The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-11
H. U. MUDGEIN DENVER
Confers With Officials at C. &
s. Headquarters.
May Result in Much New Con-
structiOn Work.

Denver, Col, May lit is said in
certain quarters that there has been a
big split between the Denver & Rio
Grande and the Colorado 6. Southern
on all joint track arrangements in the
state and that many millions of dol
lars may be spent in new construction
work as a result. This was officially
denied at the Colorado & Southern
headquarters and admitted to be true
by a Denver & Rio Grande official.
Whichever is correct there is no doubt
that something unexpected is taking
place.
The surveys for new road be-
tween Pueblo and Walsenburg were
made by the Denver & Rio Grande, the
estimates were made up and the con-
tractors had placed their bids for the
work. 1t had even progressed so far
that il was determined that fitzpatrick
BrOs. and the L tan Construction COM
pany had the lowest bids and it was
expected that they would be awarded
the contracts and that construction
would begin at once. The line was to
cost about s. 900 600 and was to have
been operated under a joint agreement.
When things has reached this stage
there was a sudden stop and the con-
tracts were not awarded The firms
who had placed bids waited for week
81 TWO anu LIltll they ltll LiAC Nit9
They were given to understand that
there had been some hitch in the ne
gofiations in New York and that the
work would not be done. This was fol-
lowed by the arrival of Russell Hard
ing. vice president and general manager
of the Rio Grande. who held a confer
ence regarding the joint track agree
ments with President Trumbun and
Vice President Herbert of the Colorado
e. Southern
H u. NUDGE THERE.
After this conference a Denver & Rio
Grand official made the statement that
it was all up in the air and that the
line would not be built Then came
a report that the Colorado < Southern
and the Santa Fe would join in this
joint track construction and that the
relations between these roads would
become closer. Last week H. L. Nudge,
general manager, and other Santa Fee
officials arrived in Denver and went
to Colorado & Southern headquarters
where a conference was held with these
officials Whether this conference was
In regard to a joint track agreement
or not could not be learned
H. Van Mater, assistant to President
Irumbull, stated this morning that there
was nothing new in the situation and de-
MED that there had been a break between
the Colorado & Southern and theDenver
& Rio Crande There is no truth in it, "
conference between Mr. Herbert and Mr..
Harding were substantially correct and
he plans will be carried out as announced
al that time
SANTA F'E INTERESTS.
There is no doubt, however, about the
awarding of contracts being held up and
the contractors have left the city with
The Santa Fe. the Colorado & Southern
and the Denver & Rio Grande have
number Of lines operated under joint
track agreements and a break between the
companies would force the roads to do
great deal of construction work costing
many millions. The Colorado & southern
does not own any track between Pueblo
and Walsenburg, but uses the Denver
Flo Grande tracks. The Colorado 4
Southern has a line between Denver and
abandoned except for one train each day
between this city and Colorado Springs
The heavy grades and excess i'll mileage
was the cause for abandoning the road
The Colorado & Southern operates its
trains into Denver over the Santa Fe
tracks all the way from Pueblo through
q joint track agreement. The Colorado *
Southern. however. does own track from
Trinidad to WalSenburg. The Denver x
Rio Grande has the advantage in the stu
alton on account of owning its own tracks
from Trinidad to Walsenhurg, from Wal
senDurg to Pueblo and from Pueblo all
the way into Denver
Unless the Colorado & Southern makes
& track agreement with the Denver &
Rio Grande from Walsenburg to Pueblo
to that point or lose that share of The
business for the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company On the other hand the Gould
road would have monopoly OF the whole
business by a breaking up of the agree
ment. The Colorado Fuel and Iron com
pany business from Walsenburg to Pueblo
is of immense proportions ana is the plum
for which the roads are striving.