D&RG Purchase of the South Park (DL&G) in early 1889

[CM Auditor]

Folks,
Here is my find in History Colorado Old News Paper files at URL https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/cgi-bin/colorado?a=d&d=ADC18890308.2.7&srpos=3653&e=01-02-1888-31-08-1889--en-50--3651-byDA-txt-txIN-Midland-------0-#

 3-8-1889 – It has been reported for several days that the Rio Grande has bought that part of the South Park between Denver and Buena Vista; and yesterday evening it was stated that the sale had actually been made.  By this purchase the Rio Grande will shorten its distance between Aspen, Salt Lake and Denver 107 miles—The distance by South Park, from Buena Vista to Denver, being 135 miles; it is stated that this part of the South Park will at once be converted into a standard-gauge.  This purchase will enable the Rio Grande to more successfully compete with the Midland; it will also be of great advantage to Buena Vista, doubtless transferring from Salida to that place the machine shops, roundhouses and other establishments that have been a source of great profit to Salida.  The Aspen Chronicle

While this article makes no sense at all for the time, the UP, D&RG and the Midland were in the midst of a major rate war.  Jay Gould is beginning to push himself into the Colorado Railway picture and frankly this article seems to come out of left field.  

[Ron Rudnick]

It appears to have been an early April Fools canard.
And from reports in the Salida Mail, many of the citizens of Buena Vista took the bait.  

[Robert McFarland]

What about the idea the C&S had in the early 1900s to lay a third rail between Newitt and Wildhorse(BV) that was mentioned in CRA 12?

[CM Auditor]

What is CRA 12, I am mostly working the statewide newspapers following the stories on the Colorado Midland and pickup up on the DSPP, DLG and C&S that I find.

Thanks
Tom

[Chris Walker]