The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-10-09
SAYS REBUILDING OF
CRIPPLE CREEK ROAD
NO DIFFICULT MATTER
Editor The Record:


that can be made easily in the day Is
that OF The Phantom Canon. 1t seems
rather an out-of-the-way place. The
fact that a mile or two OF walking Is
necessary prevents its becoming pop
ular with tourists. Recently quite d
large party Of us-thirteen In fact
an unlucky number. made an all-day
jaunt IL 1t. starting early In the morn
Ing and taking breakfast and all the
other meals on the way. II one lacks
appetite this is surely the way 4
acquire a robust relish for every thing
good to eat. II is astonishing how
little trouble II is to roll three stones
In position to kindie a fire between
them and set a can OF coffee to boil
ing. Such a trip In the kind OF wealth
er we now have is enjoyed by all from
the baby OF three years old to tn
gray naired one OF sixty.
In this expedition our equipment,
was a good stout horse and one OF
the ordinary delivery wagons. Into
this ten persons seated on good fresh
hay covered with a tarpaulin or can
vas seated themselves with comfort
The wagon party drove to the lit
tie station of cramer on the nov
abandoned Cripple Creek railroad
There they were met by three vigor-
Gus members OF the party who had
borrowed n hand-car from its obiiging
custodian and pumped themselves out
to that poist to which the track is
still intact. There we loaded the pro
visions remaining from our morning
feast on the car.
The greater part Of the party then
walked up the track about a mile 10
the beginning Of the break in the rail
road through the canon. followed by
the provisions on the hand-car. We
then ate our second meal amid the
scenic splendors of the canon Just
where the granite formation displaccs
the red sandstone which up TO this
point forms so striking n feature ol
the canon. During this mile OF walk
ing every turn is full OF pleasant ex-
periences. Besides the natural inter
est excited by the fantastic shapes OF
the rocky crests. forming the walls OF
the canon and which probably gave Il
name. the debris of the wrecked rail-
road which has floated down and
lodged Is full OF wouder as showing
what the waters can do when the
floods come in force.
There are steel rails in some cases
still fastened together by the boltcd
plates and entirely free from the ties
which lie full three-quariers OF a mile
down stream from the last break In
the railroad. Many of the rails are
bridges which went out with the
food. Where the last break In the
rails took place the irons are bent in
big U-shape and one end Is still
fastened to the road bed and the 9th
er turned down stream. At this place
also there is one rail lodged in tree
fully fifteen feet above the bottom Of
the creek bed.
For perhaps a quarter OF a mile az
from this point every rail and tie Is
gone and a large part of the road bed
Is washed away.
After our dinner while other MEM
bcrs of the party we're walking up
this gorge picking up the choicest
specimens OF minerals We have yet
found in any locality took the horse
which we had unhitched and brought
along with us aud rode up the canon
perhaps more than mile. Now / am
not railroad builder nor a civil en-
gineer. but could see things plainly
that would be patent to any man who