Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-09-17
ANOTHER VERY IN
TEREST|Nc| LETTER
Mrs. H. NJ. Closz Writes About the
Rockies, the Wonderful Royal
Gorge, Etc.

are leaving Denver today, Sept. 8.
The sun is shining but blue haze
fingers around the mountain. crests
about the city and Grey's Peak, the
highest in the world, (15,0O0 feet),
looked quite ordinary in the dis
lance. 1t seems strange that Pixies
Peak should have gained it's present
popularity, since there are twenty
six peaks in the range higher than
Pixies Peak.
Our night in Denver at 'The Will
son." was quite like home, but our
sleep was somewhat disturbed by
white wings" not ghostly visitors
Ia very practical army of street.
cleaners who clear away every yes
tige of refuse, then flood the pave
ment with a river of city water,
which supply is brought forty miles
from the foothills.
Denver did not make the mistake
that some cities have made in mar
rowing the width of streets to the
proportion of alleys. She has evil
IDENTIFY built for the progress of one
generation, at least, but perhaps in
this great western out Of doors Of
nature, space can be better utilized
in streets than would be profitable
for our high-priced Iowa land.
With our departure the labor
union men resumed their work, re-
freshed from their holiday, and
doubtless will forget their strength
ere voting time arrives. The siren
uous Bull Moose may be popular in
our state, but the western contin-
gent of the labor federation are not
"dee-lighted" at his candidacy.
Denver, like every other metropo-
lis, has its problem of corruption in
high places, and Just at present the
"spasm of segregating the victims
of the social evil is occupying the
members of the pulpit and grand
jury. fear me that like the record
of some of the devastating plaques
of history, so many victims require
attention that there would be few
left to administer the remedies.
We are travelling along the foot
hills of the Rockies, some of which
seem very near at hand The hill
sides are covered with scrubby tim
Der, the verdure of which intensifies
the reds and yellows of the surfaces
behind which must be stored mater
ial sufficient for construction pur-
poses of the world for centuries
The rocky cliffs at Dubuque give
one an idea of these foothills.
We have just passed Castle Rock.
The village is nestled comfortably
against the hillside and the massive
formation which gives the town It's
name is left behind. Elephant Rock
reminds one of the story of the blind
men, who after feeling different
part of the pachyderm, each gave an
entirely different report of his size
and shape. As with Elephant Rock,
so with all conditions of life. The
view point and surroundings modify
the impression and sensation.
We are nearing Pixies Peak
(14.109 feet) and at its base Is a
home like scene. Jersey cows are
grazing in shady dell and a corn
field is striving to make good,
though another six weeks will be
necessary to bring it to the present
development of Iowa corn. Colora-
do Springs, from the train, is evil
IDENTIFY beautiful place. but as we
stop here on the return trip for al
side line to the Garden of the
Gods" / leave its report until later
The telephone lines at this place are
quite as numerous as in our local
community.
We are now about 5000 feet
above sea level and have lost sight
OF the foothills. The topography Is
similar to any undulating plateau
and all the varied products OF the
farm are growing, hay and alfalfa
hold the preference, but corn and
cane seem to- thrive. The soil is of
reddish hue and seems capable of
producing abundantly IL water can
be provided in sufficient quantity. A
substantial looking log cabin has
just been focused on the vision and
just beyond. the cactus begins to
loom as the great sand stone rocks of
Colorado become numerous. The al
kali beds are not calculated to i'm
press an Iowan very favorably. AS
we near the Arkansas river. vege-
tation grows greener and the trees
look more like home. The sage
brush here looks green and 1t seems
that IL such vegetation can grow
from sand and rock crevices, It
ought to become valuable under fav-
orahla surrp,, =, diug r ord doNh{ lacc