Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23

bringing the Salt Lake market In close
touch with the producer.
Early in the year just closed. the Rio
Grande Western railway clearly demon
strated its policy to develop the State.
II had shortly before acquired the prop
erty of the Utah Central railway,
narrow gauge line In operation between
Park City and Salt Lake, and began
its extension through the beautiful
Provo canyon to Heber and Charleston.
This branch, 25,S miles in length, was
completed on October LIST, 1899 Stimuli
taneously the road was at work on it's
line from Mounds, point on the main
line lSS miles east of Salt Lake City,
10 the coal beds at Sunnysde. This
branch was completed on December LIST
and covers q distance OF 1871 miles.
Both Of these new lines are important
features in the development of the
State. The Heber branch brings into
prominece the prolific valleys OF the
Provo, Strawberry and Duchesne riv-
ers. while the Sunnyside branch opens
to the western market vast tonnage Of
coal and coke.
Besides these lines, the Rio Grande
Western railway during the year ex-
pended a large sum In taking out the
grades and curves east OF Springyille.
In Spanish Fork canyon and other
places along the main line. II has added
greatly during the year to its motive
power, freight and passenger equip
ment, made necessary by a constant
growing local and through traffic. 1t has
also established a dining car service,
adding cars of that character TO the
equipment on all through passenger
trains. In other words. the road during
the year, has kept abreast with the
times so that in perfection OF service,
road-bed. etc, II Is the equal of any
line In the country.
During the year all branches Of rail-
road traffic showed a very healthy in
crease as compared with the year 1898.
Trans-contlnental frelghts, also pas.
senger travel have largely increased,
thus demonstrating the powerful place
that Salt Lake City and the Rio Grande
Western railway occupies In the trans
continental situation today Local
traffic within the State has grown 10
important figures and during the sum-
mer months almost doubled itself in the
passenger branch Of the service. II
naturally follows that with the prosper
lty OF the railroads all commercial pur-
suits have benefited 10 a like degree.
The railroad Is the first TO feel the eff
fects Of a stimulus In trade, as also a
depression In business.
The broad-gauging OF the Utah Gen.
trial line to Park City Is definitely as
sured. Work has already been COM
menced with that end In view II Is ex-
pected that broad-gauge cars will be
operated over the line by June LIST,
1900.
An extension Of the Sanpete and
Sewer branch to Marysvale Is also as
sured but Just how far that line will
be carried beyond that point during
1890 is yet undetermined. Already the
good people OF Marysvale and vicinity
are feeling the benefits apparently as
sured OF railroad transportation facili-
ties. The country has extensive iron
beds besides other mineral resources,
and from a pastoral and agricultural
standpoint II is unsurpassed by any
other district In the State.
The extension OF the Heber branch
from Heber Ia Park City during the
coming year Is not among the improb.
abilities. Such line would offer to
the public a continuous rail tour by