The Meeker herald., 1903-04-18

Ever since the Motfat line changed
from IL possibility to IL pronounced
and rapidly developing actuality, the
exact course Of the great transconti-
mental thoroughfare has been sub
ject of much speculation and of spec
ial interest to those residing or pos
sessing holdings in the territory
which seemed likely to be traversed.
OF all the calculations and surmises
suggested, that of Col. &. f. Taylor,
the weIl-known pioneer mining man
who was the original spirit in the
movement which resulted IN the
building Of the Denver Mining En-
change, seems most reasonable and
likely to prove correct. Besides nu-
merous valuable copper properties,
Col. Taylor owns II townsite on the
Grand river, just below the Sheep
horn canon, or Red Gorge, as it is
called, and he has prospected every
foot of that part of Colorado and con-
sequently knows all about it. For
lar subject are entitled to weight.
Here is what he says:
''Therc are three considerations
that are bound to govern in carrying
the road across the range. The
shortest route, the lightest grade, the
avoidance of snow. Now we take it
for granted that the line surveyed to
Sulphur Springs is accepted and that
the new road will be built thereon,
and l don't think anybody doubts
that. The next question is, how will
they get over the Gore range to run
farther west, and at the same time
observe the considerations of distance,
grade and snow just mentioned.
''It seems to me the answer is
plain. To take anything like a di-
rect line west from Sulphur Springs
and then on bearing slightly north to
Steamboat Springs, as has been
talked of, would be to accept the tre-
mendous difficulties and expense of
enormous grades and to encounter
the certainty of heavy SHOWS. Why,
the snow stands four feet deep on the
level at Steamboat a great deal of
the time in winter, and it would be
foolish to take the road up that way.
1t is my judgment that the road will
be at least twenty-three miles from
Steamboat Springs at the point near
est to that town.
"But now to come to my idea of
what will be done. To my mind,
there is but one feasible, reasonable
route west from Sulphur Springs and
that is right down the Grand river to
Kremmling, through the gore canon
at water grade. That will ride them
of the difficulty of finding pass over
the Gore range, away up in the snow.
There's no snow along the Grand
river to speak of.
"Going, on down the river, the next
obstruction is the Sheephorn range,
spur of the Gore range and, at this
point, running almost parallel to it.
Through this range the line can fol-
low the river through the Red gorge,
but it will be necessary here to leave
the water grade and gradually rising,
skirt the base of Yampa mountain on
the right, passing McCoy's but about
500 feet above it, and coming out fin
ally upon the Conger mesa, from
which point it will be comparatively
easy railroading to get from there
across Rock creek and up Egeria
creek to Toponas and Yampa and on
west.
''That is the only logical route
across the Gore and Sheephorn
ranges and here is another thing. BY
running forty miles of line straight
up the Grand river from Dotsero, up
through the Red gorge to n point
where the Motfat line is at water
grade-which would require not to
exceed forty miles of road-the Dem
yer d Rio Grande could tap the Mof-
fat line and thus secure II short cut to
Denver by which at least 40 miles
would be saved.
"Then, again, the Colorado &
Southern, which already has Il llne
finished and running clear to Dillon,
could come straight down the Blue,
at water grade, to Kremmling, dis
tance of less than fifty miles, and
thus secure it's own outlet west over
the Moffat line.
$50 you see it is hard for a think
ing man to figure out any other route