The Central Colorado Power Company's Shoshone power plant and 100,000-volts transmission line is one of the electrical wonders of the world. The line was 153 1/2 miles long at extreme elevation in the roughest of the high country braving the worst of weather. It was an engineering marvel, cresting Argentine Pass at an amazing 13,628-ft, "Roof of the Continent", as exclaimed by a 1912 Electrical World article on the transmission line.

Shown is an original tower constructed around 1907-1908 on a section of line built earlier then the rest with two circuits. One circuit was installed from a steam power plant to a substation in a heavy mining and dredging district. The other was installed in 1909 from the Shoshone power plant. Hewlett suspensions, visible, have been in service here above 10,000-ft elevation for 108 years. Originally, four units were installed, General Electric make, but later units were installed for additional insulation and repairs. The entire line has undergone many renovations and experiments and in this particular section the lower circuit on the towers has been retired long ago.