The Union and journal., 1869-05-14
The Unios Pacific Railroad Finished.

The last rail in the connecting link OF ou
trans-eOntinental highway was laid on MOnda,
last. To-day the Central and the Union Paeif'
form, by Government direction, "osE coSriNu
oUs ROAD" from Omaha to Sacramento. viii
marvellous and magie-like rapidity have the two
powerful companies brought section after section
Of their roads tc completion, until to-day they
reach the goal for which both have 50 vigorous
ly contendcd. ....r ......
Within the brief period Of three years and
fraction, the Union Pacific Railroad Company
have crossed the prairies Of Nebraska, scaled
the Rocky Mountains, pushed over the great
mountain plateau, passed the rugged range Of
the wasatch, pierced and tunneled the cliffs
they could not climb, wormcd their way through
and across the most terrific Canyons, passed
northward Of the Great Salt Lake, until they
have met the Central Pacific at their coming,
nearly eleven hundred miles west OF their initial
point at Omaha.
Such achievements in so short a time may
Justly excite the wonder and the admiration Of
the world. But the building Of 50 long
stretch Of railroad through country abound
ing in the most formidable obstacles is not the
only point that challenges attention. The Com
pany's Geld Of operation was an isolated desert
Rich Il may be in alluyial soil, rich in the ele-
ments Of mineral wealth which Nature had
locked up in her "mountain chests" II Is for
the purposes Of such work practically des-
crt. II was totally devoid Of settlement, and
destitute Of all requisites for supporting popu-
lation. But more than this, the Company
army Of rUad-builders was always operating a
nm average distance Of two thousand miles from
their base Of supplies. All the requisite mate
rails for the work, save timber, were procured
in the Atlantic States, transported by any and
every available means to Omaha, and thence
over the rOad as it progressed to the point Of
employment. A hundred and ten thousand
tons Of iron rails, million fsh-pates, two mill
ion bolts, and fifteen million spikes, are among
the items thus brought from the east and con-
sumed upon the road. The great engines that
move the company's works at Omaha, together
with the varied and vast amounts Of machinery.
implements and tools used in stocking and hitting
ND their manufactures, were also brought from
the east, and wagoncd over the county hun
drcl and ffty miles to Omaha
Some three and half million cross ties, and
timber in unnuubered millions Of feet, have
been consumed in the construction Of the road,
It's culyerts and bridges. Much Of this materl-
al was found at Chicago, and its transportation
therefore was comparatively inexpensive, after
railroad communication with that city was C.
,ab,i.hcl. An the materials, except brick, re-
ouircd for building Foundries, Machine Shops
Construction Shops Of all grades, statiOn-hOuses
Eound-houses, Store-housCs. Telegraph line and
Offices, Water Stations, Supply Stations, and
the thousand minor things that enter into the
outfit Of 50 great work, being likewise obtain
ci at distance, add largely to the cumulative
account Of transportation. Subsistence and
Stores for an army Of Ave to twenty thousand
skilled and unskillcd workmen, and forage Tor
ak to eight thousand teams Of mules and horses
are items quite too large 10 be left out Of ae-
count. A large amount Of the rolling stock on
the rOad, including locomotives, was at first,
and is yet, procured at the cast, because the
eompany's works have not the capacity to
build as fast as IL IS rcquircd.