The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-07-23
Will Penetrate the Backbone.

Will Penetrate the Backbone.
With the penetrating of the Con-
tinental Divide by railway tunnel
and other contemplated railroad de-
velopments, the citizens of Idaho
Springs will find themselves on q
through line and with many added
travelling conveniences and facilities.
The operating of a through line be-
tween Denver and Leadville will not
only prove convenience to passsn-
ger travel but will also mean the
opening up of large mines from which
the mills of this city will receive in
creased profits. Referring to this inn
portant change the Denver Republican
has the following to say:
"Wi,hin lS months Denver may be
brought to passenger and freight con-
nection with LeadviIle in a period of
six hours. This achievement will not
be the result of slashing time tables by
the three routes which enter the mining
metropolis at the present time, but by
the continuance of the Colorado &
oOuJHtTu lIoii 0CoA NAA
der the Argentine pass to Keystone in
Summit county. Passenger travel, at
least, routed to Leadville and Denver,
will be revolutionized by means of the
great Wider tunnel which passed un-
der the control of the Denver and Mon
tezuma Development company two
weeks ago.
As soon as the transfer of the great
mining bore was made, negotiations
were entered into between the tunnel
company on one side and the Colorado
& Southern and Summit County Power
company on the other. Yesterday
officers of the tunnel company an
nounced the negotiations had been con-
cluded several days ago and that the
enlargement of the dimensions of the
bore would be commenced Immediately
to permit the passage of narrow guage
trains from Waldorf, the eastern por-
tai, to Horseshoe basin and Argentine
on the western side of the range.
At present the tunnel is in 4,04s feet
from the eastern entrance and 71O feet
from the western entrance, leaving
2, IT'S feet yet to be driven. The tun-
mel is II feet wide and IL feet high,
but, pending completion Of the bore.
work will be started Immediately to
enl rye the bore to IA Ia feet by
David w. Brown of the Rocky Noun
tain Fuel company, Arthur j. Wood
ruff, secretary of the tunnel company
and E J. Tuttle, fiscal agent who are
officers of the Denver & Montezuma
Development company.
Mr.. Woodruff stated last night that
the connection between the eastern and
western drifts will be completed for
train operation within 18 months.
simultaneously with the work the
Colorado & Southern will extend the
narrow guage line from Keystone,
four miles east of Dillon tn Argentine
12 miles.
The Summit County Power company
which is controlled by the Doherty in
terests will supply electrical power
from it's plant at Dillon to pull trains
through the tunnel. The power COM
pany is ready to string its lines tho
moment the tunnel is completed.
The immense saving in distance and
time is bound to prove of great benefit
to Leadville and Denver and to the
mining and timber camps in Summit
and Lake counties. Leadville is
J reached by the Denver & Rio Grande.
i. M;llarl ColoroIn r.
Southern lines. The Denver & Rio
Grande mileage to Leadville is 27s
miles. The Colorado & Southern by
: way OF Como aud Breckenridge, is Isl
miles and requires the crossing of
Boreas and Fremont pas ses necessi-
tating grade of nearly per cent for
long distances on the route. The tun-
mel route cuts the distance to 122
miles, and the running time can be
made in six hours or less. The fastest
time to Leadville at the present time
is hours and Is minutes.
Already the town of Dillon, which
offered many railroad possibilities by
reason of its location and the breadth
of its acreage is showing signs OF
hustle in anticipation of the new all
line to Leadville. Montezuma and Ar.
geutine are both reporting more active
mining operations than in the past ter
years and market for summit county
ores so miles nearer than at present
promises to cause the resumption o1
work on many rich claims long since
closed down.
: J. R. Elgan has been in camp thi,