Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-08-16
How the Pacific Railroads are
Inspected by Government Com.

Inspected by Government Com
| missioners. r.s4. III
The Government of the United States is
contri buting largely towards building
three lines of Railroad across the plains
and toward the Pacific Ocean. 1t gives to
each a grant of about $1,000 acres ofland per
mile, besides many thousands of dollars of
bonds per mile for every mile built. As
each succeeding twenty-five miles is fin
Iished, Government Commissioners go over
the same and inspect and receive the
Road, and then the Government forks up
the bonds to, and directs the location of the
lands by the Road. The Kansas branch has
Just been inspected and received to the 236th
milestone west of the west line of Mis-
souri,. r .--.Gt irus-r... ..-.. ~.
| A correspondent of the st. Louis Repub-
lcan made the trip with the Government
Commissioners, and in the. Republican of
the 9th of August long article from him
appears giving the various aspects of the
tour. -a. ..-,, ...t-
| We extract below his concluding para
graph, from which our readers may learn
with what fidelity these railroads are in
spected, and how likely the people are to
get value received for the munificent
grants of land and money (the peoples
land and money! bestowed on these corpor-
ations by Congress. The correspondent
says: 9av u-.. 5,.... ...7r .a. ysdj r.-t u
sin concluding my notes upon this trip
with the Commissioners, ought not to
omit to sketch the scene OF the inspecting
party taking q view of the twenty-four
miles of railroad just completed. At juno
ton City the Engineers and Contractors
car was attached to ours, In the rear. 1t is
a very comfortable and conveniently ar
ranged car, provided with spacious plat
form at one end, where half dozen or more
persons can be seated On-reachiDg the
beginning of the division or section to be
examined, the Commissioners, together
with Mr.. Shoemaker, the contractor and
nlyself, rested ourselves comfortably in arm
lchairs on the rear platform, having full
view of the track. The train started, tax
ling speed of twenty-five miles per hour
and mile after mile passed under the review,
of our gazing eyes, rails, ties, spikes, grade
receding from us, or we speeding away
from them, as fast as bird flies trough the
air. Fragrant Havanas were distributed,
and through the clouds of smoke we in
spected the track. Nextswe looked at it
through a bottle of Concord wine, and all
looked rosy and good. The medium of ex
animation was greatly improved next by
a bottle of the best of Bourbon from Mich
olson's, and through its amber or golden
hues the prospect was charming, and all
the kinks and crooks of the track straight
ened out - the line was straight and
smooth. The finishing touch was put on
when glasses of claret punch eXcellently
compounded, were placed in our hands by
a colored gentleman, and through the rosy
| shades of this most conciliating and charm
ing medium, the three Commissioners and
myself took our final view of the we'll
built track and the inspection was over, for
by this time we had traversed the twenty
four miles-spending one hour in the ardu-
Gus work, and viewing the road through
media which clarified the vision, sharpened
the Judgment, inspired good nature and
prepared us to make most satisfactory
report. We voted the road well built and
well managed. And if the Commissioners
desire my signature to report of this
kind, it is at their service. Should any one
of the agreeable gentlemen who constitute
the Board of Commissioners desire to va
cate his place, please count me into the va
cancy. 1t is very pleasant business inspect
ing railroad track" '"i