Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-28
WAGON ROAD TO BLAND.
Only About Eight Miles to Build from Mr.
Buckman's Saw Mill to Reach the
Great Mining Oamp,

The building of the new road west
ward from White Rock station into the
timber toward Bland, by Mr.. Buckman,
has renewed the talk about direct con-
nection between this city and the great
mining camp. Mr.. Buchanan has, at an
expense to himself of about 81 1000, built
fine bridge over the river and road up
into the timber from the railway sta
tion. The bridge is said to be 100 feet
long or over, and the fact that it is a
substantial structure is evident from the
fact that it cost about SO, 900. The road
is most excellent wagon road, built
with great care and intelligence and
ends some eight miles from the mining
camp. Mr.. Buckman, as well as many
citizens of Santa Fe, and the Denver &
Rio Grande road would be glad to see
that eight miles of road built without
delay, for it would mean great deal to
all of these parties.
1t would mean much to the business
men of Santa Fe in that trade from the
gro wing camp would be turned directly
into this city instead of to Thornton and
for dealers in mining supplies and pro-
visions, and would result in daily
freight train of big teams from the rail
way station up the canon to Bland, and
a good deal of teaming from this city.
The building of the proposed wagon
road would benefit Mr. Buckman in that
he would be thus enabled to sell immense
quantities of mining timber from his
mill. 1t would benefit the d. & R. g.
road in that it would ship in great guam
titles of supplies OF all kinds, particular
ly in the way of mining machinery; and
as the Albemarle mill is preparing to
duplicate its plant, and there is a steady
influx of miners and settlers, 1t is claimed
that it will not be a long time before the
local population will aggregate 5000
souls.
1t will particularly pay the D. g. r. G.
to actively interest itself in this matter,
in view of the immense increase in it's
freight hauls resulting from the carry
ing out of the scheme, The road is
already hauling great deal of San Luis
valley produce into this country, and
with the opening Of new markets. the
freight haul would be increased. With
the opening of wagon road into Bland,
San Luis valley provisions and grain
products wal find another profitable
point of consumption. 1t would not pay
the d. & r. G, to build railway fine
into Bland until the camp has a popula-
tion of say 5000 people, The line will
have to be run down the canon, when
such an enterprise is undertaken, to
near Pena Blanca and then up the west
canon, and that would cost very large
sum of money.
It Is not believed that the construction
OF those eight miles of road would re-
quire any large expense, and already
there is fine bridge over the river and
an excellent road for ten miles Of the
way. The Pena Blanca people will have
a bridge in time, connecting the west
side of the river with Thornton, but the
county must issue bonds, market the
same and then. build the bridge, while
all that is required of Santa Fe is build
ing a few miles of road, with the bridge
ready for use at any time, and no bonds
to issue or market and contracts to make
for such a structure.
There is, fortunately for Santa Fe, a
good chance of such union of interests
as has already been suggested, and all
that Is needed is little enthusiasm and
the new line will be an accomplished
fact, with much traffic saved for local
merchants, for the railroad and for Mr..
Buckman, and great convenience pro-
vided for the camp.