La Junta tribune., 1916-08-26
PICTURESQUE COLORADO.
Agricultural Editor ON Another Bust
Seeing America First and
Picking Wild Flowers.

searches In the vicinity of Colorado
Springs for a few days. According
ly We went up Saturday and the fol-
lowing is small portion of the ex-
periences resulting:
We We're accompanied on the en-
pedition by Bert d. Snyder. of East
Holbrook. who acted as guide, friend
and counsellor. and during the last
few miles OF the descent from Pixies
Peak administered what little COM
fort and consolation could be deriv-
ed from the circumstances.
This trip up the Peak on foot. by
moonlight, for the purpose OF watch
ing the sun rise Is something that We
shall merely allude to and then for
get. Those who have made the trip
will extend sympathy and those who
merely rode the cog train. or the au-
tos, couldn't realize II from a mere
description. Even riding the leisure
ly burro would beat it-a little. We
admit that the trip can be made on
foot, but after travelling over nine
miles OF steep descent. taking those
enormous long steps, you envy the
man who has done nothing but shovel
coal or carry the hod for ten hours.
What we wish to notice especially
in this article is the Colorado Mid
land trip. This IS popularity known
as the Wild Flower Excursion, leav-
ing Colorado Springs at a m. dai-
ly and returning at p. m. The trip
covers fifty-seven and one half miles
of mountain railway. lis miles In
all, and contains some OF the most
magnificent scenery in the world.
The start is made from the Santa
Fe depot at Colorado Springs. going
to Manitou via Colorado City. The
el and rises more or less gradually.l
but not enough to pe uncomfortable.
There is an observation car on the
rear OF the train. consisting of a flat
car fitted up with comfortable seats
Here passengers can obtain an un-
obstructed view OF all the mountains.
streams. bluffs. crags. precipices,
canons, boulders, waterfalls, and all
the rest OF IT, The track is lined on
both sides with all the mountain
scenery any one could wish to see in
one day. There are eleven tunnels.
the longest 7s0 feet In length and
the shortest 100 feet. Tunnel No.
is first, 2ll feet long. Here the
road begins the ascent of four per
cent grade. 21l fee, to the mile. Two
of the most powerful type OF noun
tain engines. with 20x26 inch cylin-
ders. are necessary to negotiate this
line here. Tunnel No. is 2l5 feet
long. The change from broad day
light to total darkness Il almost
startling to the uninitiated and pre-
sents an opportunity to the honey
mooners that they are not slow 10
take advantage of. The lights are
lit on the trip up but are turned out
on the return to bring out the full
effect Besides this. the smoke from
two toiling engines. mingling with
the atmosphere. helps to overcome
the ratification OF the air for a brief
time.
A few rods further on Is the Bux-
ton Bridge-one OF three bridges like
II In the world. II has q four per
cent grade and sixteen degree
curve. After this come three more
tunnels. Then comes the first view
OF the historic Indian trail. the Ute
Pass. The Lincoln highway runs
along side the track for some consid.
cradle distance. forming part OF the
transcontincntal highway from New
York TO San Francisco. The road was
built mainly by convict labor and II
Is a fine example OF road engineer
ing. Automobiles by the score can
be seen speeding along this road
keeping pace with the train. One Of
the most lasting Impressions we re-
ceived Of this scenic spot, was when
we stood on the Temple drive on the
bluns Of the opposite side Of the
canon and watched the apparently
toy automobiles passing. with the toy
train OF the Colorado Midland disap-
pesrins into and emerging from the
tunnels and csnons. Then we 60
through tunnels Nos. 6. 7 and 3.
Next sre the Black Crass. The road
bed here IL cut forty y.seven feet deep
into the solid granite. The road all
along this section rests on . solid
grsaits fousdstioa and was con.