Show 1 I SALT LAKE LAJE SKYLINE GROWS EVERY YEAR J i f 1 D. D R. R G. G W. W A ROAD OF ACHIEVEMENT I rl C T. T H. H BEACOM R Receiver ece iver It is fitting at this time of year to recall something of or the history of or the Denver Rio Grande Vestern Western West Vest ern era railroad and observe how this history has a very direct bearing upon Its pr present sent organization and Us Its ts 1 re record The rhe l building of at the Denver Rio Rio nio Grande Western estern was one of the pioneering pioneering pioneering pio pio- achievements of the west The steel pathway of ot empire was wasand wasand was Vas and is more is-more more than an industrial ex exploitation ex- ex It has personality Itis It Itis itIs is haloed in tradition It is a a. part of at history Yet it breathes and lives the activities of or nten riSen that operate it One thinks of ot the Denver Rio Grande Grando in terms 0 of accomplishment the the new territory It opened crops transported to markets metals borne to the tho smelters families car cal carried cat ried ned to new homes battles that are part and parcel of or it Its Its' achievements It is Is Is- dedicated to the servIce Ice of the west It may be bewell well to refresh our oure memories e 1 rles concerning g the time when I General Palmer breaking away from railroad associates who did not have his vision for the development development develop develop- ment of at territory along the base of ot the s. chartering his his his' own company He lie went to Wales for forthe forthe forthe the purpose of at studying the metrically metrical metrical- ly h gauged g railway decided deeMed deeM deeM- ed on a foot 3 gauge for his ne new nev enterprise and ordered the rails ralis from Wales lIe He financed the he railroad railroad rail rail- road by means of private subscriptions subscriptions subscriptions I to stock His Ills dynamic enthusiasm I prevailed against all odds and he was able to inspire his new associates associates asso asso- elates with confidence that virgin country made attractive to settlers by means of ot transportation lea ies would build up and crown their en enterprise with success Although the e er ea a in which physical cal combat was a part of ot the em em- days day's work has passed there remains for tor us a warfare no less arduous more arduous more difficult In fact Where our predecessors fought with fists pick handles and guns against a visible enemy we Ve must now wage j lour our battle agai against a a. condition which h is invisible and we can do It only b by using our brains as well as our hands Where men men once met threshed out their differences and went Avent on about their business now we are in a constant contact with an economic condition that demands vigilance lest we se fail fan to deliver liver adequate adequate adequate ade ade- quate service to the public within financial limitations that are the subject of change Freight and passenger passenger passenger pas pas- must be transported at rates fixed by legislative enactment If Ii operating expenses exceed the revenue rove reve nue derived the railroad Is forced to adopt measures of or economy which may cripple its efficiency but It must must- pay the expenses or go out of at business Perhaps In calling attention to this phase of or the problem seems un un- un- un necessary For looking back over the achievements of the past year it is apparent that the entire personnel personnel personnel per per- of the system has been unified uni uni- ned fied 1 d in an eU effort rt to reduce expenses and speed up traffic In the matter of engine failures alone one there is cause for foI much gratification Where there is one S such Ch failure now there were five a year ago agro Freight trains train I have increased their speed spee-d mor more than 10 per cent Passenger traffic is almost universally on time whereas during October 1923 one out of at every four foul was late All this makes for increased patronage be because because because be- be cause each improvement within the organization reflects in service to the public I During th the past year the Denver Rio Grande Crande Western railroad has been transferred to the Missouri Pacific its new owners By the time this is printed it will be under full ownership and changes toward its future development will willbe be under way ay I |