The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-05-31
New Railroad Route.
Rumors Of Line 20 BE Butt from
Durango 20 clifton, Hrizona 80
Would he a Payer.

The most likely railroad scheme that
has been broaehed tor this county for
somo time is that proposed 10 the fol-
lowing article from a ree9pt issue Of the
Denver Post. The route proposed ia an
open one, the Phelps. Dodge syndicate
reputed to be behind the enterprise is
one OF the biggest aud @. E. Mcdonnell,
the promoter. is hustler who never
tires. 1t is understood that he has boon
working on this matter for the past
several months, having made numerous
trips east 10 connection With it, The
article follpws'
A railroad connecting Durango. Colo.
and Clifton, Ariz., win soon be com
menced, according to a report which
reached Denver Yesterday The Phelps
Dodge syndicate. which owns the Ari-
zona g& New Mexico railway, Q. G.
Whitcher, q prominent citizen OF Clifton,
o. ID Mcconnell, president Of the Smell
ter City State bank Of Durango, and
other we'll known men are said to be in
terested in the new line. A rich min
eral and fruit section will be penetrated
and developed. The proposed line will
extend southwark from Durango about
235 miles. It will pass through or close
to the Navajo Indian reservation and
/ through Gallup, N. NJ, and thence TO
| Clifton, Ariz. The coal and iron around
/ Durango will have au outlet south to
the Santa Fe at Gallup. Precious min
eSals in the Mogollon mountains may be
mined with the assurance OF speedy
| transportation Of ores to the smelters
/ Connection will be made at Clifton with
! the Arizona & New Mexico railway
/ which connects Lo-dsburg and Clifton
with u miles Of track. Lordsburg is on
the main line Of the Southern Pacific
railway, and the new railroad will have
the advantages Of its through service
Local railroad men believe that the Du
rango-C Clifton line will be e paying ons
from the start
In apparent confirmation of the above
the Albuquerque Journal-Democrat O
last week had the following;
1t begins to look as though Albuquer
lque would lose the Durango road. ans
that Gallup would be the gamer Q. b
Mcconnell, president Of the Smelte
City bank, Of Durango who was il tn
city some weeks ago told a number o
prominent citizens that he representa-
a wealthy New York company, that haI
acquired valuable coal lands outside G
Durango and that a road would certain
ly be built to Gallup or Albuquerque
Some OF the members Of the compan
favored Gallup as the terminus, OWN
to the shorter route, bat Mr.. McCOnne
urged the building Of the road to Albu
qurque, which was larger city and whic
promised a Rock Island connection. A
Mr.. Mcdonnell has understood that th
building Of the Rock Island branch
Albuqurque is uncertain, owing to apt
I by OF citizens on the subject, he ha
! changed his mind and Is now advoca
inr the construction oi the road irol
a-@.. VI ff .fI..-
5 conlocti0n with lbtlSonthofn Pacific
The Democi1f is informed thai
tho hig Phelps-Dodige company is be
hind the enterpriie, which is very likely
to be 60 The Durango people canno
get their coal and other products int
the general market. They are bound Il
have another railway and one which
will connect with an important system