Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1919-03-02 | Page 40 | Proposed Colorado Act Would Open up Vast Oil, Metal and Coal Fields in Eastern Utah

PROPOSED COLORADO ACT WOULD I OPEN UP VAST OIL METAL AND COALFIELDS COAL FIELDS IN EASTERN UTAH I II I Under the tho caption A New Tunnel Project the tho Denver Mining Record tells of or a proposed bill In Introduced trod In tho Colorado legislature lature looking to to tho ho construction b by the state of the great grat thc mUe Moffat tunnel Should the matter matter materialize It would be of or Incalculable incalculable in- in calculable benefit In opening up tho the mines and shah shalo beds bedR of oC oil fields t I basin It would offer a a. ch cheap ap I and practical outlet to a new Utah empire cm- cm pire j lre of oC half a n. million acres of rich agricultural lands In that part of or the state according to United States tates logical survey sur experts expert there arc untouched un tin touched coal coat deposits containing upwards upwards upwards up- up wards of ton tons The pro proposed posed tunnel and Its railroad to follow follow fol 01 fol- fol low Into and amI across northern Utah would strike through the Rangely oil oilfield field crossing vast ast oil shale deposits I Imd I coal and md sweep past pat near the great reat I I measures Utah capitalists have o lately I I taJ up the thc Uintah railroad project J. at md may build the road The Colorado Colo- Colo I ratio rado journal s. says sS S 'S A formidable measure has been In Introduced Introduced introduced In- In Into the lower house of the Colorado state legislature which provides provides pro pro- vides for Cor th the appointment o of a 0 rail rall- I toad load commission to operate the Moffat Moffat toC- toC fat road road under state ownership an and ami l to complete the famous Moffat tunnel under un un- der James peak The funds for Cor this I work ork and all other work in and lion with Ith tho the purchase operation maintenance of of- the railroad are arc to be raised ti-raised raised by a bond Issue a constitutional amendment for tho the approval al of or the thet t j people to bo be submitted should tho the J 1 measure pass r I j s I The bill provides for an c experiment e. In state socialism that Is somewhat un tin T usual Tho country countr is at present concerned con con- cern d over o government go ownership of or railroads federal control and other forms of or public management It is isnow now seriously proposed In the Steele bill to tn take e over O through condemnation Ion tion proceedings the railroad prop prop- 0 orty of or an any line Uno wholly within the state and ard maintain and operate It It This ThisE E would woud apply it is understood to the Colorado Midland and the thc Moffat lines both oth of or which roads hav have haVo o been unable to successfully operate under private ato ownership The Tho Moffat l line it Is contended contended con- con tended cannot be successful without a tunnel under James peak Tho The Midland Mid Mid- land according to the tho Leadville Ifer- Ifer Democrat aid with ono one of or th the finest tunnels in the lie west was unable to make both bout ends meet which In Itself is no condemnation of or tho the Moffat loat project project pro pro- but merely demonstrates that a tunnel in itself o n-o no matter how man many miles of steep grade rade It ma may sa save does docs not not necessarily put a railroad on a sustaining self cr basis Terminal at nt S Suit Salt U Lake Inke The project of a state owned and controlled railway system Is a a. I I i t I I I I I I I I r I I and antI of or questionable value alue Denver Donver Don Don- one ono anxious for tor forthe ver cr It Is 15 true IK is eager cager and the tho construction of or the Moffat tunnel tun t attempt was nel net and antI once before an favorable vote on a abond abond made to secure a bond Issue But after alter tho ho construction tion of or the tunnel the whole business of or tho the railroad would be bo dependent on oil its terminals in Salt Lake and Ogden und and its connections with the transcontinental I lines to the coast Tho The present Ares pres ent bill would 4 se seem m to be ho th the Moffat tunnel project under a new name and and another form Tho Tito Inclusion o of under goes goes' i the tho Midland In the measure which goes much concern con con- i to lo express out out out-of of its wa way o of th they cern corn over o tho proposed propose Junking would indicate that It is i m ito line I criticism which which to placate an any hostile might bo ho roused J If the Moffat oat project alone alono were contemplated such a measure as this Is InI in indorsed indorsed In- In It would be bo well If Ir tho those e who favor It have reasonable warrant CorI for Cor forthe forthe the belief that tho the roads can be made to pa pay The Colorado Midland Udland has ha J certainly certainly not been a financial success j as asa asa asa a local roa road tho the amount of or freight ori originating nl along nG the thc lino Uno being too I II small mall oven o to pay expenses The Moffat Moffat I fat line lino has bas also proved financially disastrous and the state of or Colorado i would find Itself Itsel charged with a hea heavy I j II burden in trying to keep the tho lines running run- run I ning i There Is no assurance that the bond Issue for tor the tho purchase of the tho roads j I would be voted by the tho people at a general gen eral oral election and f If the bill were to pass it would seem AS ls J if Colorado I would bo be merely saddled with another expensive commission drawing funds for Cor its support from tram the tho public treasur treasury treasury treas treas- ur ury with practically nothing to doVa do Wo We doubt cr very much whether the measure will secure sufficient support in the legislature to assure Its passage e. The whole point to tho the bill revolves rc around a bond issue that has not yet et been voted on by the people and which hardly will be We Wo should sh like liko to lo see sea tho the Midland rehabilitated but since tho federal government refused to have anything to do with It and it failed under private management It dO dogs 3 not seem possible for tor the state to make mako a suc success of tho the venture venturo