The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-06-05
"oUT WEST"
w. Frank 6abeoek Of Pownal on the
Pacific Coast
San Francisco, Cal, Nav I. 1912


The second section of train which
was on left Denver April 1S at 8 o.
clock a. M, Rocky mountain time, on
its TAI mile journey to Salt Lake
City, Utah. Before noon We reached
Manitou, elevation 1907 feet, (the
Saratoga Of the West,) where there
are several medicinal springs, only a
few miles from Colorado Springs, "a |
misnomer for there are no springs |
there.)
Maniton has several large hotels, !
most important being the Cliff House. |
This is the nearest point to ascend
Pixies Peak by the cog railroad nine
miles to the summit, which is 14,109
feet above sea level. could plainly
view it all covered in snow. The A.
u. S. signal station is on the summit
The round trip fare to the summit of
Pixies Peak is $500 and takes four
hours, giving one plenty Of time to
view the wonderful scenery. Mount
Maniton is also discernable from the
train
Next came Colorado Springs, elev-
alton 1913 feet, an ideal residence
city of about 10000 people. 1t is IA
nous as a health resort and called
the city OF sunshine, over 300 days
of sunshine year; cool summers and
quite mild winters. 1t is the largest
city in the Pixies Peak section. Near
there is the Garden of the Gods" "
Williams canyon, and the Cave OF
the Winds There is also Palmer
park and Monument Valley park,
beautfed by General Palmer at d
cost of over $750,O00. The Union
Printers Home, National Sanatorium
Of Modern Woodmen of America, Col
orado School for Deaf, Dumb and
Blind, are located there. The city
contains besides many fine business
blocks and many costly residences
Cripple Creek is reached by a so
mile ride by rail from Colorado
Springs. II is an all days trip. Over
S250OO0,OO0 worth of gold has been
obtained from the mines there since
the discovery of gold in 1891.
About 1880 we reached Pueblo, Col.
elevation 1868 feet which is at the
foot of the Rocky mountains and is
termed the Pittsburgh OF the West. q"
The city has a population of about
$4,000. being the second city in size
in the state. II Is the center of the
smelling and steel industries of that
region The state asylum for insane
Is seen on the left just before the
large Union railroad station is reach
ed. It's streets are finely paved and
electrically lighted and there is an
excellent electric ar service. 1t also
has first class hotels and large agri.
cultural and stock raising interests.
| About 20 miles west Of Pueblo on
the plains, we crossed the Arkansas
river near Beaver A few miles far
Their on we passed Portland, the
Portland cement sregion, with its
large and busy plants. The next
stop was Florence, where Pixies Peak
looms into view again. 80 miles dis
tant. Derricks project in the air on
every side as II is a rich oil section
of the best quality. There is large
refinery running day and night. Port
land also has a number OF cyanide
plants for reducing Cripple Creek gold
ore
Ascending the mountains beside
the swiftly flowing, sparkling river
for nine miles, we arrived at Canon
City elevation 1898 feet. population
about 5000. II is the entrance to the
Grand Canyon OF the Arkansas. The
town has hustling air of activity
good business houses and residences
II has large coal output and has no
/, and cold soda springs. The stat,
penitentiary is located a half mil,
from the station and is in full view
from the train. After passing tn,
penitentiary. the train rounds a Ion,
curve and begins its way into III,
Grand Canon through which the Ar
kansas river flows. The train winds
] and twists to pass through the mos
amazing chasm in the world, pene
= trated by railroad In the Roya
, Gorge, where the road is single tract
In the narrowest part, which is abou
! 30 feet wide and entirely filled by tn,
river. there is long hanging bridge
' over which trains pass. being support
= ed by inverted V shaped steel girder
fastened In the solid rock on bot
sides. The river rushes on wildl'
and uprOariously underneath AL
through the gorge the red granite an,
= gneiss walls tower high In the ali
{ perpendicularly to a height OF owe
J 26O0 feet, or approximately one-hal
( mile. The road is so circuitous tina
) passengers may secure good viey
! from the windows OF the ten coacl
train drawn by two. large Mogul en-
gines at nearly any point as the
I wind around the immense mountain
" rock In the course the river flows
We passed a concrete reservoir
b 4 which Is the source OF the Canoi
. city water supply. being plped 70
niles The large water conduit 1
plainly seen from the train on tn
side OF the rocks and hills, over ra
vines and gorges. all the way iron
he city a similar system supple
Pueblo but from another source.
n Passing along. could get glimpse
Of side canons and high mountai
peaks, all topped with snow. the sam
= as the high elevations covering IN
Grand Canon. but none on n level @
NJ the railroad. We passed throug
y several short tunnels. cut throug
solid rock. passed the Echo Gin,
Castle Gate. which rises to n heigf
OF over 1900 feet. the mount OF IN
Holy Cross. which has a very larg
cross ON one side. made by depre
sions In the rock. snow remaining
them. making white cross until lat
In the spring time.
Proceeding onward Salida. elev
N lion 103S feet. is reached. Il M
" a population OF about $500. Il il
Junction point where passengers ca
"A change for the narrow guage and 8
~ through the Marshall Pass. throue
81 The Black Canon OF the Gunnison. r
u. Joining the main line OF the d. an