The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-04-29
Shortest Keyhole 10 the West

The driving OF the tunnel through
the backbone Of the continent along
the Moffat tunnel line is an enter
prise that should commend itself to
the people Of the entire state as it is
the solving of trauscontinental routes
in various places in the Rocky Noun
tain system. Great as this enterprise
is there is another right at our own
doors that is worthy of as much con-
siderat,on. The Wider bore that is now
being driven at Argentine is destined
to play most important part in the
development of the state and its min
ing and commercial interests. The
distance that it will be driven to con
meet the eastern and western slopes is
something over Z, 500 feet and there
only remain about l, 100 feet OF it to
be completed. 1t is not as large at
present as will be required for the
passage of trains but as soon az the
opening is made, which is expected to
be accomplished about the first OF
August, the work Of enlarging it to
a proper sizs will begin and be push.
ed enegeticaIly. OF the $3.50 feet. ap-
proxlmately, that have been driven,
2I2 feet are on the west side and the
remaining footage is on the east side.
When this is completed it will open
up one of the greatest mining sections
in the state. The great Montezuma
mining districts are characterized by
very large and profitable veins that
are only waiting to be opened up by
means of transpoi tation and this will
be done when the Montezuma and
Western railroad makes connection
from Waldorf to keystone. The active
pushing spirit in this great enterprise
ia A, j. Woodruff who has been nm.
firing in his efforts to finance this
proposition and bring about the won
derful results that will be accomplish
ed through his perseveriug agency
1t is a matter in which the citizens
\ of Clear Creek and Summit counties
should, in particular, be most
thoroughly interested. 1t means the
shipment of immense tonnage from
the latter by short route and from
which the mills of the former will
reap a good harvest. 1t means won
derfuIly shortening OF time OF travel
to Salt Lake and the Pacific coast
from Denver aud points in Gilpin and
Clear Creek counties.
From Denver to Lsadville by way
of the Denver and Rio Grande is 275
miles !; by the Colorado Midland route
the distance is 2l2 miles while by the
vay of the Montezuma and Western
the distance is oaly l22 miles. Per-
cons going to Utah and the western
states will be able to leave Idaho
Springs at l0:37 in the morning and
reach Leadville in plenty of time to
take the trains for the west that leave
Denver at eight and nine in the mora
ing. Tho distance from Idaho
Springs to Leadville will only be
about IS miles. Hence this way OF
travelling will save going to Denver
81 miles and then travelling either
all day or all night to reach Leadvllle
and points further west
1t will practically place US on
Oanscontinental line and the hands
okMr. Woodruff should be upheld,
be shonld have all possible encourag-
ment from this section and theie
should be one continual and euthusi-
astic boost for him until his work is
complete. The great possibilities OF
this line are beyond conjecture. There
is an empire of mineral wealth be-
tween Idaho Springs and Leadville
that will feel the heart throbs OF this
enterprise in a measure beyond COM
prehension
To connect the gap between the
Argentine Central and the Colorado
and Southern at Keystone is matter
of short dlstonce but of heavy ex-
pense and Mr.. Woodruff and his as
societes do not propose that any i'm
pediments or obstacles shall prevent
them carrying out this Empire open
ing project It is large engineer
ing undertaking even though the dis
|tance is short. but there are no bug
berrs that will retard their onward
march to success. Ever since the old
Colorado Central railroad started on
is sinuous way up Clear Greek we have