The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
DYNAMITED A MOUNTAIN.
Railway Contractors Then Paid Tay-
Tor for Use of His Land.
Denver Times.

OenVer Times.
Stories of the. Napoleonic strategy of
george Iaylor, or Boulder, who forced Or
man q Crook to part with a big sum OF
money for the privilege of their gangs Of
Workmen passing over his lands with their
supplies, Dy Cynamlting mountain road
and filling narrow defile with 400 tons OF
rock and dirt, are Just reaching the offices
or the state labor commissioner and other
officials at the capital
Taylor had it within his power to delay
the building of the Moffat road for months
and II he had continued the policy or de-
stroying the roadway over his land hun
dreds OF men and horses that were en-
ployed in laying the bed for the road must
have persisted from starvation in the noun
tains, because no supplies could have been
furnished them, 1t Is said. He owns three
fourths OF a section of land directly with
In the entrance OF South Boulder canyon.
six miles from the town of Boulder The
road that crosses his land leads to the top
Of the range and is the only course that
can be travelled with safety. The way lies
between high mountains, between narrow
cuts and across roaring streams.
Houses were built on Taylor's land by
tho construction company. Machinery was
hauled upon Ii and tons OF tools and other
supplies were piled there. This was done
by Orman & Crook with the full knowledge
that the land was private property. Tay-
lor discovered what was going on and pro-
tested. He was told nothing could be done.
and the best thing for him to do was TO in
stitute suit for damages. With this pur-
iR IN RonIders T The Follower OF Riacksfone and
Coke demurred. Lawsuits take up too
much time and are not advisable when
other courses are open, SO said the attor-
ney. 1t would be years before the Supreme
Court could pass upon the case. The law
yer told Taylor that the land was his and
that he could do with 1t as he wished.
A few evenings ago two men were seen
leaving Boulder at dusk with two kegs of
black powder and two boxes of dynamite
in a light wagon. Their destination was
South Boulder canyon. A short distance
within the canyon rises two pillars as
guards at each side of the road. Their
walls are perpendicular and smooth as
glass. Their heads, go feet in the air, al
most touch over the trail. Making de-
tour of miles, they mounted one OF the
pillars from the back. The explosives
were hoisted TO the top, and, cropping
about in the darkness, they stuck the
powder and dynamite in the holes and
crevices of the rocks. Shortly before mid
night the people sleeping in the vicinity
OF the mouth of the canyon were startled
by the roar of an explosion, and thought
that another incipient earthquake had
visited Boulder county.
In the morning the teamsters of Orman
& Crook going up the road were stopped
by the wall of rock. 1t rose fifty feet in
the air and was so rough and precipitous
that only the winged creatures of the air
could cross il in safety Those coming
down the road were also surprised to find
the barrier, and the sound of creaking
wagons was not heard in the valley that
day. The next morning at sunrise hun
dreds OF men were at work on the mass
that blocked the roadway. Taylor had
been paid for the use of his land and
work on the Mofat road was resumed.
Taylors ultimatum was dynamite, and
the contractors needed. They realized
that he could have torn up and destroyed
every foot OF the road over his land.
Diplomacy was best. The privilege of
crossing the property was worth at least
81, 900 to them. The company check
book was produced and the official auto
graph, worth in that instance almost
$1,000. was given to Taylor with the COM
pliments Of the firm.