Gunnison news-champion., 1920-09-03
ALL PATRIOTIC CITIZENS
SHOULD BE INTERESTED
~ STATE TUNNELS

Every citizen Of Colorado is inter
estsd n the fullest Development Of
| the states resources, no matter where
ne may live whether IN the south
west extremity Of Baca, or IN the re
TDtsst corner Of N0nteZuma or Mof-
Tat counties, the middle plains, the
u,eFruouHtaIn country, or over on
the west SIDE Of the divide, says
Western Farm Life Prosperity may
-ssm q remote subject during the
present disturbed conditions. but th0se
who keep their ear 20 the ground
agree that out Of the GneasIness and
unrest OF today wlll come 4 bright
tomorrow. when our uudevelOpei re
sources n land and minerals will b.
tapped Tor the Use Of humanity
The fDrsFIuu.T Of this era has al
ready app.ar,d in the advance work
for great undertakings, such as the
tunnels that are 70 pierce the Con
tincu'al divide at three strategic
point IN Colorado, the extension Of
the Santa f. railroad from Kansas
into Baca and Las AnImas counties.
thr rapid extension Of motor truck
Iu'- and the constant arr vaI Of new
settlers IN Colorado and other Rocky
mountain states.
projects concerted action Is neccs-
sary. Evey citizen Of Colorado must
assume responsibility for his share
Of the work No capital investment
ls asked Of the public; no increase in
taxation is contemplated; il is not I
r..z. Of giving something for nothing
Moral support and a vote n the polls
10 November will do the business a
far a. the three tunnels are concern
ed. The petition which insures plac-
luE the tunnel project on the ballot
received thousands more signature
than were needed for a proper legal
imitation OF the amendment Now II
all will turn IN 20 get out q full vote
favorable 20 the project il means that
the state will issue bonds providing
for the construction, simultaneously,
Of tunnels that will provide quick and
constant transportation for the Moi
fat road territory in Northwest Colo
rado, for the central region Of the
Western slope now served by the nar-
row guagc lines over Marshall pas
and FOR the San Juan country, III.
great Southwestern agricultural and
mining empire that is IabOring under
the handicap Of q SO hours journe Y
b. passenger route from the state /,
metropolis and a weeks run b.
freight.
Agriculture is the paramount inter-
est in the regions that are TO b.
brought into closer touch with mar
kcts thru the three tunnels. Farming
development has been halted by lack
Of safe, constant and quick transpor
tatIon. Lands lie idle and undeycl
oped because existing railroad line
I he people living in sections TO be-
served by the tunnels are doing we
but why not give them a chance 10
share with the rest of US the al
yantageS Of a wider market for their
surplus? The volume Of traffic that
they can produce when on an equality 8
with the Eastern slope farming sec
tons, means many millions added to
| the productive wealth of the stats.
/ And every dollars worth produce
and properly marketed adds just that
much TO the income Of all people.
/ Productive wealth enables the state
| to build highways and maintain
them; TO build better towns and cities
and TO improve public schools and
higher educational institutions. We
/ have room in Colorado for three or
I four times our present population and
the only way to get it is to develop
I our natural resources and that. in
turn. depends upon facilities for nov
/ ing our products, whether raw or
manufactured, from point Of origin
/ to the consumer.
The tunnels will not be charge
| against taxes. The state backs the
tunnel bonds, the capital comes from
I private investors; the tonnage hauled
thru the bores will pay interest on
bonds and retire them in due time