New-York tribune., 1869-05-21
AMERICAN GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATS
1ICAL SOCIETY.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS--PAPER BY WM. b
OGDEN on THE UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY.
The annual meeting of the American Geo
graphical and Statistical Society was held last evening a
the Cooper Institute. good audience was in attend
ance The reasurers annual report of the receipts and
disbursements from May H. 1865 to May l9 1862 showed
hat the total receipts were S576 81 and the expenses
4S2 5 leaving balance in the treasury OF Ss43 &C.
ta annual report was then read, showing
tween May H. 1858 and May To- 1862 number OF volumes
The Nominating COMMITTEES reported the following.
named gentlemen for officers for the ensuing year. and
Charles p DAILY. LII b. vice Presidents Henry GrinnSii,
Inc Hon y A. Conklng the Rev. JOS p. Thompson d. d.
EOIelgh corresponding Secretary, the Hon. Townsend
Harms Domestic Corresponding Secretary W. II. IL.
Henry Clewsi Librarian, II. B. Hammond; Council. VIM
hhemsen, H. Bailey Myers, w. T. Bodgett, W. T. Curtis,
Theodore W. Dwight, LII ID.
The President then introduced Mr. VIM b. Ogden who
nad consented at the request of the Society read pa
way. Mr. Ogden, after referring to the history Of
Ialroads ana their effects on the civilization OF the
entering upon the consideration OF the Pacific Railway
~ IL might be well TO recount briefly the history of rail
watt and George Stephenson, aud remarked that the first
iS ever run on railroad IN this country
20 ~ 1854 locomotives were placed on tho Bal
uiA0re ana Ohio Railroad and the South Carolina Rail
had 1000 miles In 1856 had miles in 1866 81 OoO
ana now in 1869 We had $4,000 lapplausel which
But the great achievement of the country
and the age was the completion OF the Union Pacific
cisco CAL $500 miles Of continuous railway. Mr. Ogden
hnks mat inc Government may with absolute economy,
bulld several such roads. single Indian without
the roads would cost more for expense OF trans
portation than tho roads would cost. In fact he had
no idea the Indians would think about fighting any
more after they found that there several railroads
ready To carry troops against them at the speed miles
an hour The Speaker had Travelled the road nd
found the country much more attractive than he had
supposed r 10 he. He gave graphic description OF the
magnificent scenery among the Rocky Mountains. and
work Of laying mile Of road IN an hour was done
Mr. ogden then gave brief summary OF the iutrOduc-
ton OF the first bill for the national highway 10 tho
Pacific; that at that time it scarcely considered
doubted the feasibility Of extending railway line 10 the
Pacific. The speaker said he himself remembered how
some men ridculcd the idea or running the Worcester
and Albany road over the Green Mountaius and
tho snOwrts of Winter There is an impression in tho
mind Of many to-day that the deep OF the Sierra
NeYadaS cannot be overcome ana that they Will prevent
the free passage OF the Plains from the Atlantic 10
the PaClhc. They arc deep aud terrible, 10
is trnc, but they will all be subducd lAppauscl
Mr. ogden continued: have been n years spending my
life IN tic construction Of railways 10 develop the great
touch one dollar Of salary for my services President
have never bOugs an interest for myself IN the lines Of
these railways, nor have ever bought or sold dollar
OF their stock In any speculation Few men have been
have bitter enemies to-day who believe that their losses
chargcuUle 10 me in stock spccuatOns have been
demonstrated wlth urged 10 take action against NY
enemies, but ! told them IL must DO borne. I
done for anything aud concluded by saying that there
never IN the world basis for investment Of any
thing like the amount or anything like the security Of
railroad Banks may Ial ships may perish from usage.
railroads real estate extending from
one end Of the land 10 the other
Mr.. Samuel b. RugCles then made few remarks after
OF the Society to the relatives Of Mr. George Folsom,
former Nlcc-Prcsdcut, and The meeting adjourned.