The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-10-28
RESOLUTION

|
the state,
Providing for the contemporan-
eous construction of the Mofat
Monarch and San Juan tunnels
through the Continental divide, and
prov ding for the issuance of bonds
therefore,
and scheduled as Bill No. among the
amendments to be voted upon at the
November election; and,
Whereas, Such amendment was
preceded by an act of the General As
sembly approved April 8. 1919, for the
appointment of State Railway Com
mission. providing for the codnemna-
ton, upon behalf OF the people. of the
railroads operating wholly within the.
state: authorizing said commission 10
prosecute proceedings for the con-
demnation of the railroad OF the Den
yer G Salt Lake railroad, to the end
that the state of Colorado may ac-
quire, own, operate and hold title
thereto; to ascertain the cost of con
struction and equipment for operation
by electricity of the main range tun-
mel upon the line of said Denver &
Salt Lake railroad, approximately Ga
miles long near James peak: to ascer-
tain the approximate cost of exten
sion etc, from the present terminus
at Craig, Colorado, to the western
boundary of the state of Colorado and
from its present line near Mccoy, Col.
orado, to a junction with the Denver
4 Rio Grande railroad at Dotsero,
Colorado; and to have and exercise
such other and further powers and to
do and perform such acts as are nee
essarily incident to the purposes con-
templated; and,
Whereas, Specific reference in this
act is made to the Denver & Salt
Lake railroad for the reason that said
road title to which is enow in the
hands of receiver acting for a New
York bondholders' committee or col
lection agency, is not regularly oper-
ated, and yet it is asserted by Sena-
tor Steel Of Denver that said road is
necessity for the maintenance and
support of many thousand citizens in
Northwestern Colorado; and,
Whereas, The proposed bill threat
ems to divert the main route of trans
COullueuldl lIhue uuTLll AulouEH iuE
Moffat tunnel to Denver; and,
Whereas, We deem it necessary to Ii
rect the attention of our citizens to
an understanding OF and an apprecia-
ton of, the true significance OF the
proposed amendment, as well as the
ultimate results to be anticipated:
now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the principles
sought to be enacted under the pro-
visions of this law and the proposed
constitutional amendment are funda-
mentally wrong and in direct opposi-
tion to the spirit and purpose of the
constitution;
That the proposal to acquire, own
and operate the so-called Moffat road
is not necessary to the health. safety
and welfare of the people of the state
of Co orado" as claimed in the bill;
That the powers given the railway
commission under Section "A, which
It may be conceded are necessary TO
the successful carrying out of the
purposes contemplated" are vision
ary and fragrant perversions OF the
fundamental principles of Justice;
That said tunnel bill involves a
plan of misusing the credit of the
state to aid private enterprise;
That there is no assurance that
either the Rio Grande railroad or the
Moffat railroad can use any of said
tunnels and pay for such use a sum
equal to the interest on the bonds
necessary to be issued for the con-
struction of said tunnels, together
with sum representing an annual
| sinking fund which must be levied 10
liquidate said bond issue covering a
period of years;
That the benefits which II is alleged
win accrue If such tunnels are con
structed are not justified in the slight.
est degree when the alleged cost Of
! construction is taken into considera.
tion, namely s1s,0O0,000;
That said tunnels can not be con-
structed for less than s30, 100000 fc
$50, 900, 900;
| That the expenditure OF SIS 900 ,000
in the construction of better roads in
| all sections OF Colorado would result
in far greater and more general ben
efits than the expenditure of similar
sum TO construct said tunnels;
| That the bonded Indebtedness of
Colorado, together with the bonded
Indebtedness it will be necessary 10
create for other and far more needed
purposes and object will create bur.
dens which will greatly increase the
present obligations of the taxpayers Of
! he state.
wherefore. IL is the firm cony.ction