Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-12-23

Ispecial Correspondence TO Morning Journail
Aztec, N. NJ, Dec. 22.-At a largely
attended meeting of citizens from
Southwestern Colorado and North
western New Mexico, held at Durango,
Colo, last week, an organization was
formed to promote the interests of the
entire section. This organization is
called the San Juan congress, n re-
representatives. include the counties OF
La Plata, San Juan, Montezuma,
Dolores and Archuleta, and a Juan
county, New Mexico.
J.. A. Clay is president and G.. n.
Raymond is secretary of the new con-
press. with headquarters at Durango.
Since the information that was
brought here by Mr.. J.. w. Reagan,
former assistant chief engineer of the
Arizona & Colorado railroad. that his
road would not build into this coun-
try as had been planned, the citizens
have done a lot of individual THINK
ing. that eliminated in the big gath
ering and the formation of an active,
united body of great strength.
1t is acknowledged that the COM
mercial and Typographical conditions
demand an outlet to the south before
the great wealth of coal, livestock,
mineral and agricultural OF
the southwest can find proper develop
ment. AT this time the Denver q
Rio Grande railroad is the only trans
portation means, and it operates a
narrow gauge road, that crosses two
mountain ranges and is wholly
Inadequate to take care of the bust
ness which the country now pro-
duces. to say nothing of the great tom
mage that will soon be available.
Taking account of the true situa-
ton, the various commercial bodies
of all the towns of this section are
united and will unquestionably take
hold of any project that offers bet
ter transportation facilities first. TO
make a rail connection with the new
line of the Santa Fe at the closest
point would require a new line 100
miles in length, which would reach
Gallup. The engineering features
connected with such a new line are
said to be easy. With such a line in
operation, the entire a Juan region
would change it's supply point from
Denver and Pueblo, Colo, to Albu-
querque or some nearer commercial
center, than the Colorado cities, which
lie about 500 miles away. across two
mountain ranges.
One year ago the city of Durango,
Colo, and the Animas valley of New
~ ~ WV h1 -
ington and Aztec, pledged a total cash
bonus of $780, 900 to the Arizona &
Colorado railroad if it had trains in
operation from the south within eigh-
teen months. This bonus is now for
feited, but there is much talk that an
independent road financed by respon-
sible parties, could get double this
bonus here in stock subscriptions. The
building of such a line would make
the present road of the Rio Grande
a losing investment, and opposition Is
almost certain from Rio Grande in
testest should such an attempt be
made. However, it would pay Albu-
querque, Los Angeles n Ell Paso,
Tex, to look carefully into some such
project, for this region is rich and
can be developed to the maximum, on
account of its great water supply n
other natural resources.
Al a meeting held in Aztec last Sat
urday the democrats present voted to
send delegates to Santa Fe, to oppose
the constitution. San Juan democrats,
however. are not unitde in opposing
the constitution. some of the most
prominent men among them coming
out in favor of it. Opposition is APP
parent among many prohibitionists,
the socialists and many "~Insurgent'
republicans. Predictions at this time
that there will be a majority against
the adoption of the constitution in
this county are uncertain.