Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1922-01-21
Contract Written For
Standard Cuage From
Antonito to Santa Fe

Following the good news that the
San Juan basin has assurance of a
railroad outlet to the coast, comes
the information that the contract
has been written for standard guag-
ing the Chile" line from Antonito
to Santa Fe.
The Antonito Ledger says:
c. S. Birklns has been authorized
to announce that all agreement had
been reached and contract was
ready for signatures between a body
of financiers OF New York and the
| Denver u Rio Grande Western rail-
road company TOR the standardiza-
tion of the branch between Autonito
and the city OF Santa Fe. Under
the terms of the agreement the fin
anciers would hold sixty per cent
and the railroad company forty per
cent, OF the stock in the line.
About twr years ago MIR. Birkins
and Attorney Ralph L. Carr spent
day touring this region in company
with X. c. Ten Eyke, general manag-
er and a. Z. Ogier, chief auditor OF
the New Mexico Central railroad.
gathering an estimate of the bush
ness tributary to the southern outlet
which was set out in report for the
information OF the financiers. Act
ing under strict instructions the pro-
ceeding was held under strict secrecy
and 1t was only with the consent
of the interested parties that Mr..
Birkins now broke the secret.
Estimates OF the probable cost of
construction have been made and 1t
has been found that the possibilities
for revenues to the investors are ma
terially more than was first calcu-
lated.
1t was expected that the contract
would be a matter of record by the
first Of the year but for some rea-
/ son the railroad officials have not
yet attached their signatures. No
reason has been assigned for the de-
lay and not even n conjecture is Of
fered. Whether or not this enter
prise bears any relation or reflects
or attracts any influence upon the
project south from Pennington to
Gallup no one has an opinion to
make public. In its incipiency the
scheme contemplated the main line
OF the d. 4 X. G. W. between An
tonito and Durango as a source OF
revenue. Railroading Is combi-
nation OF concessions and compro-
misses between different interest
which are far-reaching and are not
fathomed by the uniformed disin-
terested public. Accumulatiye forces
Throughout the west are making
moves on the D. q II. C. W. checker
board. one OF the later develop
ments is a petition to the L. S. pub
/ lie utilities commission asking per-
mission to merge the c. II. 4 @. the
"Moffat" road. the d. a X. G. ".
and the Western Pacific into n
trnnscontinental line. A substitute
petition has been filed asking for a
merger OF the d. q Il. G. W. with
the A. T. & s. F.
Aside from opening up standard
guagc southern cutie, for the pro-
duets OF the San Luis valley the pro-
posed standnrdizing OF the Santa Fa
branch would influence the use OF
standard guagc equipment between
t Antonito and Alamosa which would
greatly facilitate shipping to and
from this point, rad would permit
the development OF various agricul-
tural industries which are now oS-
cludcd by the necessary transfers
from the narrow TO the standard
guagc at Alamosa,
II is stated that staudardlzlng tho
Santa Fc branch will call for re-
I location OF portion OF the line
which would take the road into tho
I lumber region at La MADEIRA and pass
down the ojo cnliontc creek TO tho
chamn river and again enter tho
Rio Grandc valley at Chamita.
II In safe TO assume that the A. r.
a $, r. road will oppose the improy-
mcnt OF this portion OF the u. & n.
@, W. Under the present conditions
the u, q r. @. W. under restored
maintenance can put passenger
trains from Denver into the town of
Santa fc In three hours less time
than the A. T. & $. T. can perform