20 July 1912 – Headline and byline: Northern Colorado Transcontinental Route by Shep N. Husted. Apropos of the new transcontinental route through northern Colorado and Estes Park, which is now being so much discussed, I would like to say a few words in regard to its advantages and attractions. The most feasible, practicable, scenic, and attractive road for automobilists for the transcontinental route is through Estes Park. Larimer County has the finest mountain roads in this state. The Big Thompson Canyon road to Estes Park, thence to Horseshoe Park, cannot be surpassed for scenery and grade. The new road to connect with the north fork of the Grand River will be fourteen (14) miles in length. The approximate cost would be twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) and the grade 5-1/2%. After this new proposed road is built, it will give the tourist free access to the most beautiful scenery in Colorado, thousands of varieties of wild flowers, and the cool shade of the lodgepole pine and the great Englemann trees. After going through Middle Park to Kremmling, then taking the new road through the Gore Canyon to Dotsero, connecting with the Grenwood Springs and Grand Junction road will be one beautiful way to Salt Lake City, Utah – these roads being all completed with the exception of the Estes Park cutoff of 14 miles. But a still more beautiful and scenic road is the route to Steamboat Springs, via this cutoff and through Brown’s Park west of Steamboat, thus shortening the distance to Salt Lake City, Utah, by 175 miles. This route will be the shortest one through the state, and also the coolest and most beautiful. Another advantage will be its easy connection with the transcontinental road through Wyoming, via either Walden or Steamboat Springs. Several of the hundreds of miles of the scorching roads through the plains between Denver and Salt Lake City, Utah, will thus be eliminated, giving Denver the advantage of hundreds of automobile tourists who otherwise would not pass through that city at all. The snow fields and glaciers close at hand, along this Estes Park cutoff, with the snow flowers blooming at their edges, are certainly worth seeing by the eastern tourists and by our Colorado tourists as well. Also, the great extinct volcanoes with their crates and rare geodes found there, and the miles of lava beds are beauties of grandeur which few, even of the natives of our own state, have seen, examined, and admired. The study of the thousands of varieties of wildflowers which are to be found along this route in greater abundance than in any other section of the state will prove a wonderful attraction to thousands. I refer you to Rydberg’s “Flora” of Colorado for confirmation of my statement in regard to the great varieties and abundance of the wildflowers. And let me mention another wonderful attraction. The volcanic craters where the water is so salty it has made natural salt licks, are the homes for hundreds of mountain sheep which can be seen feeding on the forage crop on the rims of the craters. Having had the protection of our game laws for so long, these sheep have increased in numbers, and are comparatively tame. They can be seen in large numbers by the tourists. One place on Specimen Mountain, where there are so many sheep, is known as Ram’s Pasture. This route could be completed in a few months on account of the small amount of rock work to be done. The cutting of the timber and clearing of the right of way will be the most work, but the road, after the timber is removed, is practically made. The soil is the finest for road building, being composed of dolomite lime rock and hard lava for miles. There is no place in the state that can be compared with this route, so I would especially request that each member of automobile clubs get started at once and help assist Larimer County and Grand County to complete this connecting link of 14 miles. We cannot have too many good roads in the state. But this is one that will be the most attractive and help northern Colorado and Denver more than any other route.