Gilpin observer., 1900-09-06
A NEW LINE TO
THE PACIFIC COAST

Denver, Aug. 3O.-The Denver
& Rio Grande railroad is said
to be maturing plans for the con-
struction of cut-offs and extensions in
its present system, which will afford it
practically direct line between Den
yer and Salt Lake City, says the Re
publican. The completion of the work
will relieve the road absolutely of it's
dependence on the Rio Grande West
ern. and will more than offset the ad-
vantage which the Southern Midland
Western roads hope to gain over the
Rio Grande by the completion of the
Cripple Greek short line through Platte
canon to the divide. The Rio Grande
Is said to be backed by the Burlington
road on the east and the Los Angeles
terminal road, Senator Clark's new
purchase, on the west, and the con-
summation of the Rio Grande's plans,
together with the completion of the an
nounced extension of the Terminal road
from Salt Lake to Los Angeles will
give the combined roads an independ-
ent system from Chicago to the Pacific
coast
Il. T. ,Ieffery. president of the Rio
Grande, i'll an interview in Chicago re-
Gently, announced that his road would
extend its lines to Salt Lake, and Man
ager Rule of the Terminal road has
already said that he expected to con-
meet with the Burlington at Salt Lake
City.
At the time the latter statement was
made it was thought that he had in
mind the road which the Burlington
would extend west from its present
line at Guernsey, Wyoming 1t is now
said, however. that he unwittingly di-
vulged the plans which the combined
roads have for their overland route.
Mr.. Jetfery is said to be now in con-
ference with the Burlington financiers
in the East and meetings with Senator
Clark and his associates will, it is said,
be afterward held. Surveys for the
new road will then be made and the
fall of 1901 will, it is reported, see the
new road in operation.
The execution of the plans will in
volve the expenditure of nearly S2O.-
900. 900. over one-third of which will be
spent in the state of Colorado alone.
The new route. it is said, will follow
the present Rio Grande road from Den
yer to point near Palmer Lake. From
here the line will be projected west
through the mountains across the
Rampant range to point near Lake
George. where the South Park and
Buena Vista. This route has already
been surveyed, and the estimated cost
of its construction is placed at $S,OOO.-
600. From Buena Vista the old road
will be followed to New Castle, the
end of the Rio Grande tracks. The
line from that point on to Grand juno
ton is now used Jointly by the Rio
Grande and the Midland roads. From
New Castle the road will run north
west between the White river plateau
and the Book cliffs up to White river.
which latter roadbed will be followed
to the state line and into Utah..
/ At Ouray, Utah, the road will leave
the White river and continue along
the south side Of the Uintah mountains
and through the town of Heber into
Salt Lake City. Surveyors are report
ed to be now in the field laying out
the road from New Castle west, and it
is said that active construction will be-
gin on this end of the road before
winter.
Even If the Palmer I.ake-Buena Wis
tn cutoff is not at once undertaken the
completion of the short line from New
Castle west will shorten the Denver
Salt Lake route nearly 200 miles, prac-
tically minimizing the advantage the
Southern-Midland Western roads hope
to gain by their Platte canon cutoff.