The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-10
The Pacific Railroad - The Various
Branches, Companies, Etc.


its branches. The similarity of the titles used
by some OF the companies, and their con-
fusion in the accounts of recent excursions,
which have been quite extensively noticed
by the press, have served to perplex the
public in regard to the whole matter.
"The Union Pacific Railroad Company is
a corporation created by act of Congress,
approved July I, 1862, and authorized to con-
struct and maintain railroad and telegraph
from the western boundary of Iowa to the
eastern boundary of California. General
John A. DIX is President of the company,
and Mr.. Durant, of New York city, is the
chet manager and builder of the road. The
road which it is building is known as the
Union Pacific Raj lroad. 1t commences at
Omaha, Nebraska, on the Missouri river, runs
westwardy up the valley of the Platte river,
and is completed for distance Of three hun
dred miles from Omaha, or to the crossing OF
the north fork of the Platte. Its eastern con-
neections are by railroads through Iowa aud
Illinois directly to Chicago.
The Union Pacific Railroad Company,
Eastern DiUiSion, is a corporation originally
created by the Legislature OF Kansas lerri-
>
Pawnee, and Western Railroad Company.
1t was authorized by the Pacific Railroad
ct of Congress, approved July 1, 1862, to build
a road from the mouth of the Kansas river
westward, so as to unite with the Union
Pacific Railroad from Omaha, at some point
on the one-hundredth meridian of west longi-
tude, between the south margin OF the valley OF
the Republican river and the north margin of
the valley Of the Platte; and upon the same
terms as to Government aid etc, as the
Union Pacific Railroad. By subsequent
legislation, however, it is relieved from the
necessity of uniting with the Union Pacific
Railroad at the one-hundredth meridian, and
is allowed to run directly west to Denver,
and to connect with the Union Pacific Rail
road within distance of fifty miles west of
Denver. The President of this Company is
John ID. Perry Esq, Of st. Louis. Its road
is known as the Union Pacific Rail,o an, East
eTn Division. 1t commences at the State line
between Kansas and Missouri. near the mouth
OF the Kansas river, at Kansas City, runs
westwardly up the valley of the Kansas, via
Lawrence, Topeka, and Fort Riley, and is
completed and in operation to Junction City,
Kansas. Two hundred and fly miles addi-
tional Of the road are under contract to be
pleted during the year 1857. 1t will follow
the valley of the Smoky Hill river towards
Denver. This road connects eastwardly with
the Pacific Railroad Of Missouri, running
from Kansas City to St. Louis.
The history Of this Union Pacific Railway,
Eastern Division, if fully written, would rival
the details of the most exciting romance
Work was commenced IN 1868, under the
auspices OF John G. Fremont, then residing
in New York city, and the late Samuel Hal
iett, who personally supervised the construc-
lion Of the road. 1t was at the darkest era
of the Rebellion, when Rebel guerillas ran
riot over almost every foot of the Kansas and
Missouri border. The workmen were mainly
brought from Canada, and had to be pro-
tected by United States troops. 1t was
almost impossible to obtain transportation for
the iron and other materials necessary for the
construction of the road. To add to these
difficulties, Fremont and Hallett soon got at
loggerheads, and costly and vexat;ous lItiga-
ton followed. This was hardly through with
before Hallett was killed by an assassin. The
into the hands of st. Louis and Eastern CAPT
talsts interested in the Pennsylvania, Ohio,
and Missouri roads, forming the great central
line connecting with the Union Pacific Rail-
way, Eastern Division. But even then, it
required struggle las ing almost two years
before the adverse influences were finally
overcome, and the Company was enabled to
devote its undivided energies to the building
of the road.
The total length of this road, when com.
pleted from Kansas City to Denver, will be
6e1 miles, and for 466 miles of the western
portion the variation from an air line will be
only 36 miles. The Platte river at Denver is
4093 feet higher than the Missouri river at
Kansas City, and 1921 feet higher than the
Mississippi river at st. Louis.
There are several branches to the Union
Pacific Railroad, and to the Union Pacfl,
Railway, Eastern Divison-some already
completed, some in process of construction,
and some in contemplation. There is a
branch to the latter, complete, and in opera
tiOn from Leavenworth to Lawrence.
From Atchison, Kansas, a road ia now
building westwardly, and completed for forty
miles, intended to connect eventually either
with the Union Pacific, Eastern Division. on
the south, or with the Union Pacific on the
north. This Is one Of the connecting roads
provided for in the Pacific Railroad Act, and
receives Government aid for the first one