, 1917-12-13
TO REACH DENVER MARKET.
Prominent Rancher and Stockman Be-
lieves Line from Denver to Wal
colt Could Be Obtained.

Eultor Saratoga gun,
Saratoga, WyO.
Dear Sir:
1 notice in a recent issue of your
paper an item stating that Mr.. o. w.
Allen, representing the Denver Union
Stock Yards Co., has been in his vicin-
ity in the interest of his company, and
expresses himself as astonished at the
great scope of territory embraced with
in this valley and at the great numbers
of cattle and other live stock grown in
this region. Also, according to the
item referred to, this gentleman be-
lieves that Denver commission men
and business men in general are over
looking a very large item in not making
a determined effort to divert to their
market the business of this region,
which really is Denver territory.
1 believe as Mr.. Allen does, and be-
lieve also that the solution lies in con-
certed action by farmers, r%anchers,
stockmen and business men of Denver,
Greeley, North Park, Encampment,
Saratoga and Walcott, in an effort to
have a railroad built from Denver to
Walcott. Practically half Of this line
is already built, and the filling in of a
few gaps would give us a direct line to
Denver. The s. & f.. could connec
with the Laramie Hahns Peak road at
old Pinkhampton, in North Park, and
the Denver, Laramie & Northwestern
or some other road out of Denver could
connect with the Laramie Hahns Peak
on the east side of the mountains. If
such connections could be made, the
greater part of the line would be COM
plete.
The road would run between two ma
tional grazing reservations-the Hay
den reserve on the west and the Med
icine Bow reserve on the east-for a
distance of 100 miles. Hundreds of
thousands of cattle and sheep are an
nually grazed on these reservations,
and in the fall these must be driven
or trailed from so to $50 miles to load
ing pens on the Moffat Road or the
Union Pacific. 1t is conservative to
estimate that 90 per cent of his stock
would be shipped over u Denver-to-
Walcott road, if one were in existence.
North Park and the Platte Valley
will require at least 1000 cars during
the month of December for the trans
portation of live stock and hay to
market.
Tho lumbar md ftau annra1lr ,,A T.
that region, amounting to several mil
lion feet, most of which have had to
be floated down the Platte river, would
be loaded on the cars where cut il
there were a railroad through that
great territory between Denver and
Encampment.
1t would also require several thous-
and cars annually for the transporta-
ton of the enormo output of coal
and other minerals-copper, gold, sill
yer lead and tin-which could then be
mined, these industries being inactive
only because of the handicap of lack
Of railroad facilities. Many other of
our latent natural source would i'm
mediately revive if direct rail connec-
tion with a central market could be
had.
A great many stockmen of Rawlins
and the northern part of the county
would be Immediately benefited, as
they Craze large numbers of their stock
on the reserves n are compelled to
trail their herds long distances to and
from these leased ranges.
1 believe the business men, stockmen,
and ranchers Of the Platte valley
should call a meeting, appoint a COM
mittes to investigate and see what can