Gunnison news-champion., 1924-04-18
Sullivan Writes on
Mcclure Pass Road
(Cntinued from First Paeel

(Cmtinued from First Paeel
son County ranks sth from the lowest
in the state" This explains our small
road fund. Out Of the So counties in
the state there are IS that have higher
taxes than We have. know you viii
say God help them," and agree with
you.
Mcclure pass construction. will say
from the Somerset direction II is most
ly side hill work. but from the Marble
side arr informed il is more difficult.
I have heard all kinds OF estimates
given regarding the cost but do not
know which is correct.
known rs the Mcclure Pass Highway
Association with headquarters in
Glenwood Springs, and Il is their in
tenticn to maintain this organization
until Mcclure pass II built. This or.
eani,ation is maintained by contri-
buttons from the different counties in
terested. The city Of Paonia contri-
buted $50, for example. Outside of
our main highway there are two pro-
jects that Gunnison County is vitality
tntrYt>'fN VI. Vic ~ Nut ltupIONC
mept Of the Black Mesa and the other
is Mcclure pass. II YOU were to ask
me which one would directly benefit
the moyt Gnnnison County people, ]
should say Mcclure pass, because il is
the one big thing that is being de-
manded by the Muddy. Marble, Somer-
set and Crested Butte people. With
these groups Of people demanding this
road. rolitics, IL nothing else, will
build il. The people Of Gunnison must
not be too selfish and want every thing
spent in front of their door. The peo-
ple living in the remotest part Of the
county are as much entitled to con-
sideration as we are and should receive
It. Any money spent anywhere In
the county benefits US all. Personally.
] believe in spending the money where
IL is most needed.
There are two ways OF dividing
monev for road purposes. One is in
regard to valuation and the other is on
n mileage basis. Providing the state
funds were divided in regard to valua-
tion. Denver. Pueblo and Colorado
Springs would take nearly all the
money. But -artly through the ef-
forts Of our able representative, VIM.
Weiser. the money Is divided on y
mileage basis; and the Western Slope
is getting fair deal. So II that is n
good policy in the state. II would also
be good policv in the county.
The shortest Dossible round trip by
anto or railroad from Gunnison to
Marble is SIS miles. The round trip
over Mcclure pass would be 1873 miles
which would shorten the distance be-
tween Marble and the County seat 3s7
miles. II would develop the Muddy
country by giving them a good road
and better market for their produce.
This valley is one Of the most fertile
and productive sections Of Gunnison
County. About rs families make this
their home; and they are deserving Of
all the help Gunnison County can pos
sibly give them. Somerset has over
100 cars in that little city, and il
would give them an easy outlet to
Marble, Carbondale, Glenwood and
Aspen. II would connect the Pixies
Peak or Ocean to Ocean Highway
with the Rainbow Route. the main east
to west highway through Colorado and
+pne of the Transcontinental highways
of the United States. 1t would he a
short cut to Southern Colorado. Mesa
Verde and that section. It would
bring larger percentage of tourists
into our county. which means more
money spent here. Our Chamber Of
Commerce, realizing this tourist value,
is putting on the most extensive ad-
vertising campaign for increasing tou-
rist trade ever put on by this district.
I am goino to mention few facts
concerning what Gunnison County has
to offer the tourist. The National
Geographic Magazine has said the
Gunnison river is the second best
trout stream in North America. Don't
ask me which is first, ] suppose it's
the Tomichi. With the Chamber of
Commerce interested in the retaining
pond idea. with $4,000. improvements
being made this summer at the Pitkin
hatchery where we have the finest fish
hatchery water in the known world.
with 1900 miles of trout streams and
a public camping ground at the Half
Way house containing $50 acres pur-
chased by the Montrose and Gunnison
counties, the scenery second to none;
fail to see where we are not in line
for our share of the tourist business.
have tried to bring out the import
ance Of the building of Mcclure pass,
and hope the time is not far distant
when we will see this accomplished.