ft. in 75
m., the Roaring Fork 5923 ft. in 64 m., the Mancos 5000 ft. in 62 m.,
the La Plata 3103 ft. in 43 m., the Eagle 4293 ft. in 62 m., the San
Juan 3785 in 303, the Lake Fork of the Gunnison 6047 in 59. The canyons
formed in the mountains by these streams are among the glories of
Colorado and of America. The grandest are the Toltec Gorge near the
Southern boundary line, traversed by the railway 1500 ft. above the
bottom; the Red Gorge and Rouge Canyon of the Upper Grand, and a
splendid gorge 16 m. long below the mouth of the Eagle, with walls
2000-2500 ft. in height; the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas (8 m.) above
Canyon City, with granite walls towering 2600 ft. above the boiling
river at the Royal Gorge; and the superb Black Canyon (15 m.) of the
Gunnison and the Cimarron. But there are scores of others which, though
less grand, are hardly less beautiful. The exquisite colour contrasts of
the Cheyenne canyons near Colorado Springs, Boulder Canyon near the city
of the same name, Red Cliff and Eagle River Canyons near Red Cliff,
Clear Creek Canyon near Denver--with walls at places 1000 ft. in
height--the Granite Canyon (11 m.) of the South Platte west of
Florissant, and the fine gorge of the Rio de las Animas (1500 ft.),
would be considered wonderful in any state less rich in still more
marvellous scenery. One peculiar feature of the mountain landscapes are
the mines. In districts like that of Cripple Creek their enormous ore
"dumps" dot the mountain flanks like scores of vast ant-hills; and in
Eagle River canyon their mouths, like dormer windows into the granite
mountain roof, may be seen 2000 ft. above the railway.

Many parts of the railways among the mountains are remarkable for
altitude, construction or scenery. More than a dozen mountain passes lie
above 10,000 ft. Argentine Pass (13,000 ft.), near Gray's Peak, is one
of the highest wagon roads of the world; just east of Silverton is Rio
Grande Pass, about 12,400 ft. above sea-level, and in the Elk Mountains
between Gunnison and Pitkin counties is Pearl Pass (12,715 ft.). Many
passes are traversed by the railways, especially the splendid scenic
route of the Denver and Rio Grande. Among the higher passes are Hoosier
Pass (10,309 ft.) in the Park Range, and Hayden Divide (10,780) and Veta
Pass (9390); both of these across the Sangre de Cristo range; the
crossing of the San Miguel chain at Lizard Head Pass (10,250) near Rico;
of the Uncompahgre at Dallas Divide (