New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-13
TIE RAILROADS OF TIKI WEST.

vRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or TIIB TRIBUNEi
GREELEY. Colorado March 12. - Recent
changes and movements In railroad mattorshere In tho
heart OF the American Contiuentseem TO he leading to
results OF such importance rs to require especial notice.
Three important railway lines are to be consdered-tbe
Kansas Pacific, the Union Pacific and tho Denver ana
Rio Grando The Kansas Pacific runs from Kansas City
70 Denver and by ts connection with tho Denver Pa
cioc 10 CHEYENNE The Union Pacific runs from Omaha
10 san Francisco through Cheyenne. IL does not touch
Colorado except at Julesburg. IN the eastern part OF
orr county $50 es distant where II leaves the Platte
Valley and traverses elevated mountain country,
wholly unnhabitcd to Ogden. 700 miles There ~ 'nes
with tho Central PacI1c-the California branch Consc-
oueny the Union Pacific have none OF the trade OF
Colorado or OF tNewMexco except by using part OF
rival line The yield OF gold ana silver from the Colorado
mines has for several years, averaged about OOOoOo
per annum IL results that large capital Ia invested In
general business and in CATTLE 10 that tho trade with
the East of great Importance, particularly To road
having 90 long limo "a tho Union Pacific. Hitherto
this road has Obliged to excessive rates TO tho
Denver Pacific for Colorado business. aud, as sort OF
Offset II has refused TO combine to rates with tho
Kansas Pacific California ,raic. Both OF these great
roads have from tho first been embarrassed by each
other The Kansas Pacific has recently bought out the
Denver Pacific, and presume IL demands that the Union
Pacific shall combine as 60 rates since such was cond
ton in the charter with Iregard to all branches While
tho Denver Pacific interviewed tho Kansas Pacific was
moi branch Now II would to have the advantage
II may he remembered that tho tcrmnuso Of the Kansas
Pacific was at Sheridan for nearly year. During this
time efforts made TO have Congress vote lana
grant directly tho Pacific, but this falling it was
turned north west and completed to Denver Stil, 1t s
great ambition with this road to have independent line
10 California, or, at least, one connecting with the
Central Pacific ut Ogden, and preliminary lines have
been and much has been said. The line from Denver
direct would lead through Middle Park; or from Sher
dan or Kit Carson through Arkansas Canon either into
San Luis South Park but great difficulty lies IN tho
great elevation of these parks, which are from 5000 to
10000 feet above the level and trouble from snow in
Winter would 10 almost certain. Attempts, however,
are TO be made TO reach the mining towns OF Colorado.
and branch from the Denver Pacific nearly completed
TO Boulder at tho foot of the mountains, and within
about IL miles Of Carboo. the richest silver mine yet dis
covered In addition. are on foot for building
road from Denver directly to Georgetown, co miles,
where many silver mines Of great richness are con-
stantly worked Hitherto there has been great traffic In
carrying and memattc over the Kansas Pacific
shipped either to Newark, N. j., or 10 swansea Wales
but now smelling works to be erected at Denver Oh
the Swansea plan.
Before the railroads came several lines stages left
Denver every day for the mining towns and cities, and
also hundreds of freigtcrs passing generally
through Golden City, at the foot Of the mountains, and
miles from Denver. But about n year ago railroad
called the Colorado Central built over this route II
miles long, and, to great extent. with money furnished
by the Union Pacific. Why this road should invest in
such short line cannot well unless 1t for
the purpose gaining time, and OF preventing the Kan
sas Pacific from getting the start. Could the Denver
Pacific have been bought then it would have had con-
necton with is main trunk, but negotiations fell
through and the Kansas Pacific came IN possession Tho
reason why this permitted because as stated,
tho road was bonded for $320OO per mile, and, as
the narrow gauge ia all the fashion.
If.1... Do Tho Daatf
is without local traffic between its crossing Of the Platte,
Just south OF u.s. to Denver, 81 miles while from
town Cheyenne, much further there il not single
nhabitaDt Just below this crossing the Platte turns
sharply 10 the southwest while The Cache Ia Poudre on
which town Is situated, runs fifs west ana then
bears 10 the northwest. few miles within the noun
tans principal afuent bears still further in this drec
ton. and few miles further stream called Dale Creek
runs through Virginia Dale, aud crosses the Union Pa
cc Laramie and hey Ond sherman the highest point
Of any railroad in the world that IL, 5000 feet
This original line OF survey of the Union Pacific
killed by the Indians and all his papers lost About the
Cheyenne Pass was discovered, and the pres
cause tie other the water line Is al much less eleya-
ton oclades so far as Laramie wond he avoid
ed and than all II would pass through country
capable oi being thickly settled Indeed il has to-day
more thrifty towns ana agricultural settlements than
can be found along the 100 miles from Julesburg to
ogden. The best settled part of Colorado is entirely dos
flute OF railroad. that IS, the main villages OF the
miles of the mountains fau out into smaller val
y W tn S Sn sa t'i @ is in he e ea S Of
Tins section the coal fields e furnishing inexhaustblc
quantities. Further east they are not found
am informed now. upon what we all consider tho
best authority, that the Union Pacific Will proceed forth
with connect Itself with the Colorado Central by build
Ing gauge road from Juesbnrg up the Platte,
TO our town. where IL the Denver Pacific thence
taking sOuh-weserly direction to within n few miles
of the mountains where it passes directly the
rich farming region and the coal fields to Golden City
and by consequence To Denver, giving us second me-
might have stated before but II Is just as well to do II
1e @t large fSrGS Of e o1 h been at WORK
Colorado City UP Clear Creek Canon to the mining cities
OF Black Hawk Central and Nevada, all lying together
ana having combined about inhabitants. II is ex-
pec;ed TO be III cunning order by next Summer wa
be that when this whole line shall be completed,
the Union Pacific VIII possess road OF Its own into the
heart Of Colorado.
sdered though there suspicious that each is part
On one supcndous whole Everybody has heard Of the
row gauge road in this county. The track is three feet
wde the costwas about sl2 900 per mile including equip
Ii pleted 10 Colorado Springs ~ miles,
last FALL and II has paid handsomely from the time the
cars began TO run The grading now has been finished
the way, and this part VIII be completed at an early day
The termination OF the Denver and Rio Grande is confess
eddy the City of Old Mexico. distant more than 1900
miles, and from what have seen and what know OF
Of the Road WIZ has o now gone To- the Civ of
Mexico to prepare the way More or less trouble Is ex-
south of the Arkansas Valley, but when this shall be over
there Will be no engineering difficulties The first
point viii be Santa &C. felO SwaTd which
Paso lies near the lines Of NewMexico.. Texas.
than COO miles from the Gulf OF California Having
come down the Valley OF the Rio Grande and
10 I'll Paso, the Southern Pacific will be crossed when
the rich states OF North Mexico will be reached
The country Is about equally divided between noun,
stream is town. In the valleys oranges. lemons, figs,
and all tropical fruits, OF excellent quality grow
abundance; while on the mountain slopes and pateaus,
wheat corn, barley oats apples peaches grapes pears
and all northern products thrive. This is also mineral
country, and the mines of silver and gold probably
unequaled by those Of California II IA also stock
country and II is generally understood that many OF the
stock and the owners of mines immensely rich.
some OF the towns are large and Monterey which before
the Mexican reported TO have 10000 inhabitants,
VIII probably be reached by the Rio Grande. Thence
ward to the City OF Mexico, avoiding the seacoast,
a will ha tray arsed.