Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-03-20
PLOT TO BLOW UP
UTAH RAILROADS
German Spy System Claimed
To Extend Into The
Far West

fdT WEST
Z That the German spy system has
extended it's influence TO every part
of the Rocky mountain region and that
Utah would be the first state in the
west to be severed from transcontin-
entail communication with the east has
long since ceased to be a secret II
has long been known that plot has
existed, and is ready to be executed,
to literally rip the country in twain
and isolate this part of the country
and other western centers of supplies
from serving the east by the carrying
out of a scheme, gigantic in its under
taking, but simple of execution, of'the
blasting and making impossible of all
of the important passes across the
great divide.
While it is admitted that in the
event of war II would require a large
army to guard transcontinental rail
road lines in Utah and other western
states, the activities of the German
spy system in this section of the
country have not gone unnoticed.
Spies at Work Here
Spies and agents of the German gov
| eminent are known to have been oper-
ating out of Salt Lake, and many of
| their plans and maps have been made
in this city. These spies are known to
have photographed every bridge and
narrow railroad canyon in Utah. 1t is
known that the secret service has full
details of these matters and that every
one of the operators has been singled
| out.
Railway tunnels and passes in the
Rocky mountain districts would be the
first objective points of enemy agents,
and 1t Is at these points that official
attention has been focused. Both Utah
| and Wyoming on the west and north
and Colorado on the east have many
places that would require protection in
the event of hostilities.
According to army officials, Echo
and Weber canyons on the main trans
continental line of the Union Pacific
| railroad: Soldier Summit and the can
yons just east of Helper, on the Den
yer & Rio Grande; the Royal Gorge,
above Canyon City, Colo, would neces-
state the strictest guarding.
The blasting of any part of these
great gorges would block further traf-
hc for an indefinite time. Even the
destruction of the swinging bridge in
the center of the gorge would cause
| Irreparable harm. Tennessee pass, at
the top of the continental divide,
would afford an opportunity for at
| tack
There are miles of other narrow can.
yons and numerous tunnels through
which the Denver & Rio Grande pass
es until II crosses the divide.
This road would become an import
ant factor as n carrier in time of
war, since IL connects with other rail
roads from the east, forming di.
rect transcontinental line from coast
to coast.
Sherman pass, on the Union Pacific
railroad in western Wyoming, is said
to be another objective point at which
the government would concentrate
troops. There are several tunnels in
that vicinity, the blasting of any one
OF which would cripple transportation
indefinitely.
The protection of railroad lines
would be placed under the direct sup
eryislon of tho military, according TO
army officials.
Secret service operatives from the
bureau OF investigation cooperate
with the army in protecting railroads.
Since the bureau in charge of Colo.
RADIO, Wyoming, New Mexico and Ari.
expected to become the center OF vigil.
ance in the district, while Salt Lake
will be the headquarters OF operations
for the western lntermountain dis.
| trict
Information would not be volun.
teered last night as to whether or not
the tearing down OF the great over.
hanging rock on the Denver & Rio
Grande, which even small blast
would topple, was port OF the pre-.
paredness campaign which has been
SO secretly conducted.
nm indication OF what might happen
as result OF spies activities was OK.
emplifed Saturday forty.four miles
east OF Ogden in Echo canyon when
the west bound Los Angeles Limited
was held up several hours by wreck
of freight train. Passengers on the