, 1875-06-19
CORRESPONDENTS.
Letter from our agent in New YGk:

NOTInHGSI u SUCCESS.
CORRESPONDENTS.
Letter from our agent in New York.
NEw YoRK, May 9Th, 1873.
C&. ". ". CHapRqa-DEAR Sic: I am
only just this day in receipt of news from the
contract. 1t is not signed, noI is it rejected.
They say they are in earnest sbOut building
the road, and have the means at their com
mand, all Of which is hopeful. But they
say they viii require some notifications, but
do not give them i'll this letter. | shall ex-
pect another letter from them very soon. Ths
attorney for the contractors is Sanguine that
an agreement will be arrived al.
Letter from the same party:
NEW YoRK, Nay Goth, 1879.
". ". Chapman, Eq-DEARSIR l am in
receipt of news from London to the effect
that the proposed syndicate If contractors
viii not sign contract with us until we
have furnished them with estimates of the
cost of constructing at least one section
send herewith copies of the letter of the
contractors, as represented by Mr. B. lone of
the syndicate to MIR. J., their counsclor-at-
law; also of the latter's last letter to me,
which explains the exact position of the mat
ter up TO this date. Now, if You can com
ply, all right. may also state that Mr.. 3.
has expressed his intention of coming over
here IN june; and Mr.. J.; their counselor,
will probably accompany him. / am very
glad they are coming over here, as then we
can treat more direct and expeditiously.
Copy of letter from Mr.. /. to II. d. J.
their counseiOr.)
LONDON, April 29th, 1875.
Dev So: The Portland, Dllles and Salt
Lake Railroad
!. We require detailed estimates orer such
length OF line as the syndicate would after
approval be bound TO build.
2 The right Of constructing the railway
so far as such estimates extend, and the re-
mainder after the estimates have been sub
mitted and approved by them. OF course
the first thing TO be done is to have the esti-
mates carefully prepared and tais trust you
will impress carefully upon yUr friends on
the other side.
Copy of letter from II. D. j., ESD, 70 our
agent III New York, dated May /, 1875:
Dcnr S1: I wrote you last on the 2Sth ult.,
and have since received from Mr. L. W. B.
letter III reference to the Portland, Dalle>
and Salt Lake railroad. | know some of the
! men on the syndicate, whose narues You are
likewise familiar with, and cat only add
that if the American side will work with us,
the men are powerful enough to build the
line. What they want here are estimates,
say 200 miles, from which they would make
flrm contract with the company on apprOY'
| a. or the estimates TO construct the remain
der. This will give them time to survey
the remainder. The men appear fnlly il
| earnest, but they say, g Ne ,rand to take ap h,
! 'ri.0t 0hsaiess, aud tire MGil0lS d.Ikbg lhJt9
mlljos' GdllarS) Is, ii England, o!,says ssrjo'a
| matter"
That the public may understand the reason
for these notifications it Is proper to remark
that the contract as originally drawn IL
London, and sanctioned by us, provided tha
! the contractors should survey and estimate
| the cost of construction, and if it did not ex
ceed an average of $4,000 per mile for the
| whole line, then the contract should be car
ried into effect; but if it did exceed tha
sum, then it should be optional with them
! But they have, as We are advised, taken tht
wisest course for them and safer course fo
us, to require the surveys and estimates TO b
made by US. We are safe in assuring tha
the average cost of our road viii not exceed
$50, 900 per mile, even at the former price
for iron, while it is now found to be One-thirl
TO One-half cheaper.
Having accepted the proposed notifications
we have engaged the services Of Mr.. Thiel
sen as chief engineer, 10 take charge of tn
survey and make the estimates. His sigma
ture viii be sufficient guaranty of the IN
tegrity of the work. lie puts the cost 0
making the surveys and estimates at $4,000
If this sum shall be promptly subscribed, tn
contracts may BE- finally closed by the 1st Q
August and the work commenced in Septen
Der or October next.
With the history of this enterprise and ii
Importance; to the country the public mus
be familiar. Four years have been spent i
constant, persistent effort for Congrussiona
aid. In this we failed. The day had passe
for such legislation. But warned of thes
possible results We, in the meantime, steadil,
progressed with these negotiations to poin
where the final result depends to-day nc
alone upon our efforts, but upon the patriot
ism and public spirit of our citizens Wit
much respect W. W. CHAPMAN