The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-10-23
VILE ALBUQUERQUE MOVE AND WIN; OR SIT STILL AND LoSE7

II Is equally the logical direction for moving Goals; and 1t would
add the enormous advantage Of opening to transportation the vast
timber resources Of the Jemes mountain region, for which there 10
a demand in the immediate future, because Of depleted southern
forest areas
Unfortunately. Albuquerque, after years of conversation, ap-
pears TO have abandoned hope Of this rail connection into the San
Juan basin. We seem to have come to regard II as impossible and
to have given up any kind Of effort to bring 1t about. We are
sitting in idleness and absolute indifference while a group of ener.
getic business men from a city over a thousand miles further from
the San Juan basin are bidding for the business of that region, with
better than a fair prospect Of getting it.
This project, however, is not impossible Of achievement. This
city can bring about construction of a direct rail line into the San
Juan basin. 1t can be done in the very near future. This city
can be made the distributing point. not only for the fruit and agn-
cultural products Of the San Juan country, but for its Goals and for
the mineral and timber resources that intervene in the Jemez noun.
tains. 1t cannot be done by wishing. 1t will not come from
merely hoping. II viii not materiaize by calling the project a
dream and by snsering at those who attempt to make it a reality.
It can be done with a concerted, persistent, intelligent community
effort.
A short line of railroad win soon be built from Bernallo into
the Jemez mountains. Its purpose is to tap nearby coal areas on
this side Of the mountains, and to reach some timber that the in.
terests Of Col q. Z. Breeze are ready to use.
We can permit this project to stop with its present detectives;
reaching the foothills of the Jemez range and with a terminal at
Bernalilo, sixteen miles away:-or we can make a real effort and
bring this criminal to Albuquerque and send the line on into the
San Juan basin.
It is possible to picture certain conservative business men
among us who will smile tolerantly at this suggestion and say that
II cannot be done. Pressed for q reason why, they will finally
admit that their belief is based principally on the fact that 1t has
not been done.
But this thing can be done. 1t can be done in a comparatively
short time. If 1t is not done in the very near future, it will never
be done, because the southern outlet for the San Juan basin viii
be built by interests that are not in the least concerned about
the development Of Albuquerque. It will be built in a direction
that will turn the San Juan basin traffic away from Albuquerque.
And rich as that region is, one southern outlet will be sufficient.
1t may not seem a propitious time TO discuss a railroad con.
struction project, on the eve Of a threatened strike that may mean
national disaster; but there will never be a better time to discuss
1t, because a very little later will be too late.
Albuquerque, we are convinced, has the opportunity now, and
with a fair prospect of success, TO get the long hopedfor railroad
to the San Juan basin.
Will we make the effort, or pass it up7