Cañon City record., 1900-06-28
RAILROAD TO SILVER CLIFF.
An Extension Proposed BY the Denver
& Rio Orsnds that VIII Enurs 70
the Benefit Of Canon CITY.

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At various times during the past
few months the report has been cur
rent that Silver Cliff was to be given
the advantage Of direct railroad COM
munications and that the Denver &
Rio Grande railroad officials were
availing themselves of every bit Of
information possible to be obtained
through personal interview with
prominent mining men and practical
railroaders sent to look over the
country. So entirely satisfactory has
been the result that news now comes
TO the effect that tho extension will
be built and that ct once. By the
way. the Rio Grande seems MOTTO be
alone in this enterprise, il rumors are
to be relied upon at all. Another, a
new company, is said to be casting
anxious eyes in the direction Of
Silver Cliff and the Wet Mountain
valley. Should the contest become
sharp one, little doubt need exist as
to who will FIRST reach the coveted
territory.
Report has 1t that President Jeffcry
has approved Of the plan and is
quoted as follows in An interview:
The board Of directors voted an
appropriation Of $500, 900 for the
construction Of road running from
Texas creek, west Of Pueblo, to West
Cliff and Silver Cliff, in Custer county.
Surveying parties have been out for
. long time, and have nearly finished
the preliminary work. Construction
will begin as soon Us possible. The
road will be about "a miles long. and
part Of the way will be hard building.
We recognize, however, the needs Of
Silver Cliff, and that couatry shall
get from us tho transportation fscil-
tiles TO which il 10 entitled
The RECORD does not, however. un-
derstand that the route for proposed
extension has been definitely determ-
ined. It 10 true that for some time
surveyors have been at work on q
line from Texas Creek 10 Silver Cliff; !;
r may Be true. alsa, that they have
demonstrated 'teae : lins cesld bs
constructed. but not without . great
deal Of hard work and the expendi-
ture Of great deal Of money. II 10
true, also, that the Chamber Of Com
merce Of Canon City has been sup
plying the Rio Grande officials with
considerable data and abundant reas-
ons why the proposed extension
should start from this city. Dawson
City camp, the country between
Dawson and Silver Cliff, filled with
rich beds and veins Of mineral, as
they are, and only needing railroad
facilities to make II possible to open
up several good producing mines. need
the closest investigation BY railroad
men, and these matters are to be
more closely Investigated before work
is ordered to begin. We do not be-
lieve it unreasonable to state that
every possible advantage that might
be gained to the Denver & Rio Grande
railroad through building . branch to
Silver Cliff, starting from Texas Creek.
would be more than fully met by
starting the new line from this city.
Then, too, there 10 land on the south
side of the Arkansss river that If
reached by another railroad, could
and would afford most desirable sites
for smeltsrs and other reduction
works. With such works in operation
there would be an immense railroad
in and out haul. We might continue
to enumerate the advantages offered
without number, but Of these the
railroad officials have been appraised
and their merits will be duly consid-
cred. 1t is certain that unless the
branch ia started from Canon City
little or no benefit will be secured for
Dawson City and It's adjoining terri
tory.
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