New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-06

the price varies from $50 to $50 ton with lluctua-
tions in the cost of labor and frcights. III Moro
coke could he delivered in salt Lake City for
much less than these prices and leave very large
profits both for the coal and transportation com
panies.
| TOWN AND RAILWAY RIVALRY.
I saw very little of Trinidad, as it after
| sunset when arrived there, and departed before
| light IN the morning. presume 1t has not changed
| much since another correspondent of TIE TRIBUNE
wrote about il n year ago The town is in tran
siton state Before the railroad was completed to it,
il was chiefly Mexican in its architecture, if not in
| its population but now large stone. brick and
| iron front buildings taking the places Of the
onc-story adobcs. There is an ar of thrift and en-
terprisc about the town that promises well for its
| futgre prosperity.
Trinidad was important place before either
| of the railroads penetrated that part of Southern
Colorado: but the Denver and Rio Glande Company,
instcad Of making il the terminus of its southern
branch stopped about four miles distant and stated
| the new town of FL Moro, hoping Us | suppose,
| that the business of Trinidad would all bcremoyed
| TO that point. But the people of Trinidad resisted
| the destruction of their town in this way and
| when the Atchison. Topeka and Santa F6 Company
proposed to extend its line into New Mexico, offered
Il
would make Trinidad a station on it's main line and
| should allow of its trains to stop at FL Moro.
though the road extends through that place. And
so there are two places there only four miles apart
which have their connection with the rest of the
world by two different and rival lines OF railroad.
From Trinidad 10 the summit of the Ration Noun
talns is distance of about fifteen miles, and the
average grade for the whole distance il l2l feet to
the mile. Near the top it is ls6 feet, ana the
pondcrous engines, weighing from sixty to seventy
tons puff and labor to draw even an ordinary pas
scngcr train up this steep hill. Ration Canon on
the north side of the mountain, and Willow Canon
on the SOUTH through which the ascent and descent
are made, are wild and grand. but are not to be
compared with many of those through which the
railroads have been built in Colorado
The damage which these Western railroads have
suffered from floods this summer is no reflection
upon the engineering skill employed in their con
struction Parts of the lines have only been tenn
porarily built and it is the intention of managers
to raise entertainments higher than they now are,
protect them with stone, and substitute more sub
stantial bridges for the lighter structures first
built The experience of the present summer will
also teach them where the most protection is
needed. aud this knowledge will not have been
purchased at an unreasonable price.
RAILWAY UNDERMINED BY TIE WIND.
In passing down the railroad along the Galistes
River the other day. saw the wreck of several
freight cars, and learned the particulars of very
remarkable though not very serious accident.
They had what was called dry washout.' The
embankmcnt was composed of sand, and heavy
wind blew out part of it from beneath the rails
and ties leaving the track suspended without sup
port The engineer of freight train did not see
the defect until he ran upon it. Mr.. T. T. Sickes.
In taqS vi me
said that he never had heard of an accident from
similar cause.
cannot close this letter without mentioning the
valley of the Pecos River, through which the rail
road passes north of the SantI TX Mountains. |
shall say nothing of its history, which is full of
romance or of the ruins which it contains, which
are very ancient and full Of interest can only
refer briefly tc its natural beauty. The grass is
now rs fresh and green as that OF the lawns IN Cen
trail Park before tie hot sun of July and August
has scorchcd it; the slopes are gentle-just sufi'
ci,nt to give variety 90 the landscape; and the
whole valley Is covered with growth OF pine,
pinon and cedar trees. not crowded together as in
n forest but seemingly planted here and there to
set OH the beauty OF the lawns. 1t actually required
an effort 70 Gi,abusc the mind of the idea that We
were riding through some gcntemans park upon
which thousands of dollars were annually spent TO
keep it in perfect order. The Pccos River is alive
with mountain trout. and the valley aboundS in
game-antclore, deer. and wild fowl.
The Santa e. branch Of the Atchison Topeka and
Santa F6 Railroad is built through an apparently
barren country covered with stunted cedars, tall
tree-cacti and sage brush. and cut up by many
deep rayines and arroyos The railroad winds
about like a snake. sometimes doubling upon itself
in order to avoid these deep Impressions and the
impractcable grades which straighter line would
make necessary. and enters this city in its south
western suburbs. L. L. ".
rUt- I,BrUETEf - DptKJ'p lrgE'VTNC