In August 1924, forest fires near the Moffat Tunnel led to closures, while new schoolhouses were built for workers’ children and tunnel progress continued.
Moffat Tunnel Construction Happenings from 100 Years Ago
As was case for much of the summer of 1924, forest fires continued to be a topic widely discussed in newspaper articles and in other sources. The Boulder Daily Camera on August 19, 1924, mentioned that a forest fire had broken out in the neighborhood of Rollinsville and that men were recruited from the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel to assist in fighting the fire. In fact, portions of the national forests had been closed to the public around both West and East Portals to ensure that the work being done is not impeded further by wildfires in the area and “to give protection to the tunnel workings.” The Daily Journal had more about the closures, “At the west portal the watershed of Buck Creek including the tributary Fawn and Deer Creeks is entirely closed to any kind of human use whatsoever. Entrance to this portion of the Arapaho Forest is controlled by the fence which surrounds the Tunnel Commission’s special use area and which is carefully patrolled by guards under the employ of the Commission. The valley thus shut off is not of high recreational value, but, on the other hand, contains a large amount of slash left from an old timber sale which greatly increases the hazard. The restrictions at the east portal are not so stringent. Permits issued for those who have to travel in that vicinity on business may be secured from the Forest Service or from the Tunnel Commission. No campers nor fishermen will be permitted to pass through the gate which is located just below East Portal and under no circumstances will any camp fires be permitted in the area under restriction.”
The Steamboat Pilot stated that 6,000 acres of the national forest are closed at the East Portal, except for “homesteaders in that tract” while the West Portal has 1,000 acres closed to the public. “The prohibition order is expected to stand for the remainder of the year, [although] no time limit was fixed by the forestry service,” wrote the Greeley Tribune.
August almost always has been about back to school and while the company towns of both East and West Portal were already established, it was in August when “The school houses for the fifty or more small children of the workmen engaged in drilling the Moffat Tunnel… are being built and will be ready for use at the opening of the fall term.” By August 27th, at the West Portal, a schoolhouse for 30 children was nearly completed and at the East Portal, a schoolhouse for 20-25 children is under construction.
The Steamboat Pilot made mention that “From the beginning it has been the desire of the [Moffat Tunnel] Commission and the contracting firm to make the Moffat Tunnel camps the most modern and most adequately served in America. Cottages have been built for the workmen, recreational halls have been in use from the opening of the camps, motion pictures have been shown, baseball games and sports of various kinds have been enjoyed… [this] is just another step in the program of the construction of the schoolhouses adequately serving the workmen who have moved with their families to the camps to work in the tunnel.”
It was stated that Gilpin County officials will equip the school and furnish it with a grade schoolteacher, while corresponding plans were also made in Grand County for the West Portal. “It is expected that two lower grades will be taught. The two school buildings cost about $1,300.” There are sixty-five families at West Portal and thirty-five at the East Portal.
Finally, in terms of progress, “The drillers at East Portal… had gone in 4,300 feet in both headings or a total of about 8,600 feet…. their rate of speed per day is establishing records that are startling the drilling world.” Progress continues to be slow at the West Portal due to soft rock. Meanwhile, “a new electric trolley line has been installed which will simplify transportation. Drillers were so far ahead of their schedules (on the east side) that they were hampered for a time through lack of proper facilities to move the muck.”
B. Travis Wright, MPS | Preserve Rollins Pass | August 31, 2024
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