I'M
known name and the people who Gre
ated the great commonwealth in the
PARKWAY mountain fastness. Every
body wants to see "Over the Garden
Wall" which encloses the Temple
Square" adorned by three main edi-
fees of the Latter Day Saints, whose
peculiar architecture is known far and
wide. The Temple, which holds SO
much of mystery to those outside of
the church organization, whose Holy
of HOLES" has never been desecrated
by foot of "unbelievers," the "Taber-
nacle" with its great oval roof whose
arch spans a vast auditorium with
out a support, seating 10000 people,
where each Sabbath the followers of
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young tax
the seating capacity to the utmost
limit, and on other days the mellow
strains of the marvellous organ charm
the ear; last, the Assembly Hall" a
massive stone structure of less pre-
tention, devoted to The deliberations
of the church potentates, the Seven
ties" and kindred ruling bodies.
Around the buildings in this ten-acre
tract the grounds are finely parked;
a statue OF Brigham Young stands
in the shadow of the Temple, which
he designated and laid the corner
stone. The entire square, or block"
in the Utonian vernacular is sur
rounded by fourteen-foot wall of
-. A,fatrC ohni1t fxvp and