The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-09-05

Its completion marke the beginning
OF new area in this section OF Colo
rado. Economically. IL is medium
by which the fresh products of the
orchards. fields and gardens of the
valley may find a quick and ready
market among the people OF the hill
cities TO the north. Sentlmentally
IL has a value not TO be estimated in
dollars and cents. Thru its agency
the good people OF the Cripple Greek
District are brot in closer touch with
the people of the valley towns and en-.
abled thereby TO partake of their
fruits and flowers and vegetables;
while those Of the valley may easily
have the opportunity to breathe the
pure cool air OF the higher attitudes
and more frequently enjoy the won
ders OF the worlds greatest gold camp
The new road taps q reservoir OF
scenic beauty almost unrivalled in
land filled with mountain wonders
Heretofore. like the poets flower that
was born to blush unseen. or the gem
borne by the unfathomed caves OF
ocean. the scenery of this hitherto in.
accessible wonderland was wasted on
account Of being barred by nature
from human eyes.
In some respects the Phantom Can
on highway Is unique. Unlike other
mountain roads u has no steep hills
or sudden descents. but is construct.
ed on a water grade so gradual that
the rise or fall is hariy noticeable.
This is due TO the fact that II follows
the old Florence & Cripple Creek gail
road bed thruout its entire extent.
Perhaps no other highway in the
country has really cost SO much per
mile as this one. The $4,000 has re-
Gently been spent on the road BY the
State Highway commission In conjunc-
tion with Fremont and Teller coun.
ties. is a paltry sum in comps rison
with what the r. & c. G. railroad
spent a quarter OF a century ago 10
construct it's road bed thru these
mountains. In fact. II has been sug.
gested that the road ought TO be
called the Million Dollar Highway"
for that is about what II cost 10 build
II.
The attempt TO describe the scenery
along this road would be useless. We
do not want 10. as Mr. Bradbury OF
the Chamber OF Commerce says, bank
rupt the English language" in trying
to do so. suficeit TO say that the
scenery is very beautiful. The road
winds in almost never ending curves
thru the canon. \ sparkling little
stream of water alongside adds TO
the pleasantness OF the drive The
high cliffs above. eroded into fantas.
tic shapes by the elements are OF
never failing interest. The graceful.
slender fir trees In the canon below
reaching upward to the light appeal to
the aesthetic nature. while the aspens
and the cottonwoods and the pines,
whose outreaching branches In many
portions Of the road form long shady
avenues. give sense OF rest and re-
taxation to the busy traveller.
Phantom Canon highway is most
name. II appeals to the
tourist who enjoys any
thing that savors Of romance or mys-
terry. How II came 10 be called Phan,
tom canon Is TO the writer unknown.
Possibly the early hunters or pros
pectors in this weird. lonely and Sc
cluded region could with imaginative
eye. see ghosts and, goblins ever and
anon appear and disappear among the
grotesque figures in the cliffs above;
or when the shades OF evening fell and
the shadows chased themselves across
the csnons II, would require but little
stretch Of the imagination to resolve
them into mysterious and phantom
forms.
Guy u. Hardy OF Canon City. pre-
sided at the dedicatory exercises.
The Girls Patriotic chorus under
the direction Of Miss MillIcent Hteacy.
opened the program with severss war
sQngs.
LEONARD 3. Curtis Of Colorado
Gprinss, etate hisbway commission.