Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-08-29
VETERAN RAILROAD MAN.
General William ]. Palmer Spends a
Day in Durango.

1oJ VI Dp' ei'SS'
Since our last issue Durango hSj
been honored by visit from VIM. j.
Palmer who arrived Saturday even
ing and remained until yesterday af-
ternoon, when he departed for Sill
verton from which point he crosses
over to Ouray and thence to Lake City.
With him are his two daughters, Mrs.
Garland and Miss Shrek.
Enroute to Silverton a representa-
tive of The Herald had the pleasure of
half an hours conversation with the
veteran railroad builder and manager,
and more affable gentleman to con
verse with is not often run across.
General Palmer needs no introduc-
ton to Herald readers. Few people
in the confines of the state are 'unac-S
quainted with his history. The gen
eral started in rairoading in early
|life-something over fifty years ago,
and to look at him now one would not~
take him to he over fifty years of age.
His first railroad experience was with
the Pennsylvania system, a company
he remained with until the war broke
ont. when he joined the Union forces
for the preservation of the United
StNes. He entered the army as IA
private and came out IA general With
him for three years was our esteem
ed townsman. r. E. Sloan. and dur
ing the three years the two men be
came fast friends, and have ever re-
mained such. Mr. Sloan occupying she
position of ordinance sargent At
the close of the war General Palmer
cast his fortunes in the west, again
engaging in railroading principally in
construction work, being one of the
main contractors on the old Knasas
Pacific, the first road into Denver.
In lo7l General Palmer was one of
the organizers of the Denver & Rio
Grande company and construction of
the line was commenced the following
year The first stop was made at
the divide and Palmer Lake was nam
ed after the general. Then the line
was continued to Colorado Springs and
on to Pueblo. which was the terminus
for time. The San Juan country
began coming to the front, and con
Struction was again commenced and
Alamosa was reached in the summer Of
1878, where the terminus RENAME
for some time. From Alamosa to
Chama, then Durango and on to Silver
ton where the road was completed in
1882, is familiar history to most of our
readers. To General Palmer with
his enterprise and push the San juan
was developed by a network of rails.
He was the first president and remain
ed president until 1888 when he re
signed and took up the construction of
the Rio Grande Western which line
was under his control from the time
OF its completion until its absorption
by the Gould interests the past year.
General Palmer says he thinks fifty
years, with the exception of the time
in the army, of steady devotion to
railroading. is long enough for one
person and that he should step aside
for the rising generation. Again. he
has accumulated sutIiciency of this
worlds goods. His Rio Grande West
ern interests are said to have brought
him over six millions cash. one million
of which he distributed among his EN-
ployes. every one coming in for rtS~
membrance. The general still re
tains private interests in and around
Colorado Springs which are quite ex- (.
tensive. He is also interests in many
Durango projects-the Durango Town
Co. the PORTER Fuel Co, etc.
He was quite enthusiastic over the
outlook for Durango. He thinks our
prospects are very bright Yester-
day he enjoyed ride about town and
the Animas valley in company of Mr.
S. r. Herr OF course, he had moth
ing to say concerning our southern
outlet as contemplated by the new
company recently organized, but was
free to admit that the time was not
far distant when such connection will
be secured either through the Rio =
Grande or some other railroad inter
eSts