CHAPTER VII.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCENERY—SOUTH.

.

ERTRAM: I shall have to take you away from the overland railroad, and invite you to perform some rapid journeys with me, as I lead you to some picturesque scenes to the south of the line in the State of Colorado.

Before we leave the track, however, look at this view of a railroad bridge over one of the creeks or valleys in the Great Basin. The engineers of the old world are fairly astonished at the daring of our engineers on this side of the world, with whom it often becomes a necessity to accomplish feats which could never enter their heads if they were constructing railroads in countries of a less bold physical contour, or with unlimited means at their command. In this case, for example, the railroad has to cross a chasm of perhaps a quarter of a mile in width, and several hundred feet in depth. No time nor money for elaborate masonry! The thing has to be done quickly, cheaply, and, withal, effectively. This leads to a close study of the possibilities of timber, and the result is a bridge which, under inspection, is pronounced perfectly safe for travel. Occasionally, of course, a collapse takes place, and one hears of engineers rushing their trains at full speed across a rickety bridge and seeing it fall to pieces behind them as they just reach the opposite side. Whether such a thing has ever really happened, or is simply a feat of imagination by story writers, I cannot say; but we all know that not long ago what was thought to be a very solid bridge over the river Tay, in Scotland, collapsed suddenly while a train was passing over it, and that train and passengers disappeared into the abyss. On the whole, the timber bridges of America have stood the test of experience remarkably well, I think.

KATE: Hübner says that the last sensation of fear in the journey from the Rocky Mountains westward is the peril of passing over the trestle-work bridges near Sacramento City. I suppose this remark would apply in general to trestle

Rocky Mountain Scenery-South.

67

work bridges everywhere. The greater the abyss to be crossed, of course the greater the apparent peril.

Here is a picture giving one a general idea of the comformation of cañon scenery in Colorado.

THE PRESIDENT: Will some member of the club be good enough to furnish us with a few geographical and other

points about Colorado? Perhaps you are prepared to do this, Bertram.

BERTRAM: I have collected a few particulars. Colorado is about 380 miles east and west, by about 280 miles north and south, and is almost a parallelogram in shape. Geographically it may be said to have three natural divisions-the mountains, the foot-hills, and the plains. The mountains intersect the territory north and south, and have many branches and spurs. In the center of this mountain re gion, behind the peaks seen from Denver, are what are called the Parks, a series of immense picturesque valleys bounded by mountain elevations. Of those the principal are, the North Park, with an area of 2,500 square miles; Middle

Park, 3,000 square miles; South Park, 2,200 square miles, and St. Luis Park, nearly as large as all the other three put together. There are many other smaller parks scattered all through this mountain system.

MR. GOLDUST: These parks would dwarf the noblest of the magnificent parks surrounding the palaces of the titled aristocracy of the old world. What scope is

there not in these regions for human energy, and what a future may there not be for a country so richly gifted!

BERTRAM: Of course, if I were to invite you to a walk or a ride round one of

these gigantic parks, you might reasonably decline the invitation. Here, however, is a little sketch of Middle Park, which gives a good general idea of these "pleasure grounds of the gods." The foot-hills, averaging 7,000 or 8,000 feet in altitude,

lie to the east of the mountains, and slope towards the plains, the latter consisting of a series of valleys and ridges traversed by many streams, and with an elevation above the sea of about six thousand feet. West of the Rocky Mountains is the easterly side of what we understand as the Great Basin. The parks are watered by numerous small streams, the head waters of the larger rivers. They are most interesting regions for the geologist, and are full of mineral springs of very valuable medicinal properties. The climate of Colorado is said to be remarkably healthy, with mild winters and cool summers. The high mountains are, of course, to be excepted. The atmosphere also is peculiarly rare, invigorating, and tonic in its quality. The pasturage is excellent and capable of sustaining vast herds of stock, and this industry is progressing very rapidly.

MIDDLE PARK.

Another of the remarkable features of Colorado scenery is its cañons. Some of these are within view from the cars of the railroad. Here is the Grand cañon of the Colorado, where the river cuts its way through many miles of solid granite, in some places 7,000 feet high.

The Clear Creek cañon is on the
Colorado Central Railroad.
This gorge

is so narrow that in many places the torrent which roars along the bottom fills up the whole space. Often the mountains seem to close in upon its tortuous windings, so as to leave no possibility of exit, till by some sudden turn a passage is discovered. Far overhead are peaks covered by eternal snows. through this cañon the railroad is constructed-a narrow-gauge line, of coursefollowing the windings of the ravine, and with the sharpest of sharp curves.

And yet,