The Clayton citizen. [volume] (Clayton, Union County, N.M.) 1906-19??, 1916-07-20
LAS VEGAS SHES AT
CHARGE OF "COVETING"
Say Ration Mans Letter Gre
ates Wrong Impression. Las
Vegas Wants Road But
Won't Steal C-to-G

The letter sent out last week by A.
R. Davis of Ration intimating that Las
Vegas has designs on the tourist trav-
ell over the Colorado-to-Gulf high
way has created whirlwind of pro-
test in Las Vegas The letter was
published in The Citizen and a letter
from o. L. Williams, Secretary of the
New Mexico Mountain Touring Bur
eau, today asks The Citizen to pub
lish a communication that has been
sent to Mr.. Davis which is intended
to dispel uneasiness in this part of
country regarding the C-to-G highway.
The Las Vegas folks admit they
want road, forming a junction it is
supposed, with the Colorado-to-Gulf
at Amarillo.
This being in the United States
there is nothing to prevent Las Vegas
and various good road associations
from constructing all the roads they
can muster kale to build and we, of
this end, that is from information we
have, will not be disposed to call out
the National Guard to thwart the at
tempt. But we must agree with Mr.
Davis in that should a tourist road
form junction with Colorado-to-Gulf
at Amarillo, then, Dalhart, Clayton
and all of this section of Union county
and Ration to some extent, would feel
it. But, we repeat, there is no law
prohibiting the building of such road
and in event it is constructed it will
resolve to a case of "the best road
wins"
1t stands to reason that another road
will be opened sooner or later and the
only recourse for this section is for the
Highway people to keep the moss and
rocks from fourishing along the way.
Following is the letter Of protest,
which was signed by various officers
of the Las Vegas Commercial Club
and various New Mexico highway as
sociations;
They Don't Want The Road-Just the
Travel" Intimates the Letter
east Las Vegas, N. NJ, July II, 1916
"Mr A. R. Davis, Committeeman Col
orado-to-the- Gulf Highway,
"Raton, New Mexico.
Dear Mr.. Davis:-
eve enclose herewith clipping from
a local paper reproducing an article
which recently appeared above your
signature in the Clayton Citizen.
Since the story seems to have origin
ated with you and as it is so grossly
inaccurate as to the facts in the case,
we are going to ask you to kindly
give this correction and denial as much
publicity as you have caused this first
wrong statement to have.
"As citizens of Las Vegas, members
of the Las Vegas Commercial club,
members of the Las Vegas Automobile
association, members Of the Texas
New Mexico Mountain Highway asso-
ciation-and being members of every
other good roads and touring organi-
zation in this section of New Mexico
we want to affirm that there is no
movement, organized or unorganized,
in this part of New Mexico to change
the present route Of the Colorado-to-
the-Gulf highway in any respect. We
wish to assure you that we have no
interest whatever, in the Colorado-to-
the-Gulf highway beyond our general
interest in good roads everywhere, and
our only thought or consideration of
it is our sincere wish for its success.
We believe in good roads everywhere
especially in New Mexico. While
we have not, and shall not, attempt
to affiliate with the Colorado-to-the-
Gulf Highway, as an organization
still we are hopeful of its success and
would be glad to cooperate with its
officers and management in general
way to assist and encourage good road
building all over the mountain country
) "We are interested in an independ'
ent overland highway which has re-
= Gently been promoted between Las
/, Vegas, N. NJ, and Amarillo, Texas
e Our interest in this road is probably
' prompted by much the same motives
\ as IS your intere, in the Colorado-to
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