|
<br />Q'1:!2{?
<br />
<br />282
<br />
<br />COLORADO MAGAZINE
<br />
<br />And on September 23, the gala celebration came off as
<br />scheduled, marking the official opening of the tunne1."' Among
<br />dignitaries in attendance were President Taft, Richard A.
<br />Ballinger, Secretary of the Interior,. Senator Charles Hughes,
<br />Jr., Representative Edward Taylor, Governor John F. Shaf-
<br />roth, officials of the Reclamation Service, Fellows, Torrence,
<br />McConnell and Lauzon. In' addition, thousands of sightseers
<br />came from all over the Western Slope. A special train from
<br />Delta brought 1,500, and 300 came on a special from Gunnison.
<br />Thirty-six' automobiles drove over from Delta. the occupants
<br />carrying red and white umbrellas. Ouray brought a pack train,
<br />in charge of E. A. Phinney, showing the means of transporta-
<br />tion in the rich mines.
<br />
<br />President Taft came in from the east in a special five-coach
<br />presidential train, in the first car of which were U. S. Regulars
<br />as guards. As a special presidential guard were all the sheriffs
<br />of western Colorado, decked out in western uniform with ten
<br />gallon hats, bandanas, blue flannel shirts and corduroy pants,
<br />each with a Colt .45 in holster. Preceding Taft's train was an-
<br />other special carrying Rio Grande officials.
<br />
<br />The event was heralded as the "biggest event that ever
<br />happened in Montrose." Bands from Ouray, Ridgwav, Olathe,
<br />Lake City, Montrose and Delta were on hand, including girls'
<br />bands with natty uniforms, The Grand Armv of the Republic
<br />"made a fine showing in the parade," as did the Booster's:
<br />Association and the Colorado National Guard, Montrose con-
<br />tributed its prettiest girls, riding on horseback, to the parade.
<br />On the main thoroughfare of town there was a welcome arch
<br />consisting of products of the rich agricultural country, and
<br />telling how much had been raised during the past year and
<br />what the completion of the tunnel would mean for 1910. The
<br />official Bureau of Information was established at the Belvidere
<br />Hotel in Montrose.
<br />
<br />Ten thousand people congregated at the fair grounds to
<br />greet the President. The guard of honor was made up of
<br />members of the Grand Army of the Republic, and when the
<br />President arrived, everyone gave a great hurrah. After giving
<br />a welcome address, Hon. John Bell presented Taft with a beau-
<br />tiful gold badge in behalf of the community. It was a "most
<br />beautiful and glorious Colorado day weatherwise," leading
<br />Taft to comment, speaking of dry towns, that he "did not
<br />wonder the people here were 'dry' as they did not have need
<br />of a stimulant ,as the air was like champagne." During the
<br />ceremony, Captain Gunnison's cousin from New York was in-
<br />
<br />115 There are many good accounts of this celebration: Delta Cou.nty Tribune,
<br />September 24, 1909; The Denver Post. September 23, 1909; The Gunnison Re-
<br />lJl!-blican, August 26, 1909. September 30, 1909; Colorado Springs Gazette, Sep-
<br />tember 24. 1909., Arthur W. Monroe, "Montrose County, Interviews Collected
<br />During 1933-34 fol' the State Historical Society of Colorado," O.lV.A. Pamphlet
<br />No. 357, Library, State Historical Society of Colorado; and others.
<br />
<br />.., ~ - ','.;
<br />" >
<br />
<br />~~:'.~ .::"_:;:,: ':,:; .-:::::~~ ~:(~;i:
<br />
<br />'~~:ic\:'~'?:'.ff:':
<br />.~8t:_:.~:_~,:-:::::/ '::.>.'~'
<br />. ,..
<br />
<br />" '.'..._;,....
<br />,., .-.-
<br />
|