The Florence daily tribune., 1902-08-21
THE INTER-URBAN RAILWAY

Colorado Springs and Inter Urban rail-
way of which w. s. Stratton is the
head. The Gazette urges upon the
promoters to take broad view Of the
situation and extend the lines of the
road up and down the valleys of the
Arkansas and the Fountain. In its
arguments the Gazette says among
other things:
1.-The valley of the Arkansas river
in Colorado. including that part of 1T
from the Grand canon eastward to the
dad on the south up through the val
ley of the Fountain creek to the Pixies
Peak region on the north, is certainly
destined to be one of the most densely
populated and most prosperous CON-
munities in the world. This is made
certain. first, by the natural resources
of the region. which are unsurpassed
second, by the character of the popu-
lation, which is not excelled in intel
ligence and energy; third, by the
amount of capital already invested,
and continually developing towards
larger things, and fourth by other
conditions and circumstances which
tend directly towards the accomplish
ment of the final object.
.'All this has direct bearing upon
Colorado Springs, which is destined
to become the center of attraction in
many ways for this region. Colorado
Springs has no rivalry with the people
of Pueblo, Canon City, Trinidad or
Lamar. 1t is interested in the de-
velopment of all their resources, and
the building up of each and every one
of these communities will tend direct
ly towards our own prosperity. This
is especially true of our nearer neigh
bors at Pueblo, Florence and Canon
City.
''The valley of the Fountain creek
between Colorado Springs and Pueblo
is to certain extent q neglected field,
but one whose possibilities have not
yet been calculated The storage OF
flood waters, the development Of oil
and other mineral resources, the sink
ing of artesian wells, the growth of
local factories are likely in the near
future to change the entire aspect of
the country, and to make the Foun-
tain valley OF far greater agricultural
and industrial Importance than is
now considered possible. Nothing
would tend so much towards this end
as the establishment of an electric
railway between Colorado Springs and
Pueblo. Such an enterprise would
Immediately make Fountain city of
considerable Importance, it would
stimulate and encourage enterprise In
many varied ways along its entire
line, it would bring Colorado Springs
and Pueblo into much closer relations
for the benefit of both.
1.-The advantages Of a direct rail
way line from Colorado Springs to
Canon City and Florence have fire.
guently been set forth in these col
umns. Such line would prove most
attractive to tourists. 1t could be
built at comparatively slight expense,
and it would undoubtedly in the near
future, if not in the present, develop
sufficient business TO warrant the cost
of it's construction and operation
THE abundance of cheap coal at
Colorado Springs and the progress of
modern invention, making it possible
to burn the coal at the mouth of the
mine. handling IL with a minimum
of labor and expense. and to transmit
the power to any point within a
radius of 100 miles, are factors in our
industrial situation that ought never
10 he disregarded. There is no good
reason why the same system that
furnishes the power for electric cars
between this city and Pueblo should
not also supply power for the mschin-
sry in towns along its line. aud for