Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-09-19
THE NARROW GAUGES.



"
Assistant General Mar ugcr Burns, Cen
erll Passenger Agent Hooper, General
Freight Agent Zimmerman and their
lively party OF d. & Il. &. .ailroad Off
cials had q weary time of it in Santa Fe
yesterday. Alter they had concluded
the business part of their mission and
talked railroad with Gen. Nelly and Supt
johnson, OF the Santa Fe Southern, they
were taken in hand by citizens and treat
ed light royalty. CARR .yes were pla ed at
their disposal by President Creamer, Oh
the board OF trade, and member
OF prominent citizens served as
their escort in driving over the city,
visiting the various public institutions,
the points OF historic interest and the SUBJ
urban gardens and orchards, radiant with
their burden OF ripening fruits Late il
the afternoon the party was invited to
halt at the palatial residence OF Mr.. Staab
and there a jolly hour was spent. Strains
of music from the piano and violin where
Major Hooper and Mr.. Zimmerman pre-
sided, mingled with the sound
OF popping champagne corks, and
time passed on golden wings. Having
pretty thoroughly seen Santa Fe the party
boarded their special train shortly after
o'clock and sped away to Denver. It is
just possible that Santa Fc will see more
OF these gentlemen in the future than in
the past. In this connection the follow
ing IS republished from the Denver Re
publicans editorial page:
1t is reported that the Denver & Ric
Grande Railroad company Intends to pur'
chase the road which connects Espanola
the terminus OF the Rio Grande in New
Mexico, with the Santa Fe.
II this he true it will probably be the
first step toward the extension of the RiC
Grande system into the interior of New
Mexico. There has, from time to time
been considerable talk about such all ex-
tension, but nothing has come of it since
the completion Of the line to Espanola
nearly line years ago. The original in
| tention OF Gen. Palmer was to build tC
| The City OF Mexico by way OF New Mex
leo, following, beyond Ell Paso, the route
now occupied by the Mexican Central. Il
he had built as far as FL Paso he would
probably also have built a system Of
branch lines in New Mexico to connect
the main line with the outlying towns
and mining camps. But in recent years
the owners of the Rio Grande have APP
peared to take little interest in such 6
project.
Of course, for long time the company
was prohibited by its contract with the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe from build.
ing much, if at all, beyond its present
terminus at Espanola. But that obstacle
has for several years been removed, and
the Rio Granlo may now 20 where il
pleases.
a system similar to the one it now has
in Colorado if built in New Mexico wouIC
doubtless bring in large revenue to the
Rio Grande. There are several localitie,
particularly in the southwestern part
OF the territory-which would he rapidly
developed under the stimulus of rail con
nection with the rest of the country. 4
very great deal of New Mexico is un.
occupied, although susceptible OF being
greatly developed. The outlying sections
are remote from railroads and, there
fore, OF necessity their development is
SLOW
A Rio Grande system in New Mexico
could lie built for shall sum in com.
parson with what the Colorado system
rost. The mountains OF New Mexico are
not rugged like those OF Colorado. A
wagon could he driven over very nearly
the whole OF the territory almost as easily
us over Kansas or Nebraska.