The Holly chieftain., 1908-07-24
MONEY NEEDED
FOR STATE ROAD
sEMARkABLE WORK ACCOM-.
pL,snEp sY coNvlcTs IN
sourHERN COLORADO.
WORK SHOULD GO ON
MEN LABOR WILLINGLY AND EF.
F,cIENrLy WITHOUT ARMED
GUARDS.

Denyer,-Arthur c. Jackson. presi-
dent of the National Good Roads con.
Rress. has returned from . trip to
Trinidad. where he inspected the state
road being built by convicts. There is
only q little money available out OF the
appropriation for the project set aside
by the legislature, and there will not
| he enough to carry on the work until
more is secured from the next legisla-
ture. Mr.. jackson will remain In Dem
yer a few days to see what can be done
to raise the deficit. In an interview he
gave out the following:
"By invitation l spent Tuesday In.
specting the convict camp near Trinf-
dad and the work accomplished during
the past two months. think a most
remarkable showing has been made
and one that is of the greatest impOr-
tance to the state and the nation. The
National Good Roads congress Is deep
ly interested and surely every citizen
OF Colorado should be, for down In the
southern part of your state, hidden
among the mountains on the line OF
the old Santa Fe trail found eighty
three men clad In the garb of ordinary
laboring men engaged in work which
when completed will place at the ser
vice of the public great highway trav-
ersing the state from New Mexico to
Wyoming. Begun but two months ago
1t has already progressed far enough
to Justify the most sanguine expecta-
tions OF those who were instrumental
In beginning It.
lone remarkable and 1t may be un-
fortunate feature is that 1t was begun
so very quietly. A project of such i'm
portance, one certain to be Of such vast
benefit to the state, was surely worthy
of some opening ceremonies and much
greater public notice than it has thus
far received.
This road Is state highway being
built by the state, the laborers en-
ployed being prisoners from the penf-
tentiary at Canon City. Eighty-three
Of them are camped seven miles south
of Trinidad and they have practically
completed three miles of heavy grad
ing, much of it rock cutting from the
side of the hills SO steep as to afford
scarcely foothold for goat.
"a visit to the camp will disabuse
the mind Of some popular ideas regard
ing criminals. The men found were
in no way different in appearance from
any eighty-three men who might be
gathered together by any contractor
for work of a similar nature. The fact
that they work not only willingly, but
gladly without armed guards and with
practically no provision to prevent
their escape, demonstrates that Colora-
do is not only beginning the making Of
good roads but also making good men
out of her criminal population.
Il learn that this great work so au-
spiciously begun must soon cease un.
money Is advanced until the meeting of
the legislature, when generous sum
will surely be provided for carrying for
ward this great work.
THE state appropriation of $10,GSa
has been nearly exhausted and taking
into consideration that new equipment
had to be provided 1t is matter Of
amazement to me that the work could
have been carried forward so complete
ly successful as 1t has Highways in
New York cost $4,000 mile, yet the
people at the last state election, by a
..AoSt ucSiolfe Fote, authorized Cue aQul-
tional expenditure of $5O,0O0,OO0 for
highways, and the little state of Mary
land has recently voted $5,0OO,O0O for
roads.
No state in the Union will be more
directly and Immediately benefited by
state highways than Colorado, SO that
the appropriation Of so small sum as
$4,000 really looks ridiculous, but the
work at Trinidad demonstrates what
can be done In Colorado and II patri-
otic citizens Of the state will now but
rally to the support of those in charge
OF the work, 1t may be quickly COM
pieted to the New Mexico line, where
am informed the territorial Officials
VIII be ready to carry it forward at
Raton. Thus would be completed the
1lrst and most difficult section of a
great interstate highway. To permit
matter of such far-reaching impor-
tance to fail at this critical juncture
would be in the nature of a calamity.
The people Of Denver, Colorado sprin.s
and Pueblo should Immediately ioip
hands with the people of Trinidad"