The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-05-30
THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
FROM OMAHA, NEBRASKA.
What Has Been Done, and When it
will be Finished.
From the New York independently

From the New York independently
I No great enterprise was ever begun
about which so little has been said
and so much has been done. The
public have vague idea that a rail-
road is being built from somewhere
in the East to somewhere in farther
| West than a rail-track has ever be-
fore been laid; but where it begins,
or what route it follows, or where it
is to end, we venture to assert, not
one in thousand can tell. -
For "a dozen years we have heard
that great Pacific Railroad aoas to
be built, and a dozen names and a
dozen companies, and a dozen routes
from the Southern boundary of
Texas to the Northern boundary of
Lake Superior-haye been urged
upon Congress as the greatest and
best means for uniting the Atlantic
and Pacific shores. Bubble after
bubble was blown, and each burst in
turn when touched by, the sharp
point of practical experience.
The imperative need of the work
was admitted, but it was too vast for
individual enterprise to attempt. No
combination of private capitalists was
willing to risk hundred million dol
lars in the construction of 1000
miles of railroad through a wilder
ness. As the undertaking was strict
ly national, so no power less than
that of the nation was sufficient to
accomplish it; and large as the cost
necessarily would be, the expendi-
ture would save a much greater cost
to the country. But the government
did not wish to enter upon any new
system of internal improvements on
its own account; and its only alterna-
tive was to grant its aid in the most
careful manner to such responsible
individuals of suitable character and
energy as might be willing to risk
portion of their private means in the
construction of the road.
THE CoMPANY's CHARTER AND ROUTE
This charter was granted and per-
fected by various acts of Congress,
and the Company comprises men of
the highest reputation for integrity,
wealth and business experience.
Among the officers are General John
A.Dix, President; Thomas c.. Du-
rant, Vice President; and Hon. John
j. Cisco (ate Assistant Treasurer of
the United States), Treasurer.
The capital authorized by the char
ter is one hundred million dollars, of
which it is estimated that not exceed
ing twenty-five millions will be re-
quired, and of which FIVE millions
have already been paid in.
Surveying parties were at once
pushed out in various directions
across the continent to find and locate
the best available line between the
Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean.
This was established at Omaha, in
Nebraska, on the east, and will finally
be at San Francisco, in California, ON
the west-a distance of nearly 1000
miles. The Chicago and North West
ern Railroad is now completed from
Chicago to Omaha, distance of 1872
miles; and several other roads are
rapidly building to unite with the
Union Pacific at the same point; so
that Its eastern connections will be
numerous and complete.
The general line of the road from
Omaha is west up the Valley of the
Great Platte, and thence across the
plains distance of SIT miles, to the
Black Hills, or easterly spur of the
Rocky Mountains. Col. Seymour, the
Consulting Engineer, reports that the
grade is much more favorable than
was anticipated-the maximum to the
Rocky Mountains not exceeding 30
feet to the mile, and from that point
to the summit, or divide of the CONT
nent, it will not exceed so feet to the
mile. From the Rocky Mountains,
the best practicable route will be
taken to Great Salt Lake City. and
thence by the Valley of the Hum
boldt River to the eastern base of the
Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Cen
trail Pacific Railroad is now being
rapidly built east from Sacramento,
Cal, and is already completed about
100 miles, and will connect with the /
Union Pacific.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND ITS COST.
As we remarked before, there has
been very little talk, and great deal
of work. Almost before the. public
we're aware, it had been begun. On
the first of January, 1867, the Union
Pacific Railroad was finished for 3O5
miles west from Omaha, and fully