In order to furnish better transportation facilities for the mineral
of this district, and to emancipate it from the freight embargo
that has virtually fettered its commerce, citizens of Leadville have
determined to construct a broad gauge railway down the Arkansas Valley
to Pueblo. This will enable Leadville merchants to ship goods through
from the East without breaking bulk, and lay them down in their
warehouses as cheaply as the same commodities could be laid down in
Denver. This will insure Leadville the control of the business of
the Gunnison country, whose mineral developments are spoken of in the
highest terms. Propositions from Eastern railroad contractors have
already been received, preliminary surveys have been made, and
$200,000 guaranteed to the stock subscription. It now seems to be only
a question of what method to pursue in constructing the road.
Growing out of the broad gauge movement, to some extent, two or three
narrow gauge enterprises have been organized. One is projected from
Leadville to Salt Lake City, following the carbonate belt, as shown in
Hayden's Geological Map, around through the Eagle River, Roaring Fork,
and White River Agency districts, into Utah. Such men as H. A. W.
Tabor and C. B. Rustin stand at the head of this project. Another
narrow gauge road is organized to be built into the "Ten-Mile" and
Breckenridge districts, where the famous Robinson Mine is located.
Should the broad gauge be built this summer to Pueblo, there is little
doubt but that narrow gauges would ramify out from Leadville into
every mineral bearing gulch that was found accessible.