The Colorado Short Line or the Acquia Cutoff

[CM Auditor]

Back in the days of the D&RG and the Midland trying to make up their minds to build the link between Rifle Creek and Grand Junction, this some of the silliness that was distracting them.  By the way the editors' were convinced the Union Pacific (DL&G) was going to run standard gauge trains between Leadville and Salt Lake City.
Enjoy
Tom VanWormer

·         10-8-1889 – THE GRAND JUNCTION CUT-OFF – Last evening’s Denver Times says:  “Work upon the Grand Junction broad gauge cut-off from Rifle creek to be constructed by the CM and D&RG roads, will be commenced this week.  The contracts have all been let, provisions shipped, and everything is now in readiness for active operations.  The Messrs. Corey Bros., well-known contractors of Ogden, Utah, have secured the entire job, and the terms of their contract call for the grading of sixty-three miles up the river from Grand Junction.  It must be completed by April 1, but there is a premium clause with a reward for the time saved prior to that date.  The contractors propose to crowd the work and earn the premium by completing the work a month or two before the time specified.  Their estimates call for earth excavation, 550,000 cubic yards; loose earth, 380,000 cubic yards; haul, 600,00 cubic yards; solid rock, 255,000 cubic yards; rip-rap 20,000 cubic yards; tunnel 1,200 linear feet.”  Salida Mail Buena Vista Democrat - 10-8-1889 – Articles of incorporation of the Colorado Short Line were filed with the secretary of state this morning, the incorporators being Sylvester T.  Smith, Samuel N.  Wood, Edward O.  Walcott, Roswell E.  Briggs and Andrew S.  Hughes, with a capital of $3,000,000.  The board of directors is composed of D.H.  Moffat, Walter S.  Cheesman, Samuel N.  Wood, Edward O.  Walcott and Roswell E.  Briggs.  The line will start from a point on the D&RG near the Arapahoe line, between Littleton and Acequla; thence southwesterly up the valley of the Platte to Lidderdale on the line of the CM, in Park county; thence west and southwesterly to a point on the Rio Grande in Chaffee county, at or near Buena Vista; thence west to Grand Junction; thence westerly to Salt Lake City; thence west through Utah and Nevada to Elko on the Central Pacific.  The principal office of the company will be in Denver.  It is understood the Colorado portion of the line will be built at once.  Work will commence as soon as contracts can be let and other preliminaries arranged.  D.H.  Moffat, one of the heaviest stockholders is now in New York arranging matters.  The right-of-way to a goodly portion has already secured through the purchase of the old South Park franchise, so construction will not be delayed on that account.  Aspen Evening Chronicle Buena Vista Democrat 10-10 Aspen Times 10-12 Salida Mail 10-15 – COLORADO SHORT LINE – Denver, Colo., Oct. 7—Articles of incorporation of the Colorado Short Line were filed with the secretary of state this morning, the incorporators being Sylvester T. Smith, Edward O. Walcott, Roswell E. Briggs and Andrew S. Hughes, with a capital of $3,000,000.  The board of directors is composed of D.H. Moffatt, Walter S. Cheesman, Samuel N. Wood, Edward O. Walcott and Roswell E. Briggs.  The line will start from a point on the Rio Grande near the Arapahoe line, between Little and Acequia; thence southwesterly up the valley of the Platte to Leddesdall on the line of the Colorado Midland, in Park county; thence west and southwesterly to a point on the Rio Grande in Chaffee county, at or near Buena Vista; thence to Grand Junction; thence westerly to Salt Lake City; thence west through Utah and Nevada to Elko on the Central Pacific.  The principal office of the company will be in Denver.  It is understood the Colorado portion of the line will be built at once.  Work will commence as soon as contracts can be let and other preliminaries arranged.  D.H. Moffat, one of the heaviest stockholders, is now in New York arranging matters.  The right-of-way to a goodly portion has been already secured through the purchase of the old South Park franchise, so construction will not be delayed on that account.  The Aspen Chronicle