The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-08-24
NEWS ABOUT THE VICTORY
HIGHWAY


tory Highway association, with head
quarters at Topeka, has just complet-
I'D a trip over the Victory Highway
from Denver to Salt Lake City, and
has made a careful study of the feat
ures of that stretch of the route.
The scenic points of interest and
the condition of the road were studied
by Blow, who has made the following
report to the headquarters Of the as
sOciation in Topeka.
From Denver by way of Golden
and over Lookout Mountain, one OF
the most scenic mountain highways IN
America, with a good clear road into
Idaho Springs.
From Idaho Springs to the top of
Berthoud Pass, all good except about
seven miles from Empire to the foot
of Berthoud Pass. The road over the
pass built by the government, IS one
of the best mountain roads in the
world and is of great scenic interest.
At the west base of Berthoud is de-
tour, bad in wet weather, to avoid
construction work.
From there, clear over to Steam
boat Springs, is a thirty
road, rough only in short stretches
and very scenic, especially over the
Rabbit Ear Pass, wehre the rocks
from which the pass takes its name
stick up like the ears of a giant jack
rabbit in hiding behind the mountains
to the north.
To show the condition of the road
it is only necessary to say that a daily
auto stage makes better time than the
train between Denver and Steamboat
Springs.
From Steamboat Springs to Craig
another stage runs on road that IS,
with the exception of a few places, a
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. road.
From Craig to Vernal is also gen
orally good. Some construction work
is going on where Moffat county IS
putting a gravel surface on the Vic
tory Highway. This condition con-
tinues clear to K ranch at the state
line, and between the state line and
Nernal there are only two bad
stretches, one over Cockleburr Flat
and the other over Baking Powder
Flat. Beyond Baking Powder Flat
the road runs over mesa and around
to the south of Split Mountain, where
the Bear River runs through a canon
which has never been traversed by
man except in winter, when it was
frozen solid. In this canon are cliff
dwellings, most of which are under
cliffs that Overhang, so that most of
the prehistoric dwellings are totally
inaccessible. From some of these
dwellings, however, pottery and other
articles have been taken by the Nor
gans, owners of the X ranch, who
say that these cliff dwellings are
among the most remarkable in the
world.
Split Mountain Canon is close to
the Victory Highway and from the
Mesa the tourist can look down into it
from a distance of about two miles.
Swinging around to the south of
Split Mountain, we look down into the
Ashley valley, where Jensen and Yer
nal are situated. This is a green
paradise of a valley from which a
fOur-ton White truck hauls tons of
honey, butter, apricOts and butter fat
TO Craig. The produce Is sent from
Craig to Denver by rail.
This four-ton truck operates at a
profit between Vernal and Craig, a
distance of 1875 miles, which speaks
volumes for the conditions of the
Victory Highway btween those points.
Near Jensen is the DinOSaur Ma
ttonal Monument, where the fossilized
skeletons of prehistoric monsters are
being excavated by the United States
government.
From Vernal to Roosevelt, thirty
three miles, the road is good, with
some road being built by the federal
government.
Roosevelt to Myton, good.
Myton to Fruitland by way of
Duchesne, about fifty miles, bad road,
the worst between Denver and Salt
Lake City.
Fruitland to Park City, by way of
Strawberry Reservoir, a big lake
which is preserved as a game refuge
by the U. S. Government, and which
is located in forest reserve. The
road is mostly good and that part
which was built by the Government
Forest Service is very good. More
work on this stretch is planned.
Beyond Strawberry and down
Daniels canon, leading into Heber, q
fine canon road built by the govern
ment.
Heber to Park City, about nineteen
miles, ten of which is bad because OF
heavy hauling from a mine.
Park City to Salt Lake City, good
Near Roosevelt each year the Ute
Indians hold the religious, tribal Bear
Dance and Sun Dance, one of the
most important Indian ceremonies OF
the United States. North of Duches-
ne are many mountain lakes. Al
Heber are the Hot Pots" most
unique limestone spring formation
Park City is one of the most typica.
mining cmaps in the west.
So much for the route Between
Park City and Salt Lake City, the
Victory Highway and the Lincoln
Highway are Joined. Stages run from
Denver to Salt Lake City over the
Victory Highway, proving the com
mercial Importance and the practica-
bility of the road.
In what Is known as the Initial
Pin L &c AEn 49, 4