, 1873-02-18
THE UNION PACIFIC BRIDGE,

to aome point on tho ono-hundreth meridian O.
longitude. Hero WIS an absolute requirement
that tho point Of commencement Of tho roai
should bo on tho waatorn boundary Of tho statt
of Iowa, and, in November, 1868, Preai
don't Lincoln, by proclamation, denignatod til.
particular point. Subsequently, In March, 1864
the President, in q communication to the Senate
Informed that body that in order to mako |
moro definite, he had declared the point to b,
"within tho limits Of tho township in Iowa op
posito tho town Of Omaha, In Nobraslsa."
The whole Legislation OF Congress- was framed
on tho theory that tic various roads from til,
East, then undor construction and to bo con.
atruoted through Iowa, were to terminate on the
Iowa sido Of tho Missouri River, and thoro con.
nect with tho Union Pacific Road. That WAS tho
renson that tho point Of beginning Of tho hitter
road was axod on tho woatorn boundary Of Iowa,
instead OF beginning on the west bank Of tho
Missouri If any doubt existed on this point, it
ia removed by thonnth section of tho not Of 1864
in which it was provided that !" any ono Of
tho Pacific Railroad corporations ia hereby
authorized to establish and maintain all necos-
sary ferries ossthe Missouri; J" also, "to con-
atruct bridges over the Missouri River, and ali
other rivors for tho convenience of snid road"
It further provided that any bridge IT should
construct oyor the Missouri River, or any other
navigablo river, "on tho line Of tho road,"
should bo constructed with draws, &c.
Tho bridge over tho Missouri River WAS not
began'until 1868, and In 1869 WAS for a time sus-
pended, aud then resumed. From September,
1868, until February, 1871, except for faw
monthH In 1869, tho Union Pacific Railroad Com
pany continued Its expenditure building this
bridge over tho Missouri River. At this latter
date. tho ontire aaaots Of tho Company not actu-
ally expended in building tho road, amounting
to many millions, had bcen stolen aud divided
among tho partners and friends Of oakes AmeB.
The Company then applied to Congress,
and an act WAS passed authorizing tho
Company to issue bonds to construct
a bridge over the Missouri Rivor. Tho Same
net provided that nothing therein should be con-
etrued us chnngng tho oastern terminus Of tue
road. The bill recited that it was to enable the
Union Pacific Railroad Company to ssmake con-
vonient and necessary connections with other
roads,"
Tho Union Pacific Railroad Company have,
over since the completion Of tho bridge, Affected
to treat tho eastern terminus Of their road as the
west bank Of tho Missouri River, and hayc man.
agod tho bridge as tho property Of an indopond-
ont organization; l,sgo placed it in tho hands Of
IN agent, who demands and collects special toll
Of $40 foeeyery car and 80 oonts forevery pasHcn-
ger that goes over the bridge. Thepointo differ
once is, that If tho eastern terminus Of the road
be on tho Town Hido Of tho river, the Union
Pacific Railroad Company would have to de1iYer
and take up it's freight and passengers on tho
iowa aide Of the river but If tho terminus bo
on the Nebraska aide, then tho Company may
charge special toll on every passenger and ton
Of freight which ia to be carried aoroas. The
ACT Of Congress- Of 1864 provided that tile Union
Pacific and Central Pacific Roads, no matter by
operated Il for all purposes OF communication,
travel, and transportation, 90 far as tho public
and Government arc concerned, as one contin-
uous line :" that Ia to Say, from tho eastern tor
minus in Iowa to tue westorn terminus In Cal-
fornia. Yet hero, at the oaatern end, 1t lops of
tho bridge, by which it alone can reaoh ita east-
ern terminus. treats that ) as m independent
road, md collects special toll on all passengers
and freight carried over 1t, On tho qulbbliug
ploa that the wostern boundary Of Iowa ia in tho
centre of-the Missouri River.
Hero is corporation chartered by Congress-
to construct aud operate q continuous limo Of
railway and telegraph from tho Iowa sido OF tho
Missouri River to point in California which
refuses to deliver its freight and passengers, or
to receive tho snmo III tho State Of iowa; that,
although It has built and has railroad bridge
from the Nebraska side Of the river to its eastern
terminus In Iowa, II operates that bridge as
distinct business, charging each passenger
special toll for transportation to and
from its eastern terminus to it's traino, which
It keeps on tho western bank OF tho river. Tho
aot Of legislation In 1871, known as tho Bridge
act WAS fraud, known to be so and 80 do
nouncel in Congress at the timo; but It was
forced through botll Houses Of Congress-, through
the aetiye efforts Of tho mon with whom Oakos
Amea had placed Credit Mobilier stock and divi-
donds.
Up to Within few weeks, tho Union Pacific
Railroad has been au-powerfm In Congress.
Nothing that It demanded WAS refused. Congress
has been deaf to evory appeal concerning the
fraudulent toll collected at this bridge over tho
Missouri River, and there arc too many OF tho
Company'a stipondiarios in Congress at thia tirno
to Aayo any hope for corrective Legislation. Tho
question, howovor, ia before tho Attorney Gonor-
al, and wo hope that ho illhave nrnneas enough
to decide that athe castorn terminus Of the road
Ia In Iowa, and hence that theso extra tolls aro
unlawful.
=....s...-a.e."...e....--1...ss =....s...-....e.
Tho manifold abHurditios Iucldent to phslhn-
thropic pursuits find . now Illustration III
course Of lectures to tho uowahoys Of New York,
on su9h eubieets ~ "Nutritton Of tho Human
Frame,n This ia announced a. Qno Of a loric3