Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-07-22

iN VI WIG HiNAc w
build railroad from Dawson TO a
point on the FL Paso 4 Southwestern
has revived talk Of the Denver L. II
Paso short line, which was projected
several years ago and which seemed
almost certain of construction. The
promoters have never given up the
idea of eventually building this road.
The line from Dawson would be a
valuable link In this line. In fact the
FL Paso d Southwestern line from
Dawson to El Paso would very closely
follow the proposed line OF the Denver
& FL Paso short line. II the line
from Dawson be built II seems well
nigh certain that Il would be pushed
northward TO Trinidad and through
the Cripple Creek region and on to
Denver
Now that the Panama canal Is a
certainty, railroad lines north and
south become much more important.
East and west transcontinental lines
we have N plenty; north and south
lines not one. The proper place for
SN'h ~ ilit ID Hpt iiNai NnN hNiuhtiN
seaboard or through the country trav-
ersed by the great water way OF
the Mississippi. 1t Is just east of the
Rocky Mountains and the proposed
Denver G. FL Paso short line of long
ago traverses exactly the right coun-
try. Eventually such line as this
will he extended from Canada to the
Panama canal.
The following letter from Judge
Wilbur Stone, written long ago to the
Denver News in connection with the
Denver e. I'll Paso line Is particular
ly apropos just now.
The best longitudinal land on the
map OF North America for north
and south trunk line Of railway Is al
the base of the eastern mountains.
Aside from merely local convent
,ence in taking the place OF the wagon
'roeasshas s'wwA3 3ssse.s !. - "a sssi1
ways. especially when they are firss
brought into use was to supersedt
water transportation.
Before the age of railways ths
great cities OF the world were The
great navigable ports Of the world nat
urally. Commerce by navigation ther
made cities. commerce by railroad
makes them now
And 1t may be noted that In the
beginning of the great railroad age
they We're built only where and
when the transportation business OF
the locality, demanded their construc
tion, while now the railways are built
where geography points out for bust
ness In the future, and, create the
business TO follow them
In the history OF the United States
the migration, settlement and bust
ness moved steadily from east to west
the Atlantic to the Pacific. Hence
the first trunk lines ran east and
west.
The trend OF the Atlantic sea coas,
being northeast and southwest afford
ed water transportation in that direc
tion from Maine to Louisiana, without
necessity for trunk railway line
through the states paralleling tha1
coast navigation.
Between the Alleghanies and thu
settlements west OF the Mississipp
river, that great river with the Ohit
furnished the necessary water trans
portation up to 1860.
There seemed to be no need o
| long north and south lines OF railway
But about 1855 a venture was made
in the heart Of the great west, by tn,
building Of the Illinois Central rail
road, connecting Chicago with Cairo
uniting the great lakes with the Gul
by the Mississippi at the mouth Of tn
Ohio.
This was the first north and soutl