Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-09-21
TRACKS ARE TO BE MADE
STANDARD GAUGE
Day of Narrow Gauge Is Over on the
Denver & Rio Grande.

Denver Post.
Vice President Charles II. Schlacks
of the Denver K Rio Grande railway
returned from New York city last
night. after IN absence OF almost six
months. enthusiastic over the plans
or extending the Denver & Rio
,;rando by means OF the Western Pa
citic railway from salt Lake City to
san Francisco. In addition TO the
Western Pacific project Mr.. Schlacks
aid the Denver 4 Rio Grande has
extensive improvement plans for this
tate. and that they only depend up
on good conditions generally to have
them carried out.
There are good times in Colorado.
and in all parts of the United States
rs WE'LL said Mr. Schlacks. Il don't
believe conditions for rapid growth
md great prosperity were ever better.
IN is serene as summer sea aud
every indication points to continued
prosperity.
The annual report of President
leffery shows how Western Pacific af
lhAiN NA'Auh+ nv vi iihS new
road win he of the utmost benefit to
Colorado. 1t will place Denver on 3
ranscontinental line and will make it
a gateway to the Pacific coast"
Denver at present Is only n side sta.
ton, as far as the transcontinental
lines are concerned The Union Pa
cihc reaches the Pacific coast by way
pt Cheyenne and the Santa Fe's main
line to the coast passes through La
Iunta. Denver is practically nowhere
when those lines are considered. The
lraffic 10 and from the Orient Is in.
creasine by strides and bounds. and
'or Denver to be a gateway for that
trade will result in untold benefit to
he city and state.
In speaking of Improvement plans
IN the Denver 4 Rio Grande system
Mr.. Schlacks said that the company
Is planning to change many of the
narrow gauge branches to standard
know when tine work would he done
1T might he this year. and 1t might
he next year"
One OF the first lines that will be
standard gauged is the narrow gauge
line connecting with the main line at
Grand Junction, A standard gauge
line will be run south through Mon
trose. Delta and through all tnat part
of the fruit country SO that freight
and passengers will not have to be
transferred at Grard Junction.
You may draw your own conclu-
slons," said Mr., Schlacks. in speaking
OF the report that the Denver & Rio
Grando win build from Durango to
Creedc We have some surveyors In
the field there now" said he.
II is the intention of the company
TO run standard gauge line from
Creede to El Paso. Texas. 10 connect
with the Texas a. Pacific and the 9th.
er Gould lines which connect with
that road.
From Mr.. Schlacks' statement 1t Is
apparent that the narrow gauge lines
in the Denver 4 Rio Grande system
Will all he things of the past within
the next year and half The chang |
as viii, of course, depend upon the
of Colorado. The company |
Is at present enlarging its shops and |
round houses at Burnham Pueblo and |
Salt Lake City.
Mr.. Schlacks would not talk about !
The proposition of congress increasing /
the powers of the interstate commerce |
and said that he did moi !
know If George j. Gould would come
lere 10 attend the annual meeting of
he Colorado Fuel 4 Iron company
lo said he had not interested himself
II the AFFAIRS of the latter company.
There is n probability of Mr.. Gould
'omng TO Denver next month TO at.
end the meetings. ]