Following is another newspaper account that provides additional information. The South Park's long term goal may have been Utah and further west, but the immediate goal was the coal mines at Floresta and then Paonia.
January 28, 1893
Right Of Way Settled
Division Engineer William Ashton of the Union Pacific, returned from Omaha Tuesday. His purpose in the city was to confer with the general officers of the Union Pacific, Chief Engineer M.H. Rogers of the Denver and Rio Grande, and J.F. Vale, attorney for the latter road, regarding the trouble between the two roads in the Gunnison country.
A few weeks ago there was a prospect of serious difficulty over the possession of the right-of-way into the anthracite coal fields thirty-two miles from Gunnison. Both roads were making rapid strides to reach the properties of the Colorado Fuel Company. In crossing the Elk Mountains, desirable routes are hard to secure.
At Ohio Pass the routes come in conflict, both com¬panies working side by side, the Union Pacific being about 100 feet above the Denver and Rio Grande. A short distance ahead the roads must cross, and a race for this point has been in progress. It has been decidedly lively there and has been at times prospects of a serious conflict.
This was finally decided as most unprofitable and a conference was called. The result of this is that the roads will build a joint track over the disputed ground. All future trouble will thus be avoided, so far as this locality is concerned.
The Times has the following to say concerning the line: The Anthracite coal fields of Colorado near Gunnison have within the past few months become very valuable in the eyes of the Union Pacific and the Denver and Rio Grande officials and a strife has been going on between the two companies for several weeks past.
Each company has a right of way and survey to the coal land, but the Union Pacific were hindering the Rio Grande people by continuous blasting up the side of the mountain, the rocks rolling down and covering up what they had already done. A few weeks ago Attorney Vaile of the Rio Grande, together with William Ashton, Division Engineer of the Union Pacific, went to Omaha to talk the matter over and if possible settle the matter without a great deal of expense. The result of this meeting was a compromise and a joint track arrangement is made whereby a line will be built from Gunnison to Irwin and Anthracite over the best grade that can be obtained.
The Union Pacific will open Alpine Tunnel at the first opportunity in the spring, lay heavy steel rail where the track is anything but in good condition, and operate this part of the South Park that has so long been idle. It is also said that several new engines will be put on these coal trains that will take 10 cars up a 4 per cent grade. Engine is known as the "strong" engine and is the largest narrow gauge engine bow built.
The coal is of the very best anthracite, and will no doubt make it some cheaper in Denver. Specimens of this coal mined 8 and 10 years ago shows it to be as hard and shiny as when first taken from the mine.
