Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-16

company there came period of merging with other
roads: building other roads, and cooperating with
other ,onos, and that during that period for
son another the Rio Grande lost its local identity
They know that now it just seems to be part of
great hazy system, and that it is controlled from
outside sources, and that does not represent Colorado
it form erly did.
Our citizens have not the time Individually to keep
track of the various financial deals thru which this
change about. They know, in abstract way,
that that which great local railroad, devoted to
local interests thing of the past. They know
that somewhere manipulated stocks and bonds
of the Rio Grande, and other railroad companies such
a way that thousands of Colorado people who pur-
chased the stocks and bonds of the Rio Grande railroad
company because of their desire to help local enter
prise find themselves in possession of worthless
securities.
The investigation of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission may return the value to these securities
may return the local pride and control of the
road the people of the state but it will at least let
them know what was done in the inner circle il the
secret places of the GHOST HIGH" of railroad fnan-
ceerng.
Incidentally if the Commission probes deep enough
they may find why the Colorado Midland, and
era other small roads in this state that serving
local communities and serving them well, iunked.
There is lot that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission can find if the order directing the nves
CATION is broad enough in its scope to go the bottom
of the entire matter
What true of the Rio Grande in years gone by
relating to local pride and support also true of the
many other public utility companies thruout the state
What is true regarding the Rio Grande today far
it pertains outside control is equally true of these
companies. They have been merged into big interstate,
ationa organizations, and the local pride that
had of them all gone the hazy of their out
side present control
We presume in the onward march of civilization
and the upb building of empire such as the United
States it becomes for the various local
organizations and companies enter into agreemnts
which make them integral part of the great national
commercial systems, but far Colorado is
cerned. the state would have developed rapidly
during the present twenyyear period had the local idea
of public utility company control and ownership con.
tinued.
Time when thought of the Telephone
company Is company; rather they thought of E. B.
Field the who made it possible for every citizen
Of Colorado TO talk to every other citizen in Colorado,
if he wanted to do Likewise, when the people of
Colorado thought of the Rio Grande railroad company
they did think of it company but they thought
of S. X. Hooper, Frank Wadlegh General Palmer
David Fl. Moffat. and of others who made the
Rio Grande 'The Scenic Line of the World
Again, when the people of this state wanted to
think something about the Colorado Midland railroad
they associated with their thoughts the of John
vaery and Chester H. Speers They thought very lit
tie about the Midland company. Likewise the
Of George Naery stood for the Burlington railroad
Every shipper, railroad telephone in the
state felt that he had personal interest in the
pany and that by of that personal interest he
had the right to telephone. write telegraph any of
the above mentioned about any subject, and he
always got response that carried with it touch Of
the local
Today if person wants to ask question of the
Rio Grande, the Burlington the Telephone company,
he is at loss to know of whom inquire The thought
of these companies does not bring his mind the
of any person with authority to responsibility
and settle difficulties, except in thinking of the Rio
Grande Passenger Department Frank Wadeigh is still
the Job but Frank knows that his old time, free
handed power has been curtaled TO pleasant word
hand shake and al II see what | do