The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1869-12-15
The Secretary Of the Interior on the Pacific Rail-

The Secretary Of the Interior on the Pacific Rail-
road.
The following extract Is taken from the re-
port Of Secretary Cox to the President, under
date Of Nov. -, 1869:
The Union Pacific Railroad Company, dur
ing the last fiscal year, completed 165 $500
miles Of railroad and telegraph terminating
at PrOmOntOry Summit The distance there
from to Omaha is ,0S5 $500 miles.
The joint resolution of the 10th Of April,
1869 provides: THAT the common terminus
Of the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific
railroads shall be nt or near Ogden; and the
Union Pacific Railroad Company shall build
and the Central Pacific Railroad Company pay
for aud own, the railroad from the terminus
aforesaid to PromOntory Summit, at which
point the rails shall meet and connect and
form one continuous line
The connection WAS formed on the 10th Of
May last. This department has not, however,
been advised of any agreement by the compa-
mics respecting the location of their common
terminus"
The company reports that since the conncc-
ton, trains have been run with a regularity
not surpassed on the Oldest roads in the coun-
try, and that an adequate force has been CON
stIutly engaged ia making such improvements
would render their road in ali respects
equal to the standard prescribed. They furn-
Ish the following statement: Amount of stock
subscribed, 2i,777, 300: actually paid in, sal
7G2, 800; received from passengers from LIST uf
July, 1868, 10 June 3Oth, 1869, 81, ,I53, ,6I2 10;
from freight, 81, ,i23 iG3 80: and from tele-
graph &c. SiG5, l35 u. The average number
of miles of road operated during the year was
S5i Gj-73; the gross earnings were S7,3i2,-
21l lG; and the operating expenses S5,S9i,-
2BS 90; leaving as net earnings 81 ,iiS,OO2 %.
The entire cost Of the road to June Both, 1869,
not including unad justcd balances with engin-
GERS and contractors, was $92 7iS, ,762 II, and
the Indebtedness of the company at that date,
SCI. 1856, ,iG2 IL. -.... ...
On the 18th Of August last, the Commits
si0ners appointed under tho joint resolution
approved April 10th, 1869. were instructed to
examine the roads built by this and the Cen.
trail Pacific Railroad Company, of California,
and to report touching their location, con-
structlon and equipment, and the sums, il
any, that would be required to complete each
oi them for its entire length AS IA iirst-class
railroad in compliance with the requirements
of Congress
The Commissioners have submitted their
report. They are of opinion TINT there are no
material errors in the general location Of this
road, but that the deviation from the accepted
line ut Promontory and Uintnh mountains
should bc corrected, and the bridge line nj
Omaha built so as tO avoid the present heavy
grade. The rIad-bed, the larger portion OF
the way, is of proper width though there are
some places where the cmbankment should be
widencd. The bridges, culvcrts and trcstles
are generally good structures Some of the
former should he strengthened and some OF
the Inter filed mp. The track is generally
very good. The cottonwood cross-tics should
he replaced by others of more durable mate
rial. The sidngs are ample, amounting "a
fully nine per cent. of the length of the line
The road needs bnllnsting between promontC.
ry and Ogden and in the Platte valley
machine shop at the junction Of the two
roads and pnUinp hnnunu nI tnI,
be required. Freight cars are in excess Of tn,
wants Of the road. The estimate for supply
ing deficiencies between Promontory and Og
den IL S206, 900, and between the latter plac,
and Omaha, 81, $3.50, 100. making an nggrcgai,
oil ; Si,5S6, 100. The company have on hand
surplus of material and supplies amountinl
To about 81 800. 900 in value.
While tho location Of the Central Pacific
railroad Is, in several places open to criticism
therc ARE no errors tho immediate correction
oi whioh. III tile opinion Of the Commission
ers' should be required by the Government
NJ a lew points the embnnkmonts need widen
ing. There are fifteen tunnels on the road.
and those which require il are arched witt
wood. Tho bridges and trestles are in th
same condition as those on the other road
In distance Of forty miles thoro nro thirty
two miles Of snow-sheds The track is wei
adapted to high rates of speed. Sumo addi
tonal ballssting is required. The sidings ar
49," NV Po' Veht' w 'ne Ioau. The mn
chine shops are considered sufficient, cxcen
mt the junction of tho two roads. Addi,ionn
engine houses are needed The equipment i
in excess Of .hc wants of the road
The Commissioners estimate the sum RI
CURED 10 supply deficiencies Mt $57G $3.50. an,
tho value Of tho surplus material ut NOR
than 81, ,0OO,OOO
rho original act required the completion O
continuous lino of railway from the Nilsson
II river 10 tho navipable waters of tho Snoro
m"n'o "hy tho lst day OF July, 1875" III