The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-08
The Union Pacific Railroad.

The Union Pacific Railroad.
There appears to he some difficulty in Wash
ington with reference to the payment Of the
government Indebtedness to the Union Pacific
Railroad. At least some members and officials
of the company apparently consider that such
is the fact, for it is said that they called On the
President to inquire If any reports contradic.
tory TO the official returns Of the regular cont
mission appointed by law to examine the
road had been presented The President
knew nothing about any such report or COM
plant, but stated that the report of the COM
missioners was in the hands of the Secretary
of the Interior, Mr. Browning. This, we say,
is the rumor; but the facts are, that whether
there be any attempts at blackmailing, al
alleged by the railroad officials, or not the re.
port of the duly authorized special commits
sioners, signed by Brevet Major General War
rem and Messrs BlickensdOrfer and Barnes,
testiies most favorably to the good construc-
ton of the road. General Warren, who is an
excellent engineer, and served with great sue
cess on General Hooker's staff during the war;
is not the man, one would suppose, to put his
name to a document about the truth of which
he is not amply satisfied. Having made per-
sonal examination of the Pacific Railroad, we
presume that General Warren and his col
leagues may be trusted when they say in their
official report
Taken rs whole, the Union Pacific Railroad has
been well constructed The general route for tho
line is exceedingly well selected, crossing the
favorable passes on the Continent, and possessing
capabilities for easy grades and favorable align
ar og any n
ance with which the work has been urged forward
and the rapidity with which It has been executed
are without parallel in history. In the grandeur ana
magnitude OF the undertaking 1t has never BEEN
equaed and no other line compares with this In the
traverses giving rise to unusual inconvenience and
difficulties and imposing the necessity OF obtaining
almost every requisite OF material and labor and OF
supplies for its construction from the extreme Initial
point Of its commencement. Deficiencies exist. but
they arc almost without exception those incident to
all new roads or Of character growing out OF the
peculiar duties encountered inseparaby connected
with the unexampled progress OF the work.
That deficiencies are to be found there car
be no doubt. In crossing small ravines and
creeks the bridges may not be very substantial
In fact we know that in many places they look
rather shaky. The original ties also were no.
made of the best kind of wood, although ths
best that could then be had; but it is trues
nevertheless, that these defects, both as re-
CARDS bridges and ties and other deficiencies
have been remedied as soon as possible. The
commissioners state that the ballasting of tho
road is not perfect and in some places tho
higher embankments are not brought to Tho
proper standard. All these defects, they sayt
must be repaired. On the distance of 500
miles surveyed there are employed III loco-
motives, 81 passenger cars and 1, 100 baggage
cars. The commissioners estimate the expen
diture which will be necessary for the complies
ton Of the work to Weber Cafon as first
class railroad at $6.4s9, $50. The cost from
this point to Great Salt Lake is estimated
at three millions and half more. If tha
road be impcrfccty constructed and q nero
makeshift to lift money from the government,
it is somewhat remarkable that we have neveS
heard Of any accidents occurring in the dis
lance Of nearly a thousand miles since the road
has been in operation, nor that there has oc-i
Cured any more delay in the safe delivery OF
passengers, freight and mail matter than on
any other road in the country. However, if
there is anything wrong in the construction Of
the road ID is of course the duty Of the Presi-
dent to withhold his sanction to the issue OF
bonds. 1t does not appear, however, that the
President can refuse to adopt the report Of the
commissioners and to act upon it. Such, We
believe, is the opinion of Attorney General
Evarts, ~ recently expressed when this qucs-
ton was raised. 1t is probable, therefore,
that no obstruction really exists in the progress
Of this great national work.
The Pacific Railroad Company, however,
through their Vice President, Mr.. Dursn'' anu
consulting engineer, Mr.. Seymour, nave p.
lishcd a reply to tho statement OF the oo"'l, :,
sioners. attempting to refutc many Of the ane-
CATIONS therein for example, showing 'nas 'ne
additional sum of more than three nni''ona
and half onubt to be thrown out because the
equipment of Che road is adequate 'or ~ pre-
cent hnsiness The company report that they
49,. r,r,r.avs new locomotives building in
.,a;,;., - Tho ono hundred and seventeen
ronor,., hv The Commissioners, and have four
,n,aroa cara east Of the Missouri ready for
Coz ,,a three hundred more in course of con
s,,,,c,;on. The company deny that the ballast
;r,, Of the road is imperfect, except for about
~, hundred aud City miles in the Platte