The Delta independent., 1888-01-10
Through cslsrrdo.
N60N, Proprislors.

1i,y O'tr inrders. The Burlington has
ALREADY selected its route through this
st.te-ria the Middle Park and the
Grand river The others have not. SO
far as the public know, decided upon
their routes..and it is to these that we
desire particularly To call attention to
the best route offered any transcOnti-
l,-ntal line OF one seeking the coal fields
al Colorado.
In AN editorial in these columns two
weeks ago we endeavored to point out
ihe superior advantages of railroad
Ioiit'. through Mosco and Cuchetope
passes to the Gunnison coal fields
s:iosing with the general statement
That once in the Gunnison valley the
way Is clear To the Pacific.
1t will be the particular purpose of
this article to detail the route out of
Gunnison-it having been so long con-
ceded that the grand canon of the
Gunnison presented insurmountable
obstactacles to a standard guage road
that the statement h3s been generally
believed. when the fact is that it can
so easily be avoided that II clear way
is open and invites occupation, one
that offers the very best route, in con-
nection with the Mosco and Cochepete
passes-to which we again briefly re-:
fer posed by any transcontinental
line.
A mere examination of the map
will show that the lowest passes, with
shortest grades. hence the natural
gate-ways through the Rockies. are
the MoscO and Cochupete passes. each
about 1900 feet above sea level and
far below timber line. These would
enable standard gauge road to pass
through the main ranges. without
funneling, Oh easy grades, with the
valley, aud at the same time the route
would lead through rich and fairly
fsleyelnped agricultural country which
together'with the cattle and mineral
resoures tributary wonld furnish a
paying local bnsifsss along the line
the valleys Of the San Luis. K-rber
creek and Sagnacle Offering particu.
larly fiattering inducements for
railroad.
From the Cochetope pass an easy
route is offered To the Tu,nichi and
,titss,ce TO the Gunnisnn valley, whence
ltust the coal fields Is but short dis
tance aud VII easy way.
From. say. Pueblo or any point
North or Sontl. Of that. city. to Gun
nfson. this route is by far the short
est. rs It ~ the easiest and the cheap.
.sst.
Coal is the FIRST and tho great requi-
4uisite of any railroad. and it is clear
that the Colorado coal fields are the
Arst objective points of the roads
saxmed. Gunnison county can supply
fthem- Here is the only anthracite
e9est Of Penns, lvania. Bituninous
|and coking GOALS are abundant.
THESE coal lands can be had for very
3shall a,nonnt of money. This sub
IN 10 treated more 1T length in AM
BS1)ler article. Suffice it 10 say that
kast coal in tie west can Le
reached from Gunnison.
4 A. 70 Sthe way out of Gnnnison !:
1sf1nRe ~ II may seem it is now CON
sce4ed fact that In building up the
X 9tlninHrF0n and over Cerro hill to
xAw0id The grand canon of the Gum
sisun the Rio Grande chose ore of the
W04pt and most expensive route pts.
! ett3e4 Our local surveyors ard old
2 t3(9yefs could have shown its engineers
thS easiest route possible to be desired,
the one we now outline, to-wft; /;
4 Fr1m EspInero vest for some listaucp,
4 {{TGt& creek. about twent y-three
kuliHthg along the river and
~ lit Is a bench which
~ N ~ NIL roadway: it is now
I 4 M wagon road; its grade
VI ekceed fifty feet to the
~ r. 2 ~ because Of tho rapid fall
= e gains in elevation above
~ Rradually that it passes
above tile canon down
!: can look-and skirting the
B dsn2 n offers an open way with
reet aork, no heavy grades and
ii dabiltty Of rock slides or snow.
4 apipero TO Curricanti creek is
nj 9slght miles; thence to Crystal
~ y fifteen; these streams can be
\ atslight expense. From Crys-
la,e would dixarge toward the
~. to the. head Of Smiths Fork,
r IN easy grade all the way
hs North OF the Gannison
Y y N open country. fertile
and highly cultivated.
~ fruit. stuck. etc; once on
W M not only is this
j. ni. f{ait and stock coun-
it :sIoAiv about thirty
" SM5 sresn 10 The best Of MI
l6l6 osi in the country "a
y II \ water grade.