Show I Growth of Se L Predicted J As Result of Proposed Railroad TM AND AID COLORADO PROJECT T GREAT Ef Ap Apa a Eo BOON 1 TO CITY CT Y p II EXPERT SAYS gy Shortest Route Would Lower Low Low- er Freight Rates and Save Time Denver Would Benefit Also Former Railroad Official Declares r Two Cities Would Be Made Great of pf West by New Road Construction of the Utah Colo- Colo road railroad the project proposed by Governor Simon Bamberger Damberger and Salt Lake business men to Craig Colo where under tentative plans it will connect with the Moffat road after James peak shall have been tunneled through make both Salt Lake and Denver greater cities This Is the opinion of S. S H. H Babcock Bab- Bab cock former traffic manager of the theold theold theold old Rio Grande Western now the Utah branch of the Denver Rio Grande and later traffic manager of the Moffat Moat road in a communication tion received by Governor Simon Bamberger Mr Babcock is one of or the ablest and most experienced railroad men In the West Vest and conducted the fa famous famous famous fa- fa Salt Lake rate case before the Interstate commerce commission In 1909 SHORTEST ROUTE Under the through route proposed I to be bo used the new road will wUl bethe be bethe bethe the short line between Denver and Salt Lake since the distance proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed is miles mUes against by the Union Pacific system and by the Denver Rio Hio Grande Mr Babcock points out This would produce a aline aline aline line between the two cities clUes 40 miles shorter than the Union Pacific and I miles shorter than the Rio Grande The vast time in transit of freight I is a matter of supreme importance to shippers and all other things being being be be- ing equal it is almost controlling I be-I in Its influence in securing freight traffic traffic fic Mr Babcock states Hence Bence In seeking competitive business the longer lines are at a great disadvantage vantage I In my somewhat extended experience experience experience in this same territory and In official charge of ot the tho traffic affairs of tho the old Rio Grande Western Vestern now I the Utah portion of the Denver Rio Grande system the greatest difficulty dif dif- I in securing through traffic proceeded from the longer mileage of our route against that of our competitor competitor competitor com com- I the Union Pacific That ob objection objection ob- ob confronted us constantly in our relations with shippers and how to overcome it was an always present problem and If it we were wre occasionally able ablo to find tind a n. temporary solution It was by resorting to practices not now permitted by law since the taking of or private contracts involving rebates from tariff rates long has been discontinued RATE WARS Of Of course such practices resulted I In losses of or I revenue and as aa our ourI friendly enem enemy the Union Pacific was I I not entirely slow in temporarily adopting adoPt adoPt- adopt adopt- I ling ing the same course it usually led to rate wars with serious losses In revenue revenue revenue reve reve- nue to all concerned In these better better days with tariff rates Implicitly followed followed followed fol fol- lowed the feature of service has its natural and powerful force Mr Babcock estimating the tho average and economical speed of freight movement movement move move- ment points out how the advantage of or the shorter line never falls fails The Tho Denver Salt Lake Lako road when completed completed com com- will become a aery very ery Important link in all through lines operating through Denver and Salt Lake and I will make both cities participants inthe in inthe II the enormous tonnage of tho the tra traffic fic which is constantly and rapidly growIng growing grow grow- ing he ho asserts The road already possesses possesse a grow I substantial substantial substantial sub sub- foundation of ot local traffic particularly through the vest deposits deposits' of high grade coal now In a state of or I but partial development but which is capable of almost indefinite expansion expansion expansion sion Mr Babcock resumes Thero There t Is also much livestock-and livestock other traffie traffic fie fic ic important in volume steadily Increasing increasing In- In In 1 creasing and now within its reach I i PROFITABLE UNDERTAKING i If It the business people of Salt Lake City should themselves conclude to undertake the tho building of or that portion of the through line Une situated within tho the state of Utah as now appears not un- un Continued on page 8 8 UTAH AND COLORADO Continued from page 1 1 likely that should and would be most helpful to the tho general proposition since it would undoubtedly secure the I interested efforts and active cooperation tion of those enterprising people In that wonderfully progressive and great intermountain metropolis in feeding the new short line with a a. most Imi important Im im- i I volume of traffic And again 1 as the building of a 0 short connecting I i line to the Denver Rio Grande at j Dotsero would have the effect of presenting presenting presenting pre pre- to the owners of the latter road a a. route to Denver miles shorter than their own via oJa Pueblo it itIs I is not beyond the range of probabilities that a 0 joint arrangement might be entered entered entered en en- II Into and highly profitable to both interests TV whereby hereby the traffic of the Rio Grande routed to or through Denver should use that eastern portion of the Salt Lake road Altogether therefore it would ap appear appear appear ap- ap pear practically certain that this new sh short rt line would become a profitable u undertaking |