The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-02-25
A REMARKABLE RAILROAD.

l Bile peCulIarities than the Denver and Rio
Grandc, In Colorado. Its field of operations
except an outlet westward-ls confined to thai
stale, and as the state is made up almost Who'll
ly of the back bone and ribs or spurs radlating
thereirom of the Rocky Mountains, it would
be difficult TO imagine anywhere In the werld
within the temperate zone, more unpromis.
ing field for successful railroad construction
The land Is an alienation of mountain
ranges, peaks and huge georges and canyons,
with only here and there an arabic hillside or
fertile valley, Surely IN such u region there
can be little to sustain population, let alone
building up villages and cities and making
business for railroads. Yet in this most unpro.
pltlous looking land the Denver and Rio
Grande Company has laid down within the
last two years more miles of railroad track
than has IN the same space of time been laid
by any other company or system over the same
eXpanse OF territory anywhere else IN the
country
The company, on its organization, under.
took Il single yenture,-lhc construction Of a
railroad from Denver south ward to FL Moro,
anG thence westward to the RIO Grande AT Al.
amosa. AS this was trunk line" intended
TO connect with the Union Pacific, and Kansas
Pacific and other railroads coming from
the east, II was constructed on the broad
gauge" plan otthe railroads generally through.
out the country; and finding no difficulty in
making connections with them on favorable
terms the road soon became emincnty pros.
porous and remunoratlve.
The company, however, had started out with
very different projects IN view than building
single main line. 1t had taken the precau-
ton TO secure from the Legislature OF Colorado
the exclusive right to build railroads in that
state on Il solemn engagement to construct
such roads as rapidly as the exlgencles of the
territory secured to 1t needed them AS this
involved Il system of roads which, owing to
the peculiarltles of the country, must expect to
creep through many narrow and devious pass
es, glide along PERCEPTIONS mountain sides and
make innnmerablc short and sharp curves, the
company realized that the narrow gauge was
the only plan practicable IN their ciIcumstanc-
cs and at once adopted 1t for all its branches a."
Instead of only building roads las rapidly as
the development of the country called for
them" however the company went far In ad.
vance Of Its bond. Instead OF awaiting the
slow process OF settlement and development to
create business and necessity for railroads, the
rnm prnpnaH.l IN h,ilI r,;l a, H..
and develope the country There Was nc wait
ing for the settler to seek out the fertile valley.
and the miner to discover with shovel and
pick the gold and silver lodes hidden in the
deep gorges and mountain sides the company
sent out Its engineers as pioneers and followed
them with the bands OF steel not behind, but
IN advance OF the Agricultural and miner As
an eloquent writer aptly puts it,
Guido's picture OF Aurora represents that
angelic female leading in her train the morn
ing hours and strewing flowers along the path.
way she is pursuing After q somewhat sIml
lar fashion the Denver * Rio Grande with
The star OF empire" gllttering in its forehead
scatters with lavish hand the blessings of civil
lllatlOn IN whatever direction 1t progresses II
touches the desert and it blossoms like the rose
III cleayes the mountain with pick and drill,
aud through It's black and irownlng gurgcs,
dlscioscs parks and valleys beyond, watered by
crystal streams and crowned with luyurlant
verdurc. The smiling cities and thrifty towns
that have sprung into lite along the track of
It's main line and various extensions. attest Il
vivlfying force.
Instead of the state of Colorado having ere.
ated the railroad, the railroad has made the
state. Branching from the NAN line of the
road the company has already built, or in pro.
cess OF building n"ExtensIons, varying from
% to POO miles each in length, and penetrating
all parts OF the state; and when ali are com.
peted, rs they soon will be, the company will
own total of ,i30 miles And strange to
ssy, this curious railroad system, the distinct.
I've feature OF which has been that it penetrated
the desert wild IN advance of civilization and
settlement, pays. The gross receipts of the
company for the past year were 81 800 ,56, and
and its outlay $2S31,S7i leaving net earnings
-, 6T3,-thus while constantly extending
It's lines and making heavy outlays TO build
up the country" paying a fair dividend TO the
enterpnsing owners on their venturcsomr in.
yestment.
ALL CARTER HARRISON S FAULT.