Show New Mew Plan For Extension of Moffat Railroad to Salt Lake A new plan for the extension of the Moffat road from Craig to Salt Lake City has been undertaken under under under un un- der the leadership of the recently organized organized organized or or- Federation of Northwestern Colorado Commercial clubs and It Jl Itis Itis is reported to have substantial backing tackIng Lack back ing lug from eastern capitalists As outlined the plan is practically practical practical- lly l- l ly the same as the one a tew few months ago whereby it was proposed to build a railroad from Craig north to a connection with the Union Pacific PacIfic Pacific Pa Pa- at Wamsutter Wyo the owners owners own own- ers em of land within the district to be most directly benefited pledging portions portions portions por por- of their holdings as security for the bonds Issued to provide funds for construction and equipment Nearly enough pledge were given in northern Moffat county in southern Carbon county Wyo and In the vi vicinity vicinity vicinity vi- vi of Craig to meet the requirements requirements requirements require require- ments but after the canvassing had been brou brought ht to a successful conclusion ion the Union Pacific suddenly squelched the matter by withdrawing withdraw withdraw- ing Its previous agreement to maKe maze a favorable Arrangement for the exchange exchange exchange ex ex- ex- ex change of traffic with the new line and work on the plan was suspended Since the start was made last month on the tho plan to secure the building of a railroad to Salt Lake City the Union Pacific is reported to have signified Its willingness to renew renew renew re re- new negotiations but there will be beno beno beno no further dealings with tho the roan The new plan Is said to have the backing of the capitalists behind the Yampa Valley company which was formed for the purpose of or constructing an immense reclamation project for the Irrigation or many thousands of acres of or orland land in Moffat county The program of this company company com corn pany includes the erection of beet sugar factories and the developing of a number of other activities ag ag- ag- ag and Industrial and to for which it Is claimed that many millIons mill mill- tons Ions of dollars are available The Development company requires however that a railroad be provided provid provid- ed to give a a. direct outlet to the markets markets markets mar mar- country and that this railroad be financed as a separate proposition from the company's own operations Speaking of the new plan the Craig Empire gives the following information I A build railroad your own plan that has been talked for many moons by David E. E Evans of Craig seems in a fair way to become a reality In the near future The Federation Federation Federation Fed Fed- of Northwestern Colorado Commercial clubs of which Mr Evans is chairman of the Transportation Transportation Transportation tation committee is taking an active active active ac ac- ac- ac tive Interest in the plan E. E L L. Harsh of Hot Sulphur Springs was In Craig the latter part of the week and stated that members of the organization organization organization or or- and citizens generally all along the Moffat Moffat road are ready to jump In and help put puL me the project over While In Denver last week Mr Evans outlined the proposition to a number of Denver leaders In the financial fi financial financial fi- fi and commercial world and found them earnestly interested His ais plan is on the order of that used to raise a guarantee for the tho proposed Union Pacific branch except that Instead instead In in- stead of agreeing to pay a certain amount per acre the present Idea is to have landowners deed a certain portion of their holdings as a ill guaranty guaranty guaranty guar guar- anty for tor the necessary bond issue We would ask the land owners to deed us approximately an eighth Of oi their holdings the deeds to be held helf helfIn in escrow until the road is completed ed and In operation Evans stated We would then either turn thes escrow deeds over to the present Denver Salt Lake Railroad com corn pany Governor Simon Bamberger Salt Lake and Denver company or anew e II new company which would guarantee guaran t tee e us a railroad Wo believe We believe belleve that this backing behind be behind behind hind a bond issue would appeal t ti t. Investors who might be about a straight railroad proposition and Denver financiers to whom J i have talked feel the samu way about the matter Millions of acres of fertile farm farmland farmland farmland land to say nothing of the immense coal conI and mineral resources of this section are now undeveloped because of the lack of transportation Within With With- in four miles of Craig are coal coalmines coalmines coalmines mines which could furnish a ton tonnage nage nape within two years which would tax to capacity a lino line between Denver Denver Denver Den Den- ver and Salt Lake City Mr Evans says that the tho natural outlet for Routt and Moffat county coal conI is to the west where fuel is expensive Carrying the coal west he points out would do away with the present present present pres pres- ent expensive haul over the Continental Continental Continental Conti Conti- divide I III anticipate little difficulty In securing securing se BC se- se curing deeds to hundreds of thousands thousands thousands thou thou- sands of acres of land if Ir our plan ih Is put in operation Evans says The average farmer in Moffat count now owns approximately acre of land There Is no incentive for fOT him to crop more than a small acreage acreage acreage acre acre- age to take care of the needs of his livestock and for the local demands for farm products from the town and mining camps of Northwestern Colorado Freight rates are too high for Northwestern Colorado to compete In open market and this thU will not be remedied until the Moffat Moffat fat tunnel is constructed and the ex expensive expensive pensive over lover the hump haul is elim hated Our farmers and those of th the Uintah basin In Utah would gladly I deed a J. J share of their lands now i J i liability rather than an asset in return return re reo turn for transportation Owners of oi coal mines and coal lands would 1 am sure take the same view and gladly agree to to pay a royalty on every ton of coal to a company which would build a railroad would woul enable the fuel to be marketed Mr Evans will report to the Northwestern Federation of Commercial ComI Com Commercial I mercial clubs that the our OUT own own plan has met with favor fator of Denver capitalists The federation will then make definite plans to secure secure secure se cure guarantees for the proposed is is- Sue lue of railroad construction bonds flue |