The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-09
Communication
TRIP TO THE WEST

Liberty have received letter from
their grand sons, Ralph and Hoy Jen.
kins. who are making trip to the
Pacific Coast. The letter follows:
Dear Grandparents:
We arrived in Colorado Springs this
morning. We were in Denver three
days and had fine time; some of the
most beautiful mountain scenery that
one could imagine. We are both feel.
ing fine and having good time. We
meet many people every day from all
over the world. We have had com
pany on every trip we have taken.
Tuesday we went on a wonderful
mountain trip over the Moffitt Road
and passed through twelve feet of
snow at Corona, but did not stop as it
showed so hard the day before the
buildings had not been dug out yet.
However, we got out on the other side
and had SNOWFALL fight; washed the
girls faces and picked wild flowers
which bloom just at the edge of the
snow where it is melting.
Wednesday we went to Silver
Plume, trip up Clear Creek Canyon
past the place where gold was first dis
covered in 1S4S. We saw placer mine
in operation. The hillsides are full of
holes where people have prospected.
At the end of the journey we had
three hours as the Aerial Tramway,
which takes you to the top of Sunrise
Peak, in basket, had broken cable
and the train which went to the top
of Mt. Mcclellan had had wreck the
day before. We decided to climb part
way ip the mountain. We had great
success and assembled about 1000 feet
above the valley or to an elevation of
12,500 feet.
On this climb we found many aban-
doned gold and silver mines and sever
al in operation as this produces more
than half the gold and silver used in
the United States.
We saw Democratic and Republican
mountains one on each tide Of the Can
yon. Republican Mountain contains
1913 mines in operation and last year
produced $6,500000 in gold and silver.
This trip was very long-15O miles
and made very arduous days work.
The trip we took Tuesday was much
finer but can tell about that when We
get home, however, we passed through
2S tunnels in 12 miles.
Last night attended regular lodge
session of Elks in their Denver home
and cannot describe it on paper for it
was grand-1,147 members present.
We had beautiful weather while in
Denver but everybody is wearing over
coats and raincoats here as it is very
cold.
1t was just right, however, to take a
trip this afternoon and we went to
South Cheyenne Canyon and Seven
Falls. After going up over the falls
we climbed the mountains to Helen
Hunt Jackson's grave, and placed a
stone on the pile and returned one as
souvenir as per her request years
ago. The tourists have raised pile
of stones in her memory 10 feet high
and 25 feet in diameter; this is over
LOO feet above the canyon and falls.
We always say that the scenery we
are looking at at the present time is
the most beautiful we have seen but ii
there is much difference it is very
much the same to us.
Everything has been far beyond
what | expected except the Mississip'
pi river.
We are very tired at night and sleep
| we'll. We have been getting up from
$50 to 600 and do not get back till
night.
We are in Y. M. c. A., Colorado
| Springs. This is wonderful city with
streets 1875 feet wide.
We have not seen Pixies Peak YET
and will not go up till it clears up and
quits showing We had talked of climb
ing it but have given it up, as 1t Is
dangerous in the extreme; dizziness
fainting and freezing; there have beer
several deaths just recently The ther
mometer is at 80 degrees there; thai
is not very hot.
We have many trips to make out o
here and won't leave before the 9th O
July.
Think we can make it all right t.
Los Angeles by the 14th, so can at
tend the Elks National Convention
there.
| With love To all