The evening Argus., 1871-05-20
Official Paper.
NEWS FROM TEXAS.
A Rock Islander Heard From-Rapid Pro
gresS OF the Southern Pacific Rsllroad-
some Statistics.

Mr.. THos. SAuLPAUGH, our well known
fellow citizen, has received tho FOLLOWING
lestor from Mr.. Z isha P Reynolds, now re-
siding IN Texas, supervising the bui!dipg o,
tie southern Pacific road. II will be seen
by reference, that the stories of spffer;ug
and sickness Of railroad laborers in Texas.
related BY returned Texsus, are malicious
tahrieatlons, for Nc. Il. states that two
deaths Is ths extent Of the mortality among
the men IN his employ. Other interesting
Items of railroad news may be gathered
from Perusal of the letter:
OFFICE OF DOuGLAs, BROwS, RgYxoLps 4 Co.
AeArne, Texas, May 6, 1871.
Ihos. SAULPAUGH-DeGr Sir:-I now
write you the news OF our road. We have
graded since January la, and finished,
30 continuous miles. Then there is about
l,OOO feet unfinished work then we have
five miles Of finished work then We have
10 miles that is one-hAlf fGlshed This will
make US 80 miles of finished grading. We
have also built over 1000 cubic wards Of
masoary, cleared and grubbed about 500
acres of right OF way, made 45 ,0OO cross
ties, pat IN srestle bridges about 600 600
t5et of lumber, driven about 10 900 lineal feet
of ptiag, commenced track laying, have
trans ported 900 men into the State, in
ported in corn, oats, hay, beans, sugar, cof-
fac, rice, clothing, o., over 500, 900 worth,
For the use Of our contract, the Railroad
Company have locomotives on the ground.
ID Tat cars, several hand cars, seveuty-ive
miles of iron, spikes, spices, &c. We have
nov loo men on the line, and 250 double
teams, The Company have ten parties OF
engineers on the construction and location.
l never saw 50 many men on a Oh OF this
magnitude that had less sickness. There
has oesn only two deaths that 1 know Of,
aud they took cold coming out here. The
warnest weather here, the thermometer mas
not gone over 500. Ths weather is the
daes; | ever saw. Some of our men on
Ssshon work have put in the bank twenty
five cubic yards per day. They get from
Is to 3j cents per cube yard. We have
pa j to them as high as $l2j month, clear
Of their board In fact they are doing the
best OF any here. Our sub-contrActors are
all making money. The price of supplies
are as follows Beef 4 cents, bacon l 4 cents
hJur so per barrel, sugar u cents,
beans 81 per bashel, corn 81 20 per bushel
oats 50 cents, hay SIS per ton-AIl from the
north. We pay our sub contractors from q
10 55 cents per cubic yard for II Masonry -,
10, and Z, dollars per yard for lst, d and
3 class. For cross ties, 50 cents each
Timber plenty and cheap. Gan buy land,
timber and all, for from 50 to IS per acre.
never saw men work better than here, be
cause the pay Is good. We pay our labor
ers 81 ,2j per day; quarrymen $3.50 per
day mechanics, : to So per pay foremen
$50 to $50 per month. We think that we
have done very well, considering that when
We came here we had not a man, or shovel
blanket or tent, no work laid out, no grain
or provisions; everything to be brought from
thu north. The people of Texas have uni
tormly treated us with kindness and respect
and are glad to 8 9 us among them.
Truly Yours, ELISHA P REYNOLDS.