The state herald., 1902-05-02
MOFFAT'S NEW LINE
BACKED BY THE ROCK asEAND.
Money Has Been Subscribed TO Build
1.-two and one-HaIf Years Al.
lowed for Its compIetion-WilI
Reach the North and Middt~ Parks
a Year Sooner.

! Officials of the Denver, Northwestern
& Pacific Railroad Company yesterday
officially announced the route in detail
| and made other statements which con
! iirmed the assertion of Chairman Gable
OF the Rock Island. published in the
Republican last Sunday, that the
money with which the Moffat short
line between Denver and Salt Lake
City will be built has been subscribed
Statements We're positively made by
officials of the company that while the
Rock Island will not build the new line
its stock will be largely absorbed by
capitalists Interested in the Rock ISL
and and also to some extent by own
ers of the Burlington railroad. Enough
Information was given to indicate be-
yonl reasonable doubt that when the
road is finished II will serve as the out
let from Denver for both the Rock Isl
and and the Burlington lines, and will
also make close connections with the
Clark line from Los Angeles TO Salt
Lake City.
These reports have been in circula-
ton for two months, but We're not YER
flied until yesterday. In connection
with the assurance of backing by two
such prominent transcontinental lines
as the Burlington and the Rock Island
the Moffat company's definite an
nouncement of the route selected
through northwestern Colorado is i'm
portant to Colorado and to eastern
Utah as well, where information in re-
gard 10 the exact route has been eager
ly sought for two months.
From Denver the line will 20 west
by as straight a route as possible. 1t is
already built as far as Aryada. The
coal fields OF Coal Creek viii be the
next objective point and grading to this
point is already In progress. The next
point on the line viii be Copperdale
station. Thence the line will run
through the northern part of Gilpin
county by way of the Rolllnsyille pass.
4 branch will he built from Rollins
Vile TO Central City. The line Will
pass out of Gilpin county through n
tunnel two miles north OF James peak.
This tunnel will he 1000 feet, or 4
trfle more than two miles long, and
at an altitude of 5000 feet. 1t is esti-
mated that two and one-half years
will be required To complete the tunnel,
therefore arrangements have been
made TO build n switchback as tenn
porary line over the peak. to be used
until the tunnel is finished. In Grand
county the line will pass through Hot
sulphur Springs. thence will proceed
over the Gore range and down the
Bear river valley 10 Steamboat Springs
in Routt county. II will traverse n
distance of 100 miles west of Steam
boat Springs. in the expectation that
its rich pastoral. agricultural and coal
resources may afford profitable local
traffic. Thence the line viii run
through ulntah and Wasatclf cou8tles,
Utah. crossing extensive beds OF gil.
sonite and the most extensive deposits
of hydrocarbons IN the world. and
through rich agricultural sections.
4 branch line may be constructed
from point on the main line south to
Meeker. although this has not been
definitely decided The expectation OF
the promoters Is that the Union Pacific
will build from It's main line south 10
MeekeV In the near future, and that
possibly the Rio Grandc will build
north to Mecker TO secure share OF
the traffic from that already quite wah
dcTclopcd section, hence II Is probable
that the Denver. Northwestern < Pa.
clnc will protect itself by building a
braDch TO Meckcr
The estimated running time OF the
MoiTat road is to be forty miles an
hour, so that Its trains may cover the
distance between Salt Lake City and
Denver In twelve and one half hours.
The road will be 40 miles shorter than
the Union Pacific between these two
cities, lGi miles shorter than the Mid
land. and a02 miles shorter than the
Rio Orandc. The total length Of the
line will bc 5c5 miles.
The maximum grade is to be two and
two-tenths per cent. or no feet To the
mlic. aud this only, the comparatively
short ascent To the tunnel on the con
tlnental divide. The maximum curvn-
turp VIII be ten degrees. and this nnly
In few places. while most OF the
curves Will NJ Of five degrees.
Construction Work now IN progress
from Aryadn To the Coal Creek fields
will continue. hut II win he two
months before work on the rest Of the
line can be got under way II is ex-
pectcd that by next August the con-
structlon will bc proceeding as vlgor'
ously ms ample funds and modern skill
aud railway construction devices cnn
push II from Coal Greek westward,
Two crews of men VIII bore the tun.
mel. working from opposite sides Of the
divide. The maximum time estimated
l FOR completing the road Is two and one
/ half years II Il expected that the east
] LII -. la.
| sooner. nnd that within year nnd u
half Denver will be Ia direct commuu
I icniion with North aud Middle pnrl'
I sections.
] According to the prospectus ISSUED
] hy the company. the completion nnd
I operation of the new railway will r.
suit In the following new traffic fol
Colorado;
Annually Increasing railroad ship
mcnths both In nnd out. Of live stocl
nni sheep,
Annually Increasing railroad ship
mcnis h.. of general merchandise; ais
! of machinery aud supplies In ronnec
tiOn with new productive enterprises
Annually increasing railroad shiI
monts out of wool. agricultural prod
ucts, ores NJ the precious nnd allie
metals, coal, coke. lumber. lyiro,cni
, bons onyx nnd marble. granite nn
building stone. lire nnd other clay
vir,
An ever growing railroad pusscng,
: travel. hulli ways. of persons ronnertr
, with northwestern Colorado. ilHlin
hunting ani general tourists. m
trnnsconilnoninl travellers"
New Works Big Gun.