Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-08-24
From the Morning Herald, st. Joseph, No.
THE PACIFIC
A Probable 1windle-COst $40, 600
per mile-CharRe $50, 900.

A Probable swindle-C0st $4,000
per mile-CharKe $4,000.
We understand Mr.. Peter A. Dey, the
Chief Engineer of the Pacific Railroad,
has resigned. and'the cause assigned is,
that he disapproves Of a contract lately
made by T. c. Durant, Esq, for building
a hundred miles of branch from Omaha.
Mr.. Durant and his stock jobbing con-
ferers in New York, who have the control
of the Omaha branch, propose to involve
it in the same sort of difficulties as the
Kansas City branch, and they will sue
coed. Mr.. Durant, as Vice President,
viii make with Mr.. Durant, or his man
Friday, q contract which will make Mr..
Durant rich, and leave the company too
poor to do their work. George Francis
Train, Durant's partner and brother-in-
law, declared last Winter, in a certain
hotel in this city, how much they had
made in the Kansas City branch, and this
Spring he will be here again Dragging how
much they have made out Of the Omaha
branch. These two branches have fallen
into most unfortunate hands. Fortunate
ly it is not necessary to build either OF
these two branches. Work on the main
trunk should be Immediately commenced,
and other roads should be extended to
connect with it leaving Durant and his
friends and enemies to- fight out theirown
contemplate quarrels. Let the great
work Of the country 60 on without being
retarded by these men. If they DO stand
in the way of the accomplishment OF the
just expectations Of the country, they will
be ground to powder!
II, as is intimated in the foregoing ex-
tract, Mr.. Durant, acting as Vice Presi-
dent of the National road to the Pacific,
has made a contract with his brother-in-
law and partner whereby they are to make
large profits, even at the risk of exhaust
ing the of the road, an'examina-
ton into the affairs not only of that
branch, but of the main.trunk, withwhich
the commercial interests of st. Louis are
closely connected, should be Immediately
instituted. This is not a mere corporation
matter. 1t is an enterprise in which the
whole people are interested. The vast
sums Of money which have been appro-
priated out of the National Treasury, as
we'll as the muni6cent grants of land be-
slowed to further the establishment Of rail
communication with the Pacific, entitle
the public to a full knowledge of all the
expenditures Of tho company, so that it
may be known whether the object Of the
enterprise is being subserved, or whether
a great National work is TO be thwarted
and postponed. that railroad officials and
Wall street jobbers may in imitation Of
shoddy contractors, fll'their pockets with
spoils from the National ,exchequer. The
whole system Of contracts upon that line
should be examined, and if the Commits
sioners appointed by the General Govern
ment fail to render q clear account Of their
stewardship ofthe National interests; they
should be held to a strict accountability.
The Chicago Tribune publishes. a letter
from a gentleman in St. Louis, which thus
throws light upon the contract swindle
which has caused the resignation Of the
Chief Engineerof the Omaha branch: 81.
~ have seen a copy Of the contract
sent here from the principal Office in New
York. It stipulates that the building of
the road shall cost the contractor not
above the following: .
Per Mile.
Jrop dal;vered on the 1000