The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-07-13
SIGHT SEEING IN COLORADO.
Waxahachie Tourists Spend Day
Climbing Pixies Peak.

There are many attractions around
Colorado Springs AMI the Pixies
Peak region that are new and novel
to all tourists. Many of these attrac-
tions are made by man, or man has
added his skill to the work of Ma
ture, and has evolved some wonder
full results, but the greatest of all
attractions to me is the mountains
those great monuments to God S
creative power. Around Colorado
Springs there are several high peaks
some of which are still unmarried
by the hand Of man, and must be
scaled on foot. Several of them are
assembled by other modes of trans
portation.
First of all, there is Pixies Peak,
one of the landmarks Of the Rockies.
1t stands at an elevation of 14,147
feet above sea level, and over 5000
feet above Colorado Springs Ascent
is made by the famous "Cog Road, y
an example of modern enterprise and
engineering skill. At cost of nearly
million dollars this road, with an
average grade of 846 feet to the
mile, has been built to the summit,
distance of nine miles by the cog
road. On the west of the Peak lie
the vast Cordilleras; on the east the
plains, on the south appear sharp
points of the Spanish Peaks, while to
| the north are Longs Peak, Gray's
Peak and the great Continental Dr.
vide. Here over $4,000 square miles
of territory are brought into vision
upon a clear day. 1t is an inspiration,
sight that none forget. Besides the
cog road, one may go up on the peak
on burros or on foot--but very few
ever attempt either of these modes
of transportation the second time.
On July 4th we went up the Tue
line Railway to the top of Mt Mani
tou as a starter for day among the
mountains. Before passing this rail-
way, let me give few facts concern
ing it. 1t ascends grades varying from
Is TO 68 per cent, maintaining an
average of nearly SO per cent and
has the distinction of being the
steepest passenger railway in the
world The cars, seating S3 passen-
gers, are drawn by powerful cables
having sufficient strength to safely
handle 40 loaded cars at time, and
the possibility of accident has been
almost obliterated
After having been photographed in
the car, we shouldered our lunch
baskets and started over the narrow
trail for the Halfway House on the
we received some of the prettiest
scenes of the whole region, and as
| the crooked trail wound it's way
along the mountain side with yawn-
/ ing chasms below us and towering
rocks above we traversed it in In
dian file and wished for our Waxa-
hachie friends who have never had
the pleasure of spending the day
among the mountains. About 2
clock we reached the Halfway
House" and, making campfire, pro-
ceeded to make coffee and broil ba-
con on the Goals. These, with the 9TH
er things prepared by the several la
dies of our party, made lunch wor-
thy of our appetites, and all we're
soon satisfying the cravings of the
inner man OF woman.
After dinner, we spent short
while gathering Columbines, the
Colorado state flower, which is one
OF the prettiest flowers in color and
form that we have ever seen and
which grows in profusion on the
, sides of the mountains. Then prepar-
atoms were made for the descent,
and. as a preliminary, all decided to
take foot wash in the cold noun
tain stream. Our feet were tired and
worn out, and this had soothing
effect. Our party photographer made
| a snapshot Of the ladies and all are
awaiting proofs of it.
! We decided to come down the
right-of-way of the cog road, and
the entire distance was a descent
sometimes gradual, but mostly down
grades where it was slip and slide
most of the way. We all now see the
error of our decision and wish that
we had gone back over the trail and
come down the incline railway. Ar
MICA has flowed freely, and all are
trying to loosen up stiffened joints
but all in all, it was a pleasant triI
and one long to be remembered. One
/ feature of the trip was a great sur
prise. Our 5-year-old boy made the
entire trip, was nearly always in the
lead coming and going, and has moi
suffered any inconvenience at all