Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1907-08-09
FROM COLORADO.
Manitou, Colorado, July 20. 1907.
, the Editor of the IIMPIlcurR:

To the Editor of the JIMPLscUrR:
Today 1 have been to Cripple Creek,
and the only thing to say is oh! oh! oh!
It seems impossible that any spot on
earth could show such magnificent
scenery that we saw from the cars.
Cripple Greek is As miles fIom Colorado
Springs, and with the surrounding
country forms the greatest gold camp on
earth, if the railroad guide is true.
Colorado Springs is at the foot Of tina
mountains. From there the railroad
begins to climb, and it curves around
mountain tops all the way. It passe 8
through five tunnels and over many
precipices. Way down below lie the
canons, each with its foaming water
falls, and massive rocks standing hum
dreds of feet tall. At one place these
huge rocks look like city of giant
cathedrals, and it is called Cathedral
park Again two mighty peaks of
granite with straight sides are hundred
of feet tall, leaving space between for a
carriage road and brook which pour 8
from rock to rock, forming waterfall
after waterfall. This has been named
"The Pillars of Hercules" Another
slab stands GU end and is tallest of all.
This is "Point Sublime" On the stony
crest of one mountain some daring
spirits have planted a cross. An eagle
has built its nest on the site of another.
From another the country's flag floats
and can be seen from the surrounding
country far and wide. But the grand
est of all is the view we get between
mountain peaks, when we see great
plains lying in the distance looking like
pillows of the sea, with snow capped
ranges mixing with the blue sky at the
horizon. A city seen in the south, I
was told. was Pueblo, Do miles away. I
forget the name of the snowy peak
which they told me was hundred
miles away.
Rare flowers bloom in profusion all
along the track. almost on the rails.
Sometimes the mountain side is purple
with ladyslippers or yellow with butter.
cups, When We made ten minutes
stop Mr.. Hazard gathered beautiful
bouquet, all strange flowers to me.
Some were white lilies. The Column
bines are far more beautiful than any
cultivated ones I ever saw.
The rosd bed climbs up, up the
noun tains until it is ten thousand two
hundred feet above 9he sea. am sorry
we did not happen there while it was
showing, but when we went back in the
afternoon the snow was lying on the
ground beside the rails of the track; but
we did not stop, 80 we did not get a
chance to make snowballs, tho we
wanted to do it, because it was the 10Th
of July.
In the gold field region the mountains
are riddled with holes where the pros.
pectors have been at work. We also
saw numbers of dug-outs where they
live. Mines and mines! Mines every
where. with piles of gravel and stone as
huge as the piles of saw dust at saw
mill. The deepest mines are twelve,
fourteen and sixteen hundred feet. We
saw the "Victor" mine where Harry
Orchard committed one of his most
terrible crimes. and talked with a man
who had piece of the wire used to set
the powder on fire and blow up the
mine. This man said he was we'll &C.
quainted with Orchard, and also was
in the fight where a numbers of people
were killed in Cripple Creek.
The towns of the gold district look
like cities of desolation scattered over
the bare earth without tree or other
adornment. Some houses were large
enough, but none looked like real
homes. There are many little shacks
not high enough for a tall man to stand
upright in them. The roofs are covered
with plank. Many of them have the
sides and some the roof covered with
brown paper put on over the plahks to
keep out 4he wind This is now all
torn and adds to the ragged appearance
of the town. 1t seems pity that man
should so mar the beauty which God
has made there. Perhaps it is to illus.
trate the dross which the love love of
gold brings into the heart.
The Portland is said to be the
largest gold mide in the world, produc-
ing 1000 tons of ore per month. Al
ore is shipped to Colorado City, where
there is water power to run great fac
tory which reduce and refnes.
S. 7. Taylor.