DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN ROUTE. 21 
nearly all of South Park and furnishes most of the water for the 
city’s use. In the early autumn, when the snow has disappeared 
from the mountain tops, these streams are scarcely able to supply 
the city’s needs. To remedy this deficiency a dam has been built some 
distance up South Fork valley to impound the water and hold it 
until needed. This dam has produced a fine body of water known 
as Cheesman Lake. 
From South Platte the traveler may easily return to Denver, or 
if he chooses to go farther he can continue his journey up the canyon, 
which in some places takes on the aspect of a common mountain 
valley and in others is bounded by rocky walls several hundred feet 
high and so steep that they appear to be vertical. The massive 
granite, on weathering, tends to peel off like the layers of an onion, 
leaving a curved surface, in places like that of a great dome. (See 
Pl. XI, B.) Such a feature is well shown on a large scale at the 
station of Dome Rock. Where the granite is traversed by many 
fissures or joints it is so easily broken down that few ledges can be 
seen, and the surface is covered with a mantle of finely broken rock. 
The roughest part of the canyon above South Platte lies between 
Cliff and Estabrook, where the gneiss is again exposed and makes a 
harrow, rugged defile. This canyon, like the one below it, has 
several aspects, which depend upon the character of the rock and 
upon the vosition of the joints. 
OTHER TRIPS OF INTEREST. 
The 70-mile circle trip through the Denver Mountain Park covers 
the most remarkable municipally owned park in the world. Within 
an hour’s ride from Denver are the foothills of the park, backed by 
the towering peaks of the Continental Divide, with wild flowers, 
whispering pines, and singing torrents. The park includes a game 
sanctuary for buffalo, deer, and other Rocky Mountain animals, a 
free automobile camp, shelter houses, camping facilities, and hotels. 
The body of Col. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), the noted scout and 
Plainsman, rests on Lookout Mountain. 
Many other beautiful and interesting drives may be made from 
Denver, and many railroad trips may be made that will well repay 
the traveler for the time spent, but some of these would consume more 
than one day and will therefore not be mentioned. One exception 
worth noting, however, is a trip to the Rocky Mountain National 
Park, which lies just back of Estes Park and includes Longs Peak. 
This park should be visited by all who delight in rugged mountain 
scenery. | 
80697°—22_3 
