Cañon City record., 1911-02-09
MEE1INC0F
BOOSTERS
COOD0NE

chamber of commerce, Messrs. { i
Allen and Thomas Tully of the state
highway commission, and party of
good roads boosters, was one of 6 edt
enthusiasm is likely to have an i'm
portant bearing on the bill now be
fore the legislature for the appIo-
priation of $4,000 foI the construc-
ton of the proposed public roadway
from Parkdale up the Arkansas river
to Salida, Buena Vista, Leadville '.ld
over Tennessee Pass TO the western
slope. The party arrived he.e from
Salida shortly after o'clock SetIr-
day evening on Denver & Rio Grande
train No. and its members wes
guests of the business mems associa-
ton at dinner Immediately afeer-
wards. Covers were laid for about
nifty guests and. among them wer /.
many people prominent in the busi
ness and social life of the community.
Chas. R. McLain. president of the
Arkansas, Gunnison & Grand Rt..r
Highway association, oficiated rs
toastmaster at "the feast of reason
and flow of soul" that forllowed I'll /,
more substantial feature OF the ocra-
sion and several highly entertaining
talks on the good roads proposition
as factor in the development OF the
resources of Colorado were mails.
Attorney Arthur H. McLain delive.
- AI1 aJl ~ nd Al \
we're responded to by Chas. A. Johh-
son of Denver. Otto Mears OF Silvs
ton, Chas. P. Allen. chairman Of tn.
state highway commission. DR.. Coct-
ems of Salida and by Guy U. Hall.
Frank P. Smith and Warden lyman
of Canon City. All of the speaker
endorsed the proposition of con-
structing & great public roadway
up the Arkansas river TO the crest Of
the Continental divide and on to the
eastern border of Utah at the gener-
al expense and to make 1t one OF the
principal trunk lines In the splendid
system of highways planned for
Colorado.
Mr.. johnson said that the contein-
plated Rainbow Route" from the Ar
kansas river into the Wet Mountain
valley and on up to Salida. Buena
Vista, Leadville and down the west
ern slope into the San Luis. Gunni-
son, San Juan, Uncompahagre and
Grand valleys appealed to him RE-
mendously and was one Of the most
beneficent ever outlined IN this state.
He expressed the hope that an appro-
priation would be made by the lesis-
lature to make it reality, as IT was
needed to draw closar together the
different sections of the state He
urged the people OF Colorado to
gether in the good roads movement
and work for the state at large. rati-
er than for any one portion OF 1. as
II was only in that way that the b st
results could be accomplished
, Otto Mears of Silverton. the pio
neer of mountain road builders H.
Colorado. said that the proposed
highway up the Arkansas river was
an enterprise that should enlist the
sympathy and help of every progress
sive. public-spirited citizen OF de
state and he expressed his determin-
means in his power. He said fha
such a road was the logical and must
direct route from, Denver to Silver
ton. ouray and all points in the San
Juan valley. as we'll as to Montfose,
Grand Junction and other towns In
the Grand valley and its surround
ings. Mr.. Mea-s during his fifty
years OF residence In Colorado has
built an aggregate of three hundred
and eighty-two miles of mountain
road. some of II the most dificult
expensive and picturesque In the
United States. Mr.. Mea-s construct
ed the first highway over the Pomona
Pass and feels sort of sentimental
interest in the Arkansas. Gunnison
and Grand river valley propositions
for the reason that It would add
value to the roads he built In the
western part OF the state a genera
tion ago. Although he is now finsn
eiaily concerned In the building ant
operation OF railroads Mr.. Mears sayi
he has lost none Of his interest IN
the construction OF public highway
IN the mountains Of Colorado.
Mr.. Allen OF the state highway
commission said thai he would Iik'
10 500 the road from Parkdaie MP tn
Arkansas river bniIt and that tks
state oouid we'll n5ord 10 undertake
n ~ . means Of better communisa
tjon between tho eastern and wsst