The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-04
CONTINUED from Yesterday. J

views the Grand Canyon declares
that it is indescribable. and immedi-
a3ely thereafter proceeds to describe
it, in anywhere from two thousand
to fifty thousand words. No matter
how many descriptions one reads of
it, however, he may be sure that
when he sees it, 1t will be entirely
different from any of his precon-
ceived ideas of it. 1t is one of the
few much-touted things which are
not disappointment, though the
fulfillment Of ones expectations may
not be in the exact form of the men
tai picture he may bring to the
scene.
The Canyon is reached by a
branch OF the Santa Fee railroad, de-
bouching from the main line at Will
liams. Arizona. When travelled
through this section some years ago.
there was only stage coach line,
and the trip from Williams or Flag
staff was attended with some dis
comfort. Now the railroad carries
you almost to the brink of this great
natural wonder. 1t exacts a consid-
Grafton for the service-after the
manner of railroads.&c. fare for the
round trip between Williams and
the Canyon being $3.50. AS the
branch is IS miles in length, it will
be seen the rate is about "a cents
per mile. Travel is heavy at this
time of year. but very light in the
winter months. This year, in par
ticular, owing to the Exposition and
other considerations favoring west
ern travel, throngs of people are Wis
iting the Canyon. We found hun
dreds of visitors there, and the
tracks at the branch terminus re.
sembled the yards at union station
so many Pullmans were parked
there.
The Santa Fe operates large ho-
tel, at which one may secure accom-
modatiOns, if the house is not full,
at Sc day, up. (The elasticity of
that term up" has been impressed
upon me and every other traveller, oh,
so often!) There is kind of sub
sidiarW arrangement for accommoda-
lions, called Bright Angels Camp"
anncicfinu Of
restaurant. These two places,
which are practically under the same
management, have a monopoly on all
entertainment and refreshment privi-
leges. Usually. they are adequate;
but the visitors were so numerous at
the time I was there that they had
to stand in line to get a sandwich
or cup of coffee. The government
at present exercises a certain degree
of jurisdiction over the lands; and it
is to be hoped that the entire area
embracing the canyon will be con-
verified into national park, conserv-
ing this great natural wonder for
the benefit of all the people, with
;uch regulations as will insure reas-
enable rates for service and accom-
modations.
The Grand Canyon of the Colorado
river is about $50 miles in length
At the point where the railroad lands
the tourist, it ranges from 10 to 25
miles in width, and it is about a
mile in depth. Now, that great area
is not, as might be supposed, one
vast chasm; from the bottom there
rise innumerable mountains of rock,
some Of them reaching to the height
Of the canyons rim-which means
that from the depths of the canyon
itself mountains rise to a mile in
height. The effect is wonderful
panorama of peaks, which assume
all kinds of fantastic shapes-cones,
pyramids, and cathedrals-and in
stead of looking up to the summit of |
these peaks from the rim of the can !
y Oh We iooh wv" upOb tuCIi, vi arc 4
upon level with them. Between
them are deep gorges-vague, mys-
ferrous depths, the farthest recesses
Of which for the most part are hid
den from the eye. In effect, there are
many canyons instead of one. The |
river is invisible except from certain |
points of vantage: at these points
,ne may catch glimpses of it, a mar
row white ribbon, as 1t rushes foam
ing at the feet of the mighty rocks.
L looks like a rivulet across which
,ne could step; but its width aver
ages about 300 feet. Only once has
is meanderings, through its tortu-
JUS and tumultuous course, been fol-
owed by man. Two hardy fellows
in a small boat far above