The Greeley tribune., 1908-02-06
DENVER BELIEVES ROAD BE.
HIND ENTERPRISE.
Interesting Story That Comes
From Capital C1ty-Good if
Only True and Time
Will Tell.

In a huge scheme to gain control OF
a large portion of the Colorado cat
tie, sheep and hog traffic to the Chi
cago packing houses?
Information has been given that
a road, which is soon to be con-
between Greeley and Idaho
Creek, by what is known as the Gree
ley & Northern Railway e. Utility
will be owned by the Bur-
lington.
This practically will bring the
main line of the Burlington in d.
rect connection with the heart of
the sheep and hog country. Presum-
ably with the intention of radiating
its lines into the prosperous stock
country of Colorado, the Bur-
lington years ago built railway
line from Burns Junction to Lyons,
coursing through Erie, Idaho Creek
and Longmont.
1t had no connection with other
lines Of the Burlington
Strategists of competing railroads
Immediately began to probe into the
real intention of this peculiar move
on the railway checker board. Their
efforts to learn a reason, however,
were fruitless. Finally the Burling-
ton gained concession from the
Colorado g. Southern to operate its
trains over tracks of the latter COM
pany from Burns Junction to Denver.
The agreement between the two
railroads on this little strip of track
became binding. But it has been
unotf1cialy learned that Burlington
engineers are now quietly engaged
in preparing plans for railway line
to extend from Denver to Burns
Junction This completed, the Bur-
lington will have direct line from
Denver to Greeley. and in possession
of wedge to enter into successful
competition with other railroads in
Colorado.
F. o. Olsen, chief engineer of the
railway line tl.at is to be constructed
between Greeley and Idaho Creek,
has admitted to farmers along its
already established course that the
new project will bring them in di-
rect communication with one of the
big transcontinental railroads. They
have also received the encouragement
that freight rates will be cheaper
and that upon the completion of the
road they will be enabled to send
their livestock directly into the
Chicago market.
Several months ago agents of the
Burlington railroad bought land in
the center of Greedy costing $50, 900.
Thus far it has not made public
what it intends to do with the prop
erty. But those who are familiar
with the building OF the new line
between Idaho Creek and Greeley
which. by the way, will enter di-
rectly into the land owned by the
Burlington railway in Greeley-say
that the moves of the Burlington are
as clear as day.
Engineer Olsen has dispalyed some
of his plans to farmers located near
Idaho Creek and Greeley, and it is
said they have offered him and the
new enterprise their united support.
1t is also said he has thoroughly
familiarized some of the ranchmen
with the entire Burlington railway
scheme, and they are beginning to
increase their land holdings. Tues
day Olsen visited ranchmen located
immediatly below Evans, to learn
from them what they regard as the
best course of the road flom Greeley
to a point on the Platte river.
The new road is to touch Evans,
hence 1t will follow the Platte river
en- the north, and then continue
along the st. Vrain creek as far as
its first bend. Then it will cross
the creek and follow its south shore
to point opposite kirkland and
take new direction to Idaho Creek.
Last year it required 10, 900 stand
ard gauge freight cars to handle the
shipment of sheep and hogs from the
Greeley district and immediate
points north and west. The rail-
road wise believe it is the plan of
the Burlington to soon extend its