DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN ROUTE. 47 
of North Cheyenne Canyon far above the rugged scenic part and then 
tunnels through the dividing ridge and circles around the slopes of 
South Cheyenne Canyon, all the time climbing so as to cross the 
divide at its head. 
In this. long climb the traveler may obtain many beautiful views 
of rugged mountain slopes covered with a stately forest of evergreen 
trees, of foamy cascades that plunge down gulches and ravines, of 
great bare rock slopes, such as the one shown in Plate XXV, B, and 
of far-off Colorado Springs, spread out on the level prairie like a 
miniature garden. 
The crest is passed at the station of Summit (altitude 9,913 feet), 
and the train then begins the descent of the west side. This side is 
much less steep than the one up which the train has laboriously 
climbed, and along it the roadbed winds about from one valley to 
another as it crosses the headwaters of a number of mountain 
streams. Many of the valleys of these streams contain ranches, but 
some are mere Pais in the rugged granite, such as is shown in 
Plate XXVII, B 
The train finally arrives at Goldfield Junction, in the midst of 
some of the largest gold mines of the Goldfield district (Pl. XXVIII, 
A). If the traveler wishes to see the big mines and mills to the best 
advantage he should here transfer to the “ High Line” trolley, which 
carries him around mountain tops, among mines, mills, and dump 
heaps of waste rock, and finally lands him in the once famous town of 
Cripple Creek, the center of one of the best-known mining districts 
in Colorado. Returning he can see most of the low-lying part of the 
Cripple Creek-district from the steam cars, especially the great mines 
at Victor and Goldfield. The district was prospected at several 
periods, but it was not until the autumn of 1890 that Robert Womack 
discovered gold in place at what is now the Gold King mine, or in 
the flank of Poverty Gulch, just southeast of the town of Cripple 
Creek. Since then the dtc has produced more than $300,000,000 
in gold, and its present yield is about $350,000 a month. A more 
detailed account of the discovery, development, and present con- 
dition of the district is given below by F. L. Ransome.” Further 
information concerning the district is given in the Geological Sur- 
vey’s Professional Paper 54. 
“The Cripple Creek district is one | cant rather because it was the first de- 
of the most interesting, productive, 
and thoroughly studied gold districts 
in the United States. ‘The historic 
rush of prospectors to Pikes Peak in 
1859, with its well-known slogan of 
“Pikes Peak or bust,” resulted in no 
important discoveries and is signifi- 
tion with the history of Cripple Creek. 
It was not until 1874 that the region 
adjacent to Cripple Creek began to at- 
tract the attention of pr 
The report that gold bad been found 
