The Glenwood post., 1918-11-02

Last Sundays Rocky Mountain News
published the following instructive arti-
Gle on Colorado road building. which
We believe should prove interesting to
citizens of Glenwood Springs and Gar
field county:
Few states in the union are confront
ed with a more difficult problem in
mountain work than is Colorado. A
glance at the map affords the expana
cut endwise by the hills of the front
range. Back of these in parallel lines
rest the precipitous slopes of the con-
tinental divide, while fro mthis mighty
range shoot secondary ranges to the
north and southwest. In all of the
plans of the state highway department
for the development of the state taken
as a whole, these ranges enter into pri-
mary consideration. Through the years
of work in Colorado, engineering parties
have been constantly in the field ex-
ploring every gulch, every valley that
penetrates into the hills, always with
anseye to its fitness as a possible course
for a translate highway.
First and foremost in the plans of
the parties have been the desire to
reach the tops of the hills at the lowest
possible altitude (since through roads
are always open longer at lower alti
tude); second has been the character
of the outlets with regard to the ex-
pense of constructing highways over
them.
As result numerous passes have
already been opened up and gradually
it has been found possible to extend
the lines of communication to a later
date in the fall, while opening them
earlier in the spring. Thus the county
commissioners of Chatfee and Saguache
now believe that they will be able to
keep Poncha pass the gateway from
the front range to the San Luis valley,
oItH lHN Ntdl ouli. "Hllc W'l III
the southern end of the state, the com
missioncrs of Huerfano are gradually
lengthening the travelling dates on the
La Veta pass, gateway to the San Luis
from Pueblo and southern Colorado.
In similar manner improvement is
gradually being undertaken on Tennes-
see pass, which affords the way to
Leadville from the back range, while
Cochetopa and Monarch are two other
primary passes which will be taken in
hand as soon as the ending of the war
permits general reconstruction.
In any consideration of road work in
Colorado it is always necessary to keep
this purpose in mind-that the state
highway commission is working toward
development of the entire state, and
in so doing often authorizing work on
isolated stretches of road which at first
seem to have no Importance, but which
considered in the broader aspect are
vital links in the improvement Of the
state highway.
One Of these highways, now well un-
der way, which has occupied the atten-
tion of state and county officials for
considerable period of time, is that of
the road working out Of Glenwood
Springs to the east via Glenwood canon.
Now, taken by itself, this stretch
might at first glance seem to provide
Glenwood Springs with pleasure road
for the convenience of its residents.
The highway for the entire distance OF
its improvement is an excellent thoro-
fare, practically boulevard with
sweeping turns, wide roadbed and heavy
gravel, but its present conclusion is IN
the canon, and apparently the work
does not get anywhere.
Again recourse to the map is necces.
ary to understand what this improve
ment means in broad sense.