Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-11-15
Is IT THE ROCK ISLAND?
A Talk with the Chief Engineer Of
the Maxwell City-TaOs Rail
road Survey.
Construction Work 10 Commence This
Winter-A Southern Line from
Taos to Santa Fe.

Mr.. L. H. Smith, head of the party of
fourteen which has been engaged for two
months past in a mysterious railroad sur
vey from Maxwell City westward to Taos,
is n the city to-day. He came in from
Taos last night and being met this morn
ing by New MEXICAN scribe, he talked a
little, but rather guardedly,as to what the
meaning is of the enterprise he has on
hand.
Mr.. Smith is enthusiastic over the
route he has succeeded in locating across
the mountains. The survey was COM
pleted from Maxwell City to Taos on
Monday, and the distance is but seventy
three and half miles. The last stake
was driven one mile south of Taos village
at which point it is proposed to lay off a
new townsite wherein will be built the
modern city of Taos. The route goes
through country of wonderful resources,
as yet almost wholly undeveloped. In
mineral, gold, copper and silver, in
timber, in never failing pasturage for
live stock, the whole region abounds,
while the Taos valley itself is known as
the original granery of the west, being a
section of small farms thoroughly well
watored. There are fully $4,000 people
in Taos, western Colfa1 and northern
Santa Fe counties who would pay tribute
to this new and direct eastern outlet.
The maximum curvature of the line is
eight degrees, while the greatest grade is
not over 2 per cent. The survey runs
through Clmarron canon and Taos pass.
At the head of the canon branch some
four and one-half miles long leads up to
Eiizabethtown.
Mr.. Smith WAS met coming out of the
Western Union telegraph office and was
reading telegram. He said: II have
just had word from Col. W. d. Cameron,
of New York, the promoter of this en-
terprise, and he says arrangements have
been completed for beginning construc-
ton work at an early day.
"You really contemplate actual con-
struction this winter, them"
II do. No charter has yet been filed
but that will come along in due time.
expect Col. Cameron to reach Santa Fe
the last of next week and then our plans
can be spoken of more definitely"
"Are any of the great western corpora
tions back of this move? Isn't it an ex
tension of the Rock Island from Liberal
Kas.?" was asked.
ITO be frank said the engineer, q
can't tell YOU"
"From Taos what route will the new
line follow"
"West and possibly south, eventually
was the reply.
"What's the matter with building from
Taos valley south to Santa Fer"
"Nothing that know of. If the Santt
Fe people make pull for it they nigh
wake up some morning and find thei
town on boom. 1t is only about seven
ty-tive miles from Taos to Santa Fe ant
those great coal fields down about Ger
rillos might serve as another attrac
tion."
Schuyler G. Carlton, writing from tn,
law Office of Waller, Cook & Wagner, Wal
street, New York, yesterday sent to til,
Office of the territorial secretary for blanl
forms suitable for tho charter of a new
railway corporation in New Mexico. I
is possible that this application is asso
ciated with the Taos valley survey. Wag
ner is the name of the general attorne,
of the Rock Island Railroad company.