The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1912-10-17
CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE
BEPORTS

TIE members 30 tuo saeeial commit
tee solicited 0y tle et coaucii and
the canon C5 Business Mems aas9-
ciliIm 10 Investigate and cD3rt upon
the present s.tuaaon and die pros
peet oil 4nsin alort a resumption
OF traffic over The Florence & Cripple
Creek Railroad company had con
ference with jesse II. Waters, uau-
aFer OF the company property at l.a
onice in Colorado Springs last Tues
eay afternoon. similar committee
from Florence. cripple Greek and We
ter accompanied as to the SPRINGS
ond took part with us in the confer
enee with Mr.. Waters. These commit
tees represented other communities
taat were quite as much Interested IN
the rebuilding OF the railroad as Car
on City.
The conference lasted for several
hours and the situation as. II exists
was gone into thoroughly and ex-
haustively First. let us state that In
M Waters the people of the Arkansas
valley have an Interested friend. He
is. probably, as much concerned in
the matter OF the resumption OF
freight and passenger traffic over the
line as anybody that could be named
He has large holdings in Fremont
county property; in fact. he and his
associates OF the Florence & Cripple
Greek company have investments in
this section OF the state running inso
the hundreds OF thousands OF dollars
and tley are naturally far more con-
eerned in the extension OF the railroad
facilities In this county than in their
crrtailment. They are deeply inter
ested in the growth and prosperity Of
the various towns and in the agrlcul-
tural development OF the land along
the Florence & Cripple Creek road in
this county.
We are convinced that the day of
narrow guage railroads is passing
IL indeed IL has not already passed.
None OF the connecting lines of rail
way with the F. C. c. have a mar
row guage track. even the Rio Grande
having discontinued the third rail .t
Canon City.
We were shown figures convincing
us beyond a doubt that this railroad
has been losing money each year Tor
several years going behind many
thousands of dollars in single month.
Not enough revenue was obtained
during the past year 10 pay for oper-
ating trains. leaving nothing for main
tenance OF right of way. equipment or
interest on money Invested. or on Ia
debtedness
No farmer. merchant or banker
would continue 10 or could DO busI-
ness under such conditions.
However. Mr. Waters and his asso-
ciates are having new lines surveyed.
hoping to hnd better and safer grades
IN order to establish a standard. dr
hroad guage track. where 1t will not
be so liable % washuuts.
It may be interesting to our people
10 learn that the same rates are be-
ing made via Pueblo and Coloras1
Springs for hay. apples. etc. that are
effective via the F & c. C. Ry.; and 3f-
Waters assured us that he would try
TO prevent any Of the express rate
being changed. which stnI leavss us
the same rates to Cripple Greek ami
Victor that SIC have qnjoyei for years
Your committee VIII continue %
keep watehful eye on developments
ana viii not let an opportunity pass
ttat might, in any wise. tend 70 hap
in restoring the old. or even better
conditions. than prevailed In the past
years
FRANK p. SMITH,