58 GUIDEBOOK OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. 
As the train approaches the point where Fountain Creek joins 
Arkansas River the traveler is made aware of the presence of Pueblo 
Judge Hallett handed down a decision 
which granted to the Canon City & 
San Juan Co. (Santa Fe) the right 
to construct its line as surveyed— 
might, on ecmlieg- 
ici ge to u 
ailing to the Supreme Court of the 
United an © 
Grande, it was ratified under pressure, 
and from the beginning it was a con- 
stant source of irritation. 
As soon as the Santa Fe obtained 
control of the Rio Grande it proceeded 
to carry out its plan of concentrating 
rogating the lease, which had become 
In the spring of the next year (1879) 
the great struggle for the posses- 
sion of the Royal Gorge was resumed. 
Arm parties from both sides re- 
entered the canyon in anticipation of 
ple, exasperated to the fighting point, 
began preparations to retake and hol 
at the muzzle of the rifle if necessary, 
the entire system, which they claimed 
was being operated in violation of the 
principal condition of the lease. The 
Santa Fe learned of this contemplated 
action and issued strict orders to its 
men not to obey sige instructions or 
orders except thos 
There was — i il at sev- 
the line; sta 
eral places along tions 
were broken into and 
property was destro, 
While the Rio Grande and the Santa 
Fe were waging their contest over the 
ee nan of the Royal Gorge, Con- 
Ss passed an act which specified, 
caging other things, 
“That any railroad company whose 
right of way, or whose track or road- 
bed upon such right of way, passes 
through poe canyon, —_ defile 
shall not prevent any other railroad 
company from the use se occupancy 
said canyon, pass, or defile for 
with the law sd 1875, quoted above, it 
recognized that the Santa Fe could not 
be prevented pe building a line also, 
peat this road had not succeeded in 
having the lease annulled and was in 
