Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1902-09-05
Two Days Away from Rocky Ford.


4 reeen, trip To Trinidad took tho
editor on tho Santa 70 TO Pueblo in ono
Of the new and elegant coaches recently
placed on this portion Of tho system.
Tic pleasure and eomfor; Of tho trip was
Increased by the now and heavier steel
rails which have been laid on a portion Of
tho track and which are rapidly replacing
the old rails. providing moro smooth and
quiet travel.
The Colorado and Southern was boarded
a, Pueblo and tho long train Of comfort
able coaches found crowded. showing
heavy travel on that line. In leaving
Pueblo VIC passed through Bessemor
where the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. is
making such great additions 10 It's already
largo plant. From the coach windows
we're seen the mammoth WORKS in opor-
alton and tho now plants for various
kinds Of iron work under construction.
Many miles OF side;raes were passed. all
crowded with cars loaded with coal. coke.
iron orc. etc., indicating tho enormous
extent Of tho companys operations. This
great property. with its many mines Of
coal and iron throughout tho state. was
tho prize which Piungcr Gates came
west to capture few weeks ago. but
was completely and desefsedly outgon-
CTaled by Osgood, tho man undor whose
management this most important industry
has been expanded to its present proper
tons. Gates is best known as Wall
street gambler, wreekor rather than a
builder. and his supremacy in tho Fuel Co.
would have meant that Il would have
been manipulated for stock speculation
according TO the rules by which the
change gamblers bankrupt each other.
Either this or il would have boon sold TO
tho steel trust. in whose hands the works
would be liable to be closed down when
ever dollars. perhaps in sums Of millions
could be squeezed out Of somebody by
so doing. Tho interests Of Pueblo and
the entire state have been promoted by
Gates defeat.
Great contrasts are presented in rail-
way rides for go miles east and south
from Pueblo. Going eastward the tray-
eller secs the best farming section N
Colorado, Astounding in fine farm houses
in the midst of fields producing wealth
from soil subject to intense cultivation.
Going south but little is seen except graz
highlands. At Walsenburg the coal fields are
entered and the traveller is surrounded by
untold hidden wealth. Trinidad is the
center of the most extensive and easiest
worked coal fields in the state. The pro-
duction Of coal and coke has been the
leading industry of that region for many
years but is rapidly increasing in extent
and Importance. The Colorado Fuel g.
Iron Co. has recently built railway
running into the mountains near Trinidad
on the line OF which three new towns
have been lit in less than two years.
Two of these. Primero and Trecio, will
soon have in operation 800 coke ovens
each. Immense sums are being spent in
the development of the coal deposits of
that section.
Trinidad is well built and slightly city,
showing marked advancement since our
last visit several years ago. Business
houses and the residences Indicate the
presence of Republican prosperity. The
Enterprise family was pleasantly enter
tanned by E. o. Blair, Of the Chronicle
News, the leading daily of the city.
While in Trinidad we met Senator
Barela, the Democratic car of Las Ami
mas county. On being asked who the
democracy would nominate for governor
he promptly replied. Stimson. by the
way, who is Stimson, anyhow, that he
should have gubernatorial honors?l SEN
ator Barela is a wide-awske politician,
generally knows how the wind blows,
and his prediction can be counted on as
reliable.