Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-25
{Continued from Psss II
THE CIRCLE ROUTE.


part Of the obligation. A more con-
tracted route and one cutting off the
San Luis valley and San Juan coun-
ties entirely, WAS advocated by the
Canon City crowd who wanted the
state highway travel to pass by Canon
City both going and coming. To ac-
cumplish this result the Rainbow
Route" was devised by Wilkie Nc
Claim and he managed to secure con-
siderable advertising in the Denver
papers about the route, giving the
impression that it would be the route
Of the highway commission.
The state highway commissioners
we're unable to make any m we until
afte, the adjournment OF III. 'eeisla-
tore and are still In doubt as to the
amount Of money they will have to
spend this year, but they had cer-
tain amount that they were positive
Of, and decided to start the work on
this end of the route with the aid of
the state and county money and a con-
vict camp which was promised them
by Warden O'Neil of the state refor-
matory. Mr.. Allen, president of the
commission, and Mr. Tulley, another
member, the third being unable to
come, arrived in Durango Saturday
evening. Sunday evening they went
to Silverton and that evening held a
lengthy powwow with the citizens and
county commissioners. Laboring un-
der the belief that the La Plata coun-
ty commissioners were not favorable
to spending any money on the road
between Durango and Silverton this
year the San Juan county commission
ers and many Of the people favored
the route over Cunningham pass to
Creede and down the Rio Grande,
pledging liberal appropriation In turn
for similar amount by the state and
with the aid of convict labor, build
good road by that route. Mr.. Tulley,
acting as principal spokesman, took
the ground that the La Plata county
commissioners should be given an op-
portunity Of getting in line and that
the road should be built as outlined
by the commission last fall, Mr.. Tul-
ley naturally pulling for his home
town, Durango. Thus the matter was
left, the Silverton and San Juan con-
tingent being agreeable to the Du-
range route If our people met them
half way. II was this condition OF
affairs that caused practically the en-
tire taxpaying body Of Durango to get
busy and through the committee ap-
pointed by the Board Of Trade to take
the matter up with the county COM
missioners. A meeting was held at
the court house Monday evening at
tended by many interested citizens
outside of the Board of Trade COM
mittee. The situation was thorough
ly discussed but adjournment was ta-
ken at a late hour without the COM
missioners seeing their way clear to
meet the requirements Of the high
way commissioners. Tuesday forenoon
for couple Of hours the matter was
again taken up with the commission
era and at 12 o'clock Commissioner
Tovrea announced that he was con-
vinced that the proposition was one
that should be acceded to and made q
motion to this effect. County Attor-
ney Pulliam suggested that before a
vote was taken that Mr.. Tulley appear
before the board and make a concise
statement of the conditions, Mr.. Allen
having left for Denver on the morn
ing train. This was readily acceded
tn by those present as proper and nd-
journment was taken until 2 o'clock
At the afternoon session Mr.. Tulley
went into detail, and after some more
discussion, Chairman Scouton stated
that he was convinced that the COM
missionera should meet the demands
of the state and thus place Durango
and La Plata county on the main state
highway circle road. The statement
was heartily applauded and later a
resolution setting forth the facts was
passed by unanimous vote Of the
commissioners.
Under the proposed plan La Plata
county puts up $4,000, and the state
$1,000; San Juan county also puts W
$4,000 and the state $4,000, making Il
total of $4,000. Out of this it will
require approximately $4,000 to equip
the convict camp. This will leave
$4,000 in the joint fund, $4,000 tt
be used in San Juan county and $6,'
900 in La Plata county. After the
camp is established it will cost ar
average of about rs cents per day
pei man to run the camp, this includ
ing pay Of guards, commissary ans
team hire. As arranged, the convic
camp will be worked in San Juan coun
ty during the summer months, abouI
five being available, and the remain
ing seven months In La Plata county
The La Plata county fund will keeY
the camp of thirty-five men running
seven to eight months. The joint funt
thus created is to be used on tn,
Durango-Silverton portion Of thu
highway, but the state turns over 81,
500 TO be used in connection with ar