The Delta independent., 1924-04-25

Of Lee Creek. Here is where the
present built road ends. A twelve
mile hike leads US over the Mcclure
pass, on ground easy to build a road
over, over an elevation lower than
nearly any pass in Colorado that
now is travelled over. Now we come
to the beautiful valley of Crystal
river on good water grade roads,
passing through the most wonderful
and beautiful town in Colorado, call
ed Redstone; then down to Carbon
dale. Here we are within about
fifteen miles of Glenwood Springs.
But we will go towards Aspen, one OF
the best little towns in Colorado, about
28 miles from Carbondale. Leaving
Aspen, we go over what is called In
dependence pass. A road over this
pass will be cmpleted this season by
the highway department. After going
over the pass We come to Twin Lakes,
one OF the most noted lake resorts of
Colorado. A few miles below Twin
Lakes we meet the oceanic Ocean
highway between Leadville and Buena
Vista, at a point near Kobe. Here
one can go either south or north, but
We will go north to Leadville and then
take a new road leading northeast to
Dillon. Here We touch another high
way running north and south, but we
can still travel in northeast direc-
tiOn towards Denver till we get to
Silver Plume and Georgetown At
these places We will hit the Midland
trail and other trails leading us into
Denver. With the completion OF this
short road into Silver Plume. we
90 about 22O miles on roads just men
Toned in getting to Denver from Pa
onia
This distance will be even short
eued between these two points, when
d few cut-offs being made are com
pIeted, in that case we will then be
within less than 200 miles of Dem
yer
Just a short days travel And it
will be made more often than it is
today, when our Mcclure pass twelve
miles Of road is built.
This will show what it means to
many OF our towns in distance saw
ed by the Mcclure pass road:
"Glenwood to Paonia via Grand
Junction and Delta, $50 miles. Glen
wood to Paonia via Mcclure pass rs
miles, saving 1O5 miles.
"Carbondale to Delta via Grand
Junction and Delta. 1913 miles. Car
b0ndale to Paonia via Mcclure pass.
81 miles saving 173 miles.
Aspen to Delta via Grand juno
ton. lSS miles. Aspen to Delta via
Mcclure pass, 1913 miles, saving 65
miles
Marble to Delta via Grand juno
ton. l6O miles. Marble to Delta via
Mcclure pass, so miles, saving 167
miles.
An other towns above Delta, like
1Iontrose and Ouray will have a sim
liar saving
Since 1916 much road has been
made up 70 a point very near what is
called Lee creek, leaving about l2
miles yet to be completed before the
NAAAAt lNNAA NlAl bN AStA- VI NNlA -
this part OF the road that has been
made will need to be improved upon
some day TO make it what it should
be, but nevertheless, II We can get as
good road going over the hill as
what is made, We can use it, waiting
until time puts it in shape along with
other roads Of the state
And l believe If we had as much
money from the highway department
or from some other departments
building highways as has been put on
one mile OF road in some parts Of this
state, this twelve mile connection can
be made or at least a hole through
there will be made that will have
astonishing results.
So Grade
The survey shows the starting
point about six miles below Marble
1t Immediately starts upward on Sc
grade for about three and three-quart
ers miles. which brings us TO the ex
treme top OF Mcclure pass. Begin
ming at an elevation OF 1900 feet. an
elevation less than the farming dis
trict around Buena Vista and such
places, and ending at the top at an
elevation OF only short distance OF
5000 feet, the survey shows it goes
over the top very much like the fine
road going over Monarch pass, which
has an elevation of 1850 feet While
am at the point OF elevations,
desire to give some OF the elevations
now obtained in travelling over few
Colorado roads:
"Berthoud pass, 1890 feet: Mon
arch, 1850; Buchanan pass, moo
feet
There are many other passes In
Colorado that are much higher thar
Mcclure pass When We know that