The Glenwood post., 1911-08-19
Henry Rhone Ridicu|es Idea and Says
moffat Road Cannot Build It and
Rio Grande Will Not.
GIVES A few GOOD REASONS

What is the prospect for the build
ing of the Dotsero cutoff, connecting
the Rio Grande at Dotsero with some
point on the Moffat roadf By whom
is it likely to be built and to whose
interest it would be to have it built
These are questions that might as well
be looked squarely in the face and an
swered in the light of good business
judgment.
Henry R. Rhone of Grand Junction
who is interested in an automobile
line connecting the two roads, because
he sees no prospect of either or both
of the roads building the much talked
of cutoff, is out with letter to the
Sentinel in which he claims that the
Moffat road cannot build the cutoff
and the Rio Granie will not.
While Mr.. Rhone may be said to be
a party in interest and therefore preju
diced, we give his letter below for
what it is worth:
To the Editor of the Sentinel
We have heard for some years about
the Dotsero cutoff and few days ago
you printed some news from New York
that the present management of the
Moffat road was going to buill it when
they got out from under about $4,000
900 in notes outstanding.
l think IL shout time the public un
derstood something cbncerning that
be seen that sll talk concerning the
construction of that cutoff is purely
hot air. 1t takes money to build rail
roads and it is hard enough to get
money to build a railroad when you
are NOT trying to build into another
railroad IS territory. Mr.. Moffat found
that, with all his money and prestige,
he could hardly get money to build into
a territory which had no railroad at
all; and does anyone think that bonds
could be foated to build into another
railroad g territory and when all the
business the new road would get it
must take away from another road?
Certainly the Dotsero cutoff will not
be of any benefit to cne Rio Grande.
The relations between those roads can
not be reciprocal.
1t may be business to build line
into another railroads territory where
every pound of freight must be fought
for. when the same amount of money
would build the main line twice the dis
tance toward Salt Lake and into a
territory where all the business will
come without fight, but I can't see
it that way.
II is true the men now in control OF
the Moffat road can easily raise among
themselves enough money to build thai
cutoff, but NO man would credit them
with such action unless they had made
deal to sell the Moffat road to the
Rio Grande or they had arranged te
sell the bonds and reimburse them
selves.
Now it is clear the Rio Grande is moi
in condition to assume the burden o,
the Moffat road and that of carrying
the Midland (if that story is true), fol
the reason the Rio Grande passed ths
last dividend on its preferred stock.
1t is equally improbable that the Rlt
Grande would buy the Moi1at road o.
take it as a present even if the cutof
did save considerable distance to Den
yer.
The Rio Grande is an adjunct of The
Missouri Pacific and as long As th'
Moffat road is q stub line, the Rit
Grande will continue to get both pas
senger and freight business from tn
Missouri Pacific and other easter
lines and q blind man can see that th'
completion Of the Dotsero cutof and I
traffic arrangement with the Mona
road would seriously Affect the Ri
Grande through business.
Naturally oil the through passenge
business would 60 over the Mohat foas
and the fast freight would probabl.
60 that way too except in ths wiat<