Clear Creek Abandonment

[Justin Kerns]

I thought I'd share this telegram with you all as I find it very interesting.  My apologies if you've already seen and/or discussed it!

This telegram was sent by Edwin Carl Johnson to W.E. Scott Jr.  Both were prominent men in Colorado history.  Johnson served as a Colorado State Rep for 4 terms, then 1 term as Lieutenant Governor followed by a term as Governor, then 3 terms as a US Senator finally followed by another term as Governor of Colorado.  Busy man!  The Johnson bore of the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel on I-70 is named after him.  Before researching this telegram I always assumed it was named after LBJ!  Anyway he sent this telegram right after leaving the Governor's office (the first time) and beginning his first term in the US Senate.  

W.E. Scott Jr. was a prominent and highly respected mineral engineer and surveyor in Central City.  He served as County Surveyor and also as the Chairman of the State of Colorado Mineral Resources Board.  His name appears on many mining related blueprints of the day.

According to the contents of the telegram apparently Scott submitted a petition to save the line from Golden to Blackhawk.  I'm surprised President Roosevelt would have been personally involved in this matter but apparently he was.  We all know how this turned out in the end but it's interesting to see right into the process a little bit.  Anything anyone can add would be very interesting!

[ComoDepot]

Could it be at the request of the office of the President, I know people say their Senator is doing something but really it is some minion in the office.