, 1906-02-08
GREAT WEALTH
Of This Valley--What a
Railroad Means to
the Future.
WHAT IT WILL Be
When Traversad by the Iron Eorse-
5000 Square Miles to be Developed
By S & E R r.

Just ove the mountains, north
from Denver, lies IA great indus.
trial empire of 5000 square miles
not n mile of which is lacking III
material susceptible of being rap
idly developed into traffic and com
overwhelmingly dollars. For a
period of about twelve years the
Denver Chamber Of Commerce
has been wise as to the possibili-
ties of this territory and has APP
preciated its worth as a possible
contributor TO the wealth and
prestige of the city. From time
to time, some OF the members of
the organization have endeavored
to induce Denver, and Colorado
capital to turn north, aid in the
development Of this rich terri
tory, create conditions of profit to
itself and of advancement of DEN
ver's interests. Extreme local pa
triotism has been the rock upon
which the &. G.. book has been
wrecked whenever launched. This
phase of the profound sentiment
when INDUCED III and fostered to
a degree, becomes a prejudice.
blind and u~nreasoning as the
most malignant type of the fell
disease: and new blood affords the
only remedy. Commercial organ
izations are capable of "A world of
good: but, TO be effective to the
end that their cities may profit
by their work. they should at all
times have the moral support of
their peoples, and in a crisis, sup
port of the more substantial char
acter, Denver has. thus for, failed
to get into and over the noun
tains to the north. Prejudice of
other parentage has at one time
and another barred the way of de-
velopment of the resources of this
district. During the fall of SO,
the Union Pacific headed Il cor
poration calling itself the Colo
RADIO and Western Railway Co.
line was surveyed south from Fort
Steele to Aspen. Colorado. The
scheme was to move the smelter
from Omaha to Fort Steele, move
the ore from Aspen for treatment
and incidentally develope the'rich
mineral sections of southern Wv
oming and northern Colorado.
Under assurance of the passage
of the Funding Bill, then before
Congress, the work of grading
was commenced and carried TO IA
point on the North Platte river
twenty miles south of Fort Steele.
The Funding Bill was killed thru
the influence of the cattle barons
who then thought they owned
Wyoming, and who were most
decidedly averse to any innova-
ton tending to the development
of any industry other than that of
cattle. The Colorado and Yves
tern was not built, nor did the
range cattle business prove re-
uumerative. Earlier, the same
influence Vas pitted successfully
against Il measure introduced in
the territorial Legislature by big
hearted Ed Bennett of Benefits
ferry fame. The measure was
one to encourage the building Of
railroads thruout Wyoming Ben
nett was not sent to the legisla-
ture again. Nearly four years
ago, Immediately after acquiring
control of the Southern Pacific.
the Union Pacific intended build
ing the Saratoga and Encaml-
ment branch. Just as they were
about to begin work the machin-
lists strike was iuaugurated, and
that corporation had its hands full
for the two years following. 1t is
hard to conceive of any combina.
ton of circumstances that can be