#railroad #incorporation #narrow_gauge #drgrr #atsf #kansas_pacific #west_las_animas #granada #pueblo #el_moro #governor_hunt ## Town Incorporation, pg. 2 We would further urge on every one, to lay aside his petty personal dislikes, and quarrels, for the time being, and join heart and hand in the effort to place our town upon a *firm* and *solid* basis. Mark every one, who opposes this effort, as the venal hireling of the railroad corporation and an enemy to the growth and progress of Trinidad. No person in Trinidad. No person in Trinidad will take a decided stand against incorporation, unless he has some personal interest in opposing it, and desires to see a *new opposition town* build up to our destruction. We cannot afford, *just now*, to let their personal interests of our town. We can not afford to sacrifice the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of improvements already made, the millions of dollars worth of trade, now centre-ing in Trinidad, and its bright prospects for the future to the will or personal aggrandisement of any individual, improvement company or corporation. If such parties prefer their own personal enrichment to the common good, then say we, let them seek some other place, besides Trinidad, to work against us. They are our foes, and we would quietly but firmly tell them, that Trinidad is not the place for them to work against our best interests. Trinidad has hitherto been lulled by them into a sense of security, but now she has awakened to her danger. Her sentinels are on the towers, sounding the wild notes of alarm, and her hosts are gathering for her defence. She to-day proclaims, - Every one that is not for us, is against us. Let our enemies go outside. - "We want no spies among us," to spy out our weakness and sow dissentions. Let our people unite as one man, allow no suggestions for delay, place their sergeants and corporals in the rear to keep up every one in his place in the ranks and strike down every one, who shows that white feather in the coming struggle. Let us unite at once and without hesitation in one strong persistent effort to protect our town from the wiles of those, who compass her destruction. Let us go to work, not talk; let us act promptly and decisively, not waste time in blowing off gas; let our gas pipes, and talkers be put in the back seats, and our workers, our men of brains and good, common, sound, sense be chosen as our leasers. We want action, prompt, decisive, action immediately. We do not want to ask the question "Are you Democrat or Republican? Are you American or Mexican? The all important question is: "Are you in favor of Trinidad or in favor of an opposition town?" If in favor of Trinidad, then insist on an immediate incorporation of the town, and take vigorous measures to compel its incorporation ## That Railroad Meeting, pg. 2 On Wednesday afternoon last, a few placards were distributed around Trinidad, calling on our citizens to assemble in the hall over the post office, and hear what the railroad men, alias Gov. Hunt and party, had to tell them about the Narrow Guage railroad, and its early completion to Trinidad. At 7, P.M., the hall was densely filled and Alexander Hatch was called on to preside. From his statement is appeared, that the meeting had been called without the knowledge of Gov. Hunt. However, a committee was appointed to wait on him to address the meeting. From the Governor's address those present learned - 1st: that the D.&R.G.R.R. did not want any Las Animas county bonds, as they would be unsaleable, and consequently worthless to them. 2nd: That if the people wished to aid the D.&.R.G. they could do so by grading all or a portion of the road from Trinidad to the Cucharas. 3rd: That the D.&.R.G. would come to Trinidad whether the people helped them or not, probably the coming spring; and fourthly, that the R.R. Company would build their depot *as near* to Trinidad, as they could obtain land for it with a perfect title and where the Governor could have a *good change to speculate in town lots*. A proposition was then made to donate a *suitable* site within the limits of the town Trinidad, for depot buildings, and make a perfect title, but this proposition was evaded, the Governor saying he had no authority to speak for the company, and that the location depended on the Engineer. The meeting on the whole was perfectly satisfactory to the majority of those present, in as much as it developed the *narrow* minded and *selfish* disposition of the men who control the D.&.R.G. Company. They do not intend to build a depot in Trinidad, or anywhere, unless at some point where the Southern Colorado, or Central Colorado Improvement Companies can *speculate in town lots*. They will do as they did in Pueblo - build an opposition town, for the purpose of making money for their manages, by speculating in town lots. If they come to Trinidad it will be only because of their prospects of making a good thing out of speculations in town lots, or the stolen coal lands will bring them here. Our people now see what they have to expect from the Narrow Gague. Is it to our interest to encourage them to come here? We can think now. The only road that can benefit us is a broad gauge road giving us a direct eastern connection. Trinidad's business relations with Pueblo and Denver are of but little value. The vast majority of the goods sold in Trinidad are brought direct from St. Louis, Chicago and other eastern cities. The narrow gauge road is of but little advantage to us for the purpose of bringing our goods to us from the states. Should it come to Trinidad we have every reason to believe that the greater portion of our good will continue to come over the Kansas Pacific to West Las Animas, an thence by wagon to Trinidad. In the matter of the coal trade, the advantage to be derived from the Narrow Guage would be but trivial. They will open coal mines and employ a sufficient number of men to supply them with coal, but our word for it, they will compel every private owner of coal mines to close his mines or look for his trade only to the local demand. Their freight rates on coal will largely by such to discriminate largely against every one not in the ring with the company. No private owner of a coal bank will be able to ship coal over their road except at a loss. Furthermore, all the coal shipped over the D.&R.G. will be brought into competition with the coal mines of Canyon City and Denver, an thus the demand be limited. Our only hope is in broad guage connection with the K.P. at West Las Animas, or the A.T.&S.F. at Granada. Such a connection would make us independent of the Narrow Guage. It would give us access to the Denver trade and coal market, via the K.P; give us a market almost without competition, in Bent county, and along the line of the Kansas Pacific for at least 300 or 400 miles, create a demand for our coal by the large freight and passenger engines of the K.P. and A.T.&S. Railroad, and open up an immense and lively trade with all Western Kansas, where coal must be used for fuel owing to the scarcity of wood. In comparison with this prospective trade, the benefits of the Narrow Guage will be the merest trifle, hardly worth the notice. Its pecuniary profit to our county will be the building of some twenty miles of a little narrow road, averaging some $5,000 per mile of assessable value, while the 50 or 60 miles of broad guage railroad in Las Animas country from West Las Animas to Trinidad will add not less than $20,000 per mile to the taxable value of our county. While the D.&R.G. will add probably $100,000 to the assessable property of our county, the probably addition by the building of the broad guage would be $1,000,000. In addition to this actual increase of value, the coal mines, iron mines, and other wealth of Las Animas county would be rapidly developed, immigration be encouraged, our mineral springs become known, large iron foundries and woolen mills be built; and in less than five years Trinidad be a town of ten or twenty thousand inhabitants. With the *narrow* guage alone, Trinidad will become as dead as Pueblo, which is now putting forth all her energies to escape from the remorseless clutches of a narrow guaged monopoly, by opening up an eastern connexion. Trinidad must rouse herself to the work, and by all means secure a direct Eastern connexion with a broad guage railroad, whose managers will not ask as a consideration for locating their depot in our town the opportunity to *speculate in town lots*. ## pg. 3 Do our people wish to encourage the building of an opposition town within a few miles of Trinidad? If not let them work for a broad guage railroad and a depot in Trinidad. We don't want another South Pueblo. --- What will our citizens do to bring a broad-guage railroad to Trinidad? Let us know at once. --- We know that a perfect title to depot grounds with the town of Trinidad, can be obtained, without difficulty. The excuse of Governor Hunt, that we have no title, is a subterfuge, and nothing else. --- Wagon trains of goods are daily arriving from the Railroad at West Las Animas having large shipments of goods for our merchants. Trade is brisk, and our merchants feel that Trinidad is bound to grow. --- We understand that a few persons whose judgement we think at fault, if they are not the tools of the opposition-townsites, propose to employ Gov. Hunt to procure a patent for the Trinidad townsite. We won't trust him, as his interests are against us. It would be another Trojan horse, and the people would in the end find themselves sold. The same money, which is proposed to be paid to him, if judiciously applied, will procure a release of all claims of the town site and pay for the half section, on which the town is built. We fear, as did the Trojan sage of old, and enemy, even when he comes bearing the emblems of peace. The Denver *Tribune* agrees with us that there are few saints in Trinidad. Whenever a man assumes the appearances of saintliness, we at once ship him off to Pueblo or Denver, for we are almost certain he is up to some deviltry, The saints stole our coal lands and are now engaged in stealing our town site. ![[trinidad-enterprise-1874-12-17-rr-meeting.pdf]]