The Glenwood post., 1918-08-24

entitled to the benefit of all the pro-
visions of this Act"
Your attention further is called to
the fact that this road is one of only
two broad gauge railroads crossing the
Continental Divide in Colorado; that
both roads cross the Continental Di-
vide at points where climatical condi-
tions have frequently interrupted traf-
fic for considerable periods of time;
that when traffic on one is interrupted, |,
the other is the only road over which
traffic can be moved, and that since
our entry into the war many troop
movements have been made over these
roads. There is heavy COAL timber,
live stock and agricultural traffic
which continuously moves from the Pa
cific slope eastward to market that is
dependent entirely upon the Colorado
Midland road. If provision for the
future operation of this road is not
made this traffic will be without trans
portation facilities. The quantity Of
this traffic, and the extent of terri
tory served by the Colorado Midland
are such, that il the road is dismantled
the public and the government will not
only indirectly suffer for the lack of
adequate facilities to transport it, but
large communities, great number of
people and extensive and valuable bus
mess enterprises will suffer irreparable
losses. In some lines of business the
loss and investment will be practically
total. In view of the vital direct in
terests of the communities and business
affected by the operation of this road,
and the indirect interest of the United
States government, We feel justified
in stating that to all private interests
affected and to the public interests ger
orally, this road is a necessity, and at
this particular time military neces-
sity.
We further suggest that it is apparent
that the intention of congress was to
provide for the complete federal con-
troll of all needed transportation sys-
tens, and that it is conclusively evil
dent from the language of the act of
congress referred to that it was net
the intention to impose upon state au-
thorities the duty or to clothe them
with the power to interfere with or to
execute the authority given by this
act Ito take over the control and op-
Grafton of transportation systems.
1t is also our understanding that N
taking over the transportation sys-
tens the government has not waited
until terms and agreements were
reached between the owners of rail
road properties and the government,
and if the government had waited until
such agreements could be entered into
it is very probable that the govern.
ment would not now be operating many,
If any, of the needed transportation
systems. The act of congress men
toned anticipates this difficulty of
reaching agreements, and provides
ways and means for determining what
compensation shall be paid and upon
what conditions the rights of the own
ers of transportation systems shall be
adjudicated. If such is the object and
purpose of the act of congress men,
toned, and this road is necessary
transportation facility, it would seem
to US that we are justified in appealing
to the government to take over and
operate this road under the terms and
provisions of that act.
We therefore respectfully petition
you to reconsider all previous action
taken respecting the Colorado Midland
railroad, and by appropriate action take
over and operate this road under the
terms and provisions of the act of con-
gress mentioned, leaving the question
of compensation and other matters for
determination by the government -
provided in that act of congress, for
the purpose of preserving to the busi-
ness interests mentioned this necessary
transportation facility, as we'll as for
the use and benefit of the government
of the United States during the period
of the war. i