Gunnison news-champion., 1923-06-15
Agitate Re-Opening of
Old South Park Road

Agitate Re-Opening of
Old South Park Road
Basna Vista people are sgitating a
concerted movement against the c. &
y railroad % compel i % again open
the South Park lire from Buena Vis-a
% Como ana R0mley % Gunnison.
the C. & 5. has lately filed a petition
asking the Interstate Commerce Com
mission % allow Il 20 abandon The
Bgena Vista Romley line.
We do not know that any great pro-
gr--s can Be- made. altho 0 clear case
might b. made against the railroad
all right. The Chafee County Re
publican says:
The G. & $. railroad, the richest
railroad 10 the state, Is again asking
the Interstate Commerce Commission
to allow them 10 abandon the Buena
Vista RoH.ley line.
They claim the line is operating
Al loss. This is probably true, but
whose fault is it, The company IL
self is wholly 20 blame.
When the company abandoned it,
lines between Buela Vista and Gunni-
son and Bueua Vista and Como, II lef,
without rail sportatiOn two of the
richest sections IN the state-secfiong
that with what this section contribut-
Ell 20 IL support, made the road
paying proposition, and would do so
again n the road MAS operating thru
trains 5"lween Denver and GuuniSon.
The people living along the highline
between Como and Leaiyille not only
made %" c. 4 ;. open that line, but
made them put on a daily passenger
train, and yet II. section which the
hiEhIIuc'trIseTar- is not nearly as rich
a- the FaTk-thaFcc-G unnison section.
The Colorado & Southern people in
asking permission TO abandon the
BugHa kI.ta-Itomicy line because il
does not pay, forget 10 tell the people
that the South Park branch OF the
great Colorado & Southern system
and this Includes the Bucna Vista
Ruwiey branch is the richest narrow
gag" railroad 10 the United States.
ueraIa. 10 lz the little old South Park
railroad that owns practically all Of
the ground on which stands the Den
v,r Union Depot, and the various rail
roads running in and out Of the Den
ser Union Depot have 10 pay to the
narrow gauge a heavy yearly rental
and switching privileges.
Some years ago some sort Of =
frcys0ut game was started, and a
the first step to get some Of the little
FISH. the heads Of the narrow gauge
closed the line between Romley and
Gunnison. As they failed 10 get re
suits from this step, they took another
In closing down the line between
BueHa Vista and Como. All the time
they had kept up the plaintive wall
that the road is not paying, and yet
they are collecting thousands of dol
lars yearly from their valuable yards
To- and around the Denver Union depot.
In further attempt to wreck the
South Park line, they wanted to
abandon the line between Como and
Lcndvillc, but their coarse work was
called by the people and they were
compelled to continue operations.
1t has been stated that ties and
other equipment, especially tics. used
on the great broad gauge system of
the Colorado and Southern, was charg-
ed up to the narrow gauge running
thru this section, so that the books OF
the South Park section would show
decided loss. Other methods, such as
hauling coal from their mines in Gun
nisoR county, 20 be used on the broad
gauge line was charged against the
narrow gauge.
1T Is not known whether these
things have been done recently or
not, but il WIS common talk at the
time they closed the thru line.
II the people of the South Park
country, Chahee county, the Chalk
{ reek section, ST. Elmo and Gunni-
son will get together and hire Barney
Watley TO fight the case, he will make
them open up the entire system be-
tween Gunnison and Como, make them
not only establish daily freight train
each way, but daily passenger also.
The line paid big dividends before
the wreckers started in and will do so
again. Don't let the Colorado G.
Southern wreck the Chalk Creek, the
South Park and Gunnison sections, be-
cause the stockholders want larger
and quicker dividends. Make them
open up the line between Gunnison and
Como and watch these sections come
back into prosperity they enjoyed be-
fore the freezeout game started.
Believing the people need the assist
ance and advantages the opening of
the line will give them. The Chafree
Republican will head any subscription
list with $25.'