|
<br />'. '.
<br />
<br />
<br />/' .'
<br />
<br />rl ")')/~ltE \iC;\";\"J,Sll;\" HIVI':H. DIVEPSIO=' p!{uJl':CT
<br />
<br />283
<br />
<br />"
<br />
<br />troduced, M.yor Allen gave the key of the city to the Presi-
<br />dent, and there was a girls' relay race on bucking broncos.
<br />Following this, the President was conducted through the fair
<br />grounds by the president of the Fair Association,
<br />
<br />In late afternoon the President's train, decorated by the
<br />3rd Division, proceeded to the West Portal of the tunnel, where
<br />there was a special stand erected 75 feet above the tunnel
<br />entrance, As the crowds held their breath, Presiuent Taft
<br />
<br />'.....
<br />
<br />--- - ---
<br />
<br />,',
<br />. .: :'~. '.; -
<br />/.~~:,: .:"
<br />
<br />,
<br />
<br />
<br />\:i~~~~~'''~~;>::.~~<~:
<br />~'- .
<br />.. .'.
<br />,- - .~.< .
<br />
<br />-' ...:; .:.....
<br />. ....-' '~.:'
<br />'ii'~f/~'A""":
<br />
<br />';:::,;~~ .;.'
<br />.,--'."..;
<br />.~ :,'(:.c...':'"
<br />)~~::'~.~: <., ~;-
<br />.... ..', ~ "
<br />..---:;,. ~ ~,~
<br />.... <, .~~. '.
<br />.\':'.
<br />
<br />, ',""".
<br />:.-/:~' ..
<br />.' ..' ::'.'
<br />-: '..,.(,-":..:......
<br />'.. ..... ~ ."
<br />
<br />~r(::....:..,.....:<.:
<br />
<br />..
<br />"
<br />
<br />~. '.
<br />
<br />PHJ<:~lnI';ST TAFT UI'I':;\'S I'!to,IEeT
<br />
<br />, '
<br />... "~:'
<br />
<br />.'. .,
<br />. . ,':':
<br />
<br />touched a gold bell on a floating silver plate, the electrical
<br />connection sounded gongs throughout the Uncompahgre Val-
<br />ley, swung open the tunnel headgates; and the waters of the
<br />Gunnison River v..'ere at last released from their rocky prison
<br />into the sunny "Valley of Fountains," This belL of pure gold,
<br />was furnished by the Colorado Telephone Company and in-
<br />scribed on one side "Opening of the Gunnison tunnel by His
<br />Excellency William Howard Taft, President of the United
<br />States of America, Montrose, Colorado, September 13, 1909,"
<br />The bell was taken back to Washington by Taft after the cere-
<br />mony. As the \vater rushed through the tunnel. reclamation
<br />officials fired salutes honoring the President, and back in
<br />Montrose at the fair grounds the ascension balloon was re-
<br />leased, During the ceremony the President called the sur-
<br />rounding Uncompahgre Valley the "Incomparable Valley with
<br />the unpronounceable name!"
<br />
<br />In the e\'ening the President had ~ special dinner at the
<br />Catlin house, waited on by ten of the prettiest young ladies
<br />
<br />.... .
<br />
<br />".'
<br />
<br />, '
<br />
<br />,
<br />~ "',
<br />
<br />.' .'
<br />
<br />.,~.;':
<br />
<br />" '
<br />>' ~.\
<br />~"~~'~-~' '.
<br />_.,'. ,-t"'~'"
<br />" ,
<br />........:. ".
<br />: .......':.~. .
<br />..~, .- '. ',. .
<br />
<br />..:,..
<br />
<br />, ,
<br />,
<br />
<br />",
<br />
<br />::..~,"t
<br />
<br />","
<br />
<br />;.......,
<br />
<br />....
<br />'.....
<br />
<br />.'-"-
<br />," ~
<br />';-,'"
<br />.....
<br />"
<br />,
<br />..
<br />
<br />.,"
<br />
<br />"',
<br />/-;. .,:'
<br />
<br />r-
<br />
<br />..
<br />.~
<br />
<br />,'.;,; ..
<br />
|