OCR Text |
Show The night of AVny. In tho early days of western railway building, days not so long gouo by as to bo out of memory, there wero many exciting races between rival roads for the possession of important mountain passes. Such a race, says tho World's Work, was that between tho Santa Fo and the llio Grande roads for the right of way through Raton pass to New Mexico and tho southwest. Engineers and construction gangs worlied lu mnd hnsto to get to it aboad iiir yivniii. oiie victory fell to hie chief of tho Santa Fe. When tho ltlo Grande cohorts arrived they found him alone In ono of tho big gorgcg, shovel In hand, slicing earth from nn 8,000 foot hill. "What nro you doing hero?" thoy asked. "Constructing n railroad," ho replied. Ho turned nnother shovelful of dirt dropped tho tool and hitched up his heavy cartridge belt "Any ono who interferes with tho Santa Fo does It' at his own risk," ho said quietly. First tho Rio Grande men laughed, nnd then they raged, and then they turned nnd went away. Their road was cut off from tho south forever. |