The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-06-24
CHEYENNE, WYOMING SUNDAY MORNING JUNE "a. 1877.

system of personal persuasion is liberal
and powerful. The lever with which
his agents are overturning public senti-
ment here is, as I stated above, the
threat that Gould will complete the
Longmont branch of the Colorado Cen
tral to a connection with the Union
Pacific, and thus deprive Denver of all
participation in the business of Gilpin,
Clear Creek, and Boulder counties. To
lose that business would indeed be a
severe blow to Denver. But that is no
reason kwhy her citizens should lose
their senses. The emergency requires
their best intelligence. Will Gould
build the Longmont extension? There
cannot be an immediate danger of it.
And for the reason that its construction
does not accomplish what he especially
desires. Primarily his object is not to
get business here or there, but to pro-
tect the value of his stocks. From the
railroad situation in Colorado, what Mr..
Gould has most to dread is vigorous
enforcement of the pro rata laws,
affecting as that would at once and
very seriously the value of Union Paci-
fic stock. If he cherishes any purpose
in Colorado, it is first of all to avoid
that crisis. Nobody knows better. than
Mr.. Gould that every day the Union
Pacific is violating the law and subject
ing itself to its penalties. Nobody
understands better than he what
damaging effect on his stocks its
enforcement would create. More than
ever he fears the rivival Of the question
now when the influence of the new
administration is so decidedly against
him. Carl ShurZ in particular has
long regarded it as outrage that the
pro rata laws have been dispised and
ignored. Ii the Union Pacific could
capture the Denver Pacific, its position
would be one of great practical strength.
Probably with that line under its con-
troll 1t would be in situation to defy
its pro rata obligations. Will, now,
Mr.. Gould, hopeless of getting possession
of the Denver Pacific by other methods,
complete the Longmont extension, and
operate it with the purpose of rem
dering the Denver Pacific worthless
property, thus precipitating it into
speedy bankruptcy and sale. That
would be to provoke the very issue
which he most fears. In that event the
Kansas Pacific, Denver Pacific, and the
city of Denver could combine to push
with vigor pro rata suits. 1t would
not be long in such case before the white
flag would be held out, and comprom-
Use treaty would be proposed. A pos
ition which promises more of defeat
than success is one in which Mr.. Gould
never voluntarily places himself. An
other fact of less but of material i'm
portance is that he holds $780, 900 of
Denver Pacific stock as collateral for
moneys advanced. Adding still further
to the difficulties of the situation is the
present status of the Colorado Central.
Mr.. Gould has not such undisputed
control of that railroad as to make the
putting of more money in it palatable
to him. Milton names liberty the
''mountain nymph." Recently, when
certain officers in the operating man.
agement of the Colorado Central were
asked to resign, they quietly declined
to do any such thing. The ''mountain
nymph" up the canon is too intractible
for Mr.. Gould's money. Besides, if the
construction of the Colorado Central to
a junction with the Union Pacific is
Mr.. Gould's way out, why did he not
long ago push that enterprise? 1t has
always been open to him. He doesn't
wish that kind of fight. He has
heretofore preferred compromise, and
he prefers compromise now.