The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-06-18
Beautiful Scenery.

Railway, the Scenic Route, :
Between Denver and Salt
Lake City-Delightful Side
Trip Suggested for Delegates
to the National Democratic
Convention Which Meets in
the Colorado Capital Next
Month.
Anent the meeting Of the National
Democratic Convention in Denver,
Colorado, next month, Editor Ros-
cover, OF the Goldsboro Headlight,
suggests side trip over the Denver
& Rio Grande Railroad, the Scenic
Route" from Denver to Salt Lake
City, holding that trip to the West
would not be complete without this.
Mr.. RoscoWer has taken this trip
and knows whereof he writes in de-
scribins the matchless scenery and
wonderful works of nature spread
out in panoramic review before the
tourist. And having. been so fortu-
nate as to travel over this famous
route ourself we endorse all that is
said of it-and more--and agree with
our contemporary that as many OF
the delegates and Others who attend
the convention in Denver as possibly
can do 80 should take the trip over
the Denver & Rio Grande and visit
Salt Lake City while the opportunity
presents itself. They will not regret
the time and money so expended.
But to the article in question fro m
the Goldsboro Headlight:
Delegates to the Democratic Ma
tional Convention at Denver, Col,
July 7th, should not fail to extend
their trip along the main line of the
Denver and Rio Grande, better known
as the Scenic Line, for the grandest
Of all the masterpieces of nature
whose pictures ornament the walls of
memory's art gallery is that of the
Grand Canyon of the Arkansas, and
its browning glory the Royal Gorge,
between Canon City and Salida, in
the front range of the Rockies. For
1900 feet the solid monoliths soar
upward-fve times as lofty as the
| Washington monument, the highest
permanent structure reared by the
hand of man.
No words can adequately describe
the magnifcence of the scene. Only
those who have beheld it's glories can
| appreciate them. In places the effect
is that of giant Egyptian art and
architecture. Suggestions Of the
sphinx and the pyramids can be
caught in the severe and gigantic
rock-piled structure Oh every hand.
In a moment darkness and increased
rumble of wheels-then light and an
other marvellous view; darkness
again for Il moment, then the blue
sky above us; darkness for the third
time, but soon again we see the
blessed light and there before us lies
Salida, at an elevation of over 1000
feet, properly named "Gem of the
Rockies
1t is beautiful little city of 5000
inhabitants, situated in the heart OF
the Rocky Mountains, 215 miles
southwest Of Denver, with many at
fractions for the sightseer. 1t is a
| prosperous town on the Arkansas
river, which stream also affords great
attractions to the fisherman, and the
walks and the rides are particularly
charming Poncha Hot Springs are
five miles from Salida. and Wellsville
Hot Springs are six miles down the
Arkansas river. The fame of these
| springs as cure for all blood dis
eases, rheumatism, stomach trouble,
etc, reaches across the continent.
The temperature OF the water never
changes, and the heat is so intense
that eggs can be cooked to suit the
taste in from three to five minutes.
The fires that burned centuries ago
are now out, but the marks are dis
tinctly visible, and it does not require
a big stretch of the imagination to
see the slumbering volcano belching
forth fire and smoke, or to see gold
en- streams of lava pouring down the
numerous gulches and run kissing
into the Arkansas river. Abundance
OF lava rock between Salida aud the
crater prove this to have been a fact
i'll ages past. The crater is reached
through winding canon known as
Cottonwood Canon, by horse or burro.
The trip can be made in half a day,
which is OF great interest and the land
scape view from the crater is beyond
description.
The famous "Garden of the Gods, -
near Manitou are excelled within two
miles OF Salida. 1t is a garden re-
plete with natural wonders-deposits
OF sandstone and lime rock, odd in
formatian and grotesque in shape,
are to be seen on every hand. A
beautiful drive over pleasant noun
tain roads about eight miles brings
us into Castle Garden This wonder
ful piece of natures handiwork has
the appearance of having been CHS
eled out by giants of the medieval
times and is intensely Interesting from
the time you enter the shadow of it's
perpendicular walls until you pass out
and your attention is drawn to the
wild landscape on every hand. In
any direction you will find natures
handlwork in it's most pleasing form.
NO section in Colorado, which is
the leading precious metal producing
state OF the Union, presents the op-
portunities for development of gold,
silver, lead and copper mines as does
the territory directly tributary to
Salida. The little city is located in a
beautiful and productive valley, hav-
ing paved streets, cement walks
beautiful parks and residences. On
every hand completely surrounding
it, are the hills that are rich in miner.
al deposits and all djractly trihutary