Denver South Park & Pacific Survey

[Jimmy Blouch]

Here's a question

I came across a tidbit that indicated the DSP&P surveyed into Grand Junction Colorado during 1881.

Does anyone know where information concerning that event might be found?

Jimmy

[Chris Walker]

Jimmy,

https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/blm/cultresser/co/12/chap5.htm
Chapter V:
THE TRANSPORTATION FRONTIER IN WEST-CENTRAL COLORADO

Part of the plan called for construction of a line west from the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River to Salida and then on westward via Marshall Pass to Gunnison, Colorado. From that town the road would follow the Gunnison River to the future site of Grand Junction and thence west along the Grand River into Utah. [60] While Palmer's crews were busy laying lines, other rail promoters also cast an envious eye on the Grand Valley. John Evans, denied the Union Pacific in Colorado set out during the late seventies to build his own transcontinental line, the Denver, South Park and Pacific (DSP&P). DSP&P surveyors paralleled Denver and Rio Grande crews through the Grand Valley during 1880 and 1881, but financial problems kept the company from ever building such a railway. [61] Another company, the Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific, a Union Pacific subsidiary, also surveyed routes along the Grand River at the same time. Again the reports came to naught, [62] and it was Palmer's Denver and Rio Grande that eventually penetrated the region with its twin ribbons of steel.
cited work .....

[61]. Rait, "Development, Grand Junction," p. 13., and Wyman, "First Year," p. 131.

[Jimmy Blouch]

Chris

Thank you.

One point of the question pertained to the route into Grande Junction.
Reading this item the surveyed route of both the South Park and Rio Grande for the Gunnison line were pretty much the same.
The South Park crew reached Grand Junction first, during 1881.  The Rio Grande crew reached Grand Junction a little later in 1881.

In reviewing my survey and filing maps files for various situations it appears that it was "first come, first served.
Meaning the South Park had the first right for constructing this line.
As we know various events occurred that prevented South Park from constructing along this route.

CRA #12 indicates that when Rio Grande built west from Gunnison they used the South Park projected line.
To me that would indicate that at some point the South Park relinquished their rights to this route.  Although that
might depend on whether South Park submitted a filing map.

Anyway, my worthless .02

Jimmy