Delta chief., 1883-08-15
PALMER'S RESIGNATION.
General w. j. Palmer Resigns the Presi-
dency of the Denver = Rio Grande X. X.

General W. j. Palmer Resigns the Presi-
dency of the Denver 3 Rio Grande r. X.
NEW YORK, August l0.-The resigna-
tion of General w. J. Palmer Of the presidency
of the Denver Il Rio Grande railway was ten
dered to the board Of directors to-day and ac-
cepted. General Palmer's action is said to be
due to his connection with the Mexican Nation
al railway.
The history of General Palmer is so closely
identified with the road that 1t may be said that
the story of the road is that OF General Palmer.
General Palmer came to Colorado early In
1870 in the interest Of the Kansas Pacific com
pany, and went on TO the Pacific by the south
ern route. through Arizona and southern Cali
fornia. The road reached Denver late In the
fall of 1870, General Palmer having returned
from the Pacific some time before Having
conceived the idea OF a line of railroad running
along the base OF the mountains To the City OF
Mexico within twenty days after the Kansas
Pacific reached Denver he resigned his position
M chief OF construction Of the Kansas Pacific,
and entered into negotiations with Governor
Hunt and others for the carrying out OF his
pet scheme. In the spring OF 1871 the company
was Incorporated, the incorporators OF the road
being General Palmer, A. {. Hunt, ID. Z.
Dodge, +. 4. Solomon, ID. Z. Oakes and other
prominent gentlemen Of this city. The first
pool raised was only 10000, and with this
slender capital 1t was proposed to construct n
magnificent system Of mountain roads.
The first grading contract was let 10 syndi-
cate composed Of Messrs. Moore, Carlile, Or
man, Musgraye, Shaffcnburg and Others, who
received their pay in stock and bonds of the
road. Ground was broken In July or August,
ISL, and the road constructed to about the
site Of Aceguin, about eighteen miles from Den
yer. During ls72 the road WAS constructed to
Colorado Springs, where they remained year,
finishing the road To Pueblo In 1873 At Pueblo
the road stopped some time, owing to differ.
ence with the people OF that county in regard
to the matter OF bonds issued In aid of the
road. In 1874 the road wns constructed TO
reach the coal fields at Canon City, and graded
as far south as Huerfano. There they came to
a dead halt, owing to lack of funds, and being
unable To iron the road the grade was washed
away.
General Palmer however, wa. indefatigAble,
and ON the first day Of February, ls75, work
mo-t rapid railroad building ever known. They
built eighty four miles TO Fl Moro by the first
week in April During ls77 the road wa.
strnctcd over Neta pass to Garland. the fret
train over the pass, bearing hn excursion Of
journalists, going over the pass ON the twenty
third Of June. Here they again stopped for
lack OF funds, being unable to pay operating
expenses. General Palmer was equal 10 the
emergency. He wrote to each .tcckholder re-
guiring them To place their stock In his hands
for the salvation OF the road. This was done
and he Immediately closed the lease with the
Atchison, Topeks a Santa Fe. In ISIS Lead
VILE came to the front, and n. he then saw his
way out he seized the Ration pass aud
beaten by his rival, and slso seized the Grand
Canon. toward which the Atchi-on. Topeka &
Santa Fe was rapidly pushing. The road then
In operation was taken from the Atchl.oH, To-
peka X Santa Fs at dash by force OF arms.
The ease getting into the courts, Colonel Ellis
worth ws. appointed receiver, aud held the
road nearly year. compromise wac then
made and the road has been comparatively quiet
since. AT that time there were about three
hundred miles in operation. In the four years
.incc then the mileage has increased Ia between
strfren and seventeen hundred