New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
TIE RIGHT OF WAY.
HOW THE GREAT SOUTHWESTERN
CROSSED SNORTALLY'S MESA.

The president Of the Great SOUTHWESTERN nan
way Company tapped impatiently on the 'd"'e'
The OTHER members Of the Board KEPT a CON
strained silence. and the second vlce-prcsiue"'
In charge Of extension, gazcd l"nS'hsy "' Z"
ri, bcian sign Of beer across the street anu
seven stories below II was at him the preS'-
dent was directing his remarks
1T is ridiculous" he said, that We sh"uu ~
,iocled bv the obstnacy Of one man in our en-
dcavor to build this branch line casud' GU
soryor vould certainly suppose that the exec
utive department of the company mao Su''''i'"'
brains TO overcome such an obstacle as this
The situation is simple enough Here Is ou'
road and here are the mountains in which the
new strikes have been made. To develop lhe"
machinery must be hauled in and ore hauled
out That means branch line. one man OWLS
all the Iand-mesa and foot hills between the
railroad and the mines. We must cross HIS
ranch but he declines to sell right Of way
He is a pioneer and is bull-headed He says the
country was getting along without railroads
when he came there, and that it can get along
without them still. We must overcome his "b-
icctions-but how? We offer to pay him well
for all damage done. and he replies by suggest
ing that our grading outfit bring along one nat
car Of collins lie is certainly a contrary in
you have" said the second vice-presdcnt
removing his galr from the sign below to the
map on the table with one exception Colonel
Snortally Is not an individual; he is IA com
munity, and more; he is corporation, because
he owns forty thousand acres of land; he is
political party, because he employs more cow
punchers than you can ordinarily get together
at a country dance; he is "A law-giver, because
Of his wealth and the taxes he pays, he Is law
enforcer so far he sees fit. because he can
shoot straight and has men with him who can
do likewise he is society, because his daughter,
whom have had the pleasure of meeting. If the
most beautiful young woman in the Territory
What can poor. ordinary railroad company
do against such a combination? We cannot con
denim until We get right Of way from the
Board Of Supervisors, and he is the county
government"
The president moppcd his brow. His gaze
wandered across the street and down seven
stories to sign. lie arose and picked NJ his
Dix hat
"AI right" he said. we must get across that
ranch some way"
A cloud Of dust was coming down the road.
Theophilus Smith carefully watched il for a
ment, and then turned Bucyrus among the
mule. Just ahead Of the dust cloud appeared a
frantic horse, tearing wildly down the road
toward him. Now and then he could catch
glimpses Of swaying blackboard and young
woman clineing to the seat Thcophilus who
was careful young man put his briarwood
pipe in the inside pocket Of his Jacket drew his
sombrero down tightly upon his head and then
disintercstedy watched the approaching run
away. the dust clOud and its contents
passed, Bucyrus wheeled and then. too. went
flying down the road Through sand and over
powders they went, horse. blackboard mule and
dust.
excuse me. miss" said Thcophius. he
came alongside and reached for the bit of the
running horse; pheasant day is it not
lie grppcd the bride hard pulled sideways and
backward. and Bucyrus cheerful sat down to
the occasion and slid. There dust
and then they stopped.
Theophilus rubbed some Of the dirt from his
eyes and raised his sombrcro to the girl In the
blackboard. She looked AT him with widc-opcn
blue eyes
Il am very sorry he said politely ITO stop
you rudcly merely to ask you a question:
but will you kindly pardon me and inform me
where Colonel Snortally Ives"
The young W"mans lip quivcrcd and instead
OF replying. she burst into tears Then. rccov-
erng from her embarrassment ana fright she
drew deep breath and smiled family and as
the color came back to her checks, she an
swcrcd
Il am the colonels daughter and VIII gladly
show you the way home"
Thcophus spoke a few words to the still rest
less horse, handed the rcins up to the young
woman, and led Bucyrus to the rear of the
blackboard to which hc tied him
i suppose. said the coloncls daughter as
they started up the road. that should thank
you for saving my lie and my fathers best