Semi-weekly herald., 1914-02-02
Observations by the Way
(From Thursdays Daily.)

NTrOHl lHuTSudy Dally.J
A very interesting session of tn,
| Colorado Commercial Executives was
held at Colorado Springs on Satur
day following the good roads conven
ton. In addition to the writer, A. f
Hood, one of the directors of the Du
range board of trade, was in attend
ance. The Commercial Executives is
an organization composed of secretar.
les of the boards of trade, chambers
of commerce and commercial organi
cations and is for the pun ose of get.
ting together and unitedIy studying
the best methods of advancing the
various sections of the state Presi
dents and directors of such organiza-
tions are invited to attend and parti
cipate in the proceedings. At the meet
ings were Secretaries Deland, of Den.
yer; jenkins, of Pueblo; Henderson
of Colorado Springs; and secretaries
from Trinidad, Canon City, Longmont
Fort Collins, Durango and a dozen OF
more towns in the Arkansas valley
from Leadville to La Juntl and alsc
from the northern part of the state
One of the most important moves
was the appointment of a committee
to prepare and initiate bill for the
reduction of passenger rates on Colo
rado roads. 1t was the Commercial
Executives who took up the matter
of abolition of passes two years age
in the belief that it meant a big re-
duction in the passenger tariff. Sill
cities opposed to the move, on the
ground that this section had been
largely developed through the ability
to get investors to visit us through
the pass system and until we were as
sured of a substantial reduction in pas
senger rates, no good would be accom-
plished in abolshing passes. The
move to do away with free transpor-
tation, however, has benefited only
the railroads which have made no
attempt to reduce the rates, hence the
executives believed it was up to them
to make good in promised reduction.
After considerable discussion it was
concluded that two cents per mile
should prevail on valley or plain roads
and three cents for mountain seq
tions. With the present rates it's al
most impossible to get investors to
visit Durango and the San Juan basin.
The fare from Denver to Durango is
practically $50. Suppose a reduced
fare can be obtained for homeseekers
they say they do not want to live in
place where it costs so much to get
in and out. Again, Durango and the
San Juan basin counties have been
Disseminated against Half fare
homeseeker's tickets are advertised in
the Blue Book but no such adver-
tised rate is given Durango. Again.
Silverton, Durango and adjacent points
are Disseminated against. They are
compelled to pay the highest rates of
any town in the state. From the Red
Book we take the following figures
Passenger fare from Ouray to Den
yer, 1890; distance 3S9 miles; rate
per mile about 3.6 cents, round trip
$2O.S5. Montrose, 1853 miles from
Denver, fare $12.10; rate trifle less
than 3.5 per mile. Durango, distance
from Denver, 453, including the use
less curves; fare $3.50; rate per mile
a trifle over 4.3-the highest rate on
the d. & R. G. Why should Du-
range be penalized nearly three
quarters of cent higher than Ouray
and nearly a cent more than Mont
rose? Again, the round trip rate be-
tween Denver and Montrose is at the
rate of 81 cents per mile while the
round trip rate between Denver and
Durango is 6.3 cents per mile. We
have somewhat digressed from the
proceedings of the Commercial execu-
tives, but the discussion brought out
the question: VI lare anu whiie look-
ing over the Red Book last evening
we figured out the discrepancies
against Durango, something probably
not one in hundred of our people
have done. Under the bill to be init
lated the fare will be based on noun
tain milage probably to Walsenburg
At 8 cents per mile and two cents