The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-01-15
THE SALT LAKE ROUTE DISASTER

In the lew snort years OF It's existence, Jne oaIG
Lake Route has had to contend with a series of
floods in the Meadow Valley wash which did con-
siderable damage to its tracks. This series cul-
minated last week in the greatest flood of ALL in
which less than $50 miles of the track swept
away. At this time the extent of the disaster has
not been fully determined, but that it was more
tensive than any that went before and amounts to
a calamity is agreed Seven times the railroad has
been inundated in the Meadow Valley wash. Three
years ago a great food swept down from the noun
tains and carried away the tracks, but this damage
was repaired and the track raised and rp-rapp put
in that it was thought would withstand any flood
which might occur. But the food last week
higher than any that had ever been known or even
thought possible 1t came after season of heavy
snow in the hills, mild wind, accompanied by
rain and the rush of water which swept down upon
the tracks was too much, and the work of three
years ago was destroyed. Thousands mil
ions-of dollars loss was sustained.
To say that the people of Utah feel the disaster
to the Salt Lake Route as almost personal loss is
but stating a truth. During its brief career the
railroad has made many friends among the people
of the intermountain country. The people have
felt that this railroad opened up new era in the
to the summer climate and sunny skies of southern
California, and placed the sem-tropical fruits of
that region upon the markets of Utah. 1t extended
branch lines into the mining camps of Nevada and
thus opened up a source of wealth that could be
tapped in no other way The barrenness of much of
the territory covered by the new line made the
building of it much more venturesome than the
building of railroads. and the people were glad
and rejoiced when evidence of prosperity made it
plain that the road was success It earned the
name of Utahs most popular railroad
But the flood has paralyzed the system. 1t has
virtually put Salt Lakes great artery of trade the
southwest out of business. Probably no other rail
road has ever suffered so great a loss. And as a
result, curtament of expense has become necessary,
and all along the line reductions of the working
forces are being made, not because the men are not
valuable men, but because the road has been put out
of business In the opinion of some the present line
Will never be reopened, and the officials of the
road decide to build by another route year or
more elapse before the Salt Lake Route will resume
through traffic to Los Angeles. 1t has been sug-
gested that a relocation is manifestly necessary,
and the Dixie land of southern Utah offers the best
route. Just now nobody knows what will be done
Wires are down and chaos exists. No doubt it will
all work out pretty well in the end for the men who
made the Salt Lake Route what it has been will not
be content to quit because a hundred and fifty
miles of track have been washed away. But the dis
aster places hardship upon the men who operated
the road and who have been laid off. Hundreds of
enginemen brakenen and conductors, freight rust
lers, baggagemen station agents and heads of de-
partments with their numerous clerks and stenog-
raphers have been affected by the necessary curtail
ment Among those in Salt Lake who have worked
faithfully and well to build up the Salt Lake Route
and whose services have done much to win for it the
title, "Utahs most popular railroad" who have
been displaced Kenneth G. Kerr district pas
senger agent and T. n Jenbnson, city ticket agent
Certainly railroad had a more efficient
corps Of agents or a more obliging set of gentle
men than these And it is hoped the necessity of
their displacement will be soon overcome.
The flood was staggering blow to the railroad
and to Salt Lake and Utah. 1t is hard for those
who have never been over the line to realize its i'm
mensity But when it is stated that the track is
zone from Acoma to Moapa, $50 miles, about the
distance as the width of the state of Indiana
some idea of its extent may be gained. 1t is hard
70 find consoling feature about the disaster, but
tbere Is one. at least. The railroad operated long
enough 70 prove its value and having done that the
vo,k Of rebuilding on another route can be taken up