Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-30

the companion of Stepfsenson) is still aliy,
and Horatio Allen, who enlled the throttl
OF the first locomotive ON its first tri
made IN the United States, is still with u:
| When We consider that from that day /
| TINS over 10000 miles of railroad hav
been built in the United States. one cal
comprehend the strides the railway ha
mace up TO date, Int its future possbilitie
cannot be imagined.
A SUMMARY RSyIEw
cannot close this paper more apprsnri
ateiy than by reading to you the fii.al pap
OF my last report to the Board of Directors
written upon the completion of the Unior
and Central Pacific Roads submit tha
II written to-day it would bet be materially
changed. 1t as follows.
In 1903 Henry Fsrnam and c. Durant
the then contractors and bailders of the
Missouri River Railroad in Iowa. instructed
Peter A. Dey to investigate the question al
the roper point for the Mississippi ana
Missouri River Road to strike the Mis-
souri, river 70 obtain good connection
with any road that might be built across
the continent. | was assigned to the duty.
and surveys we're accordingly extended
TO and up the Platte valley. to ascer.
tain whether any road built on the
central or then northern line. would
from the formation of the country. follow
the Platte and its tributaries over the
plans, and thus overcome the Rocky
Mountains. subsequently, under the pat
rsnage OF Mr.. Farnam, extended the ex-
animation westward to the eastern base of
the rocky Mountains and beyond, exanlin-
Ing the practicable passes from the Sangre
Christie to the South Pass; made mans of
the country, and developed il as thoroughly
as could be done without making purely
instrumental surveys. The practicabili,y
OF the route, the singular formation of the
country between Longs Peak, the Medicine
Bow Mountains and Bridger Pass, on the
south, and Laramie Peak and the Sweet
water and Wind river ranges on the north.
demonstrated to me that through this
region the road must eventually be built. |
reported the facts to Mr.. Farnam, and
through his and his friends efforts,
THE PROSPECT FOR A PACIFIC RAILROAD BIZ
GAN TO TAKE SHAPE
In after years, when the war demon.
strated the road to be a military nece sity,
and the Government gave its aid in such
munlncent grants, surveys were extended
through the country previously explored.
its resources developed, its hidden trea-
sures brought to light, and its capabilities
for the building of a railroad to the Pacific
fully demonstrated.
In doing this over the country extending
from the Missouri river to the California
State line, and covering width OF 200
miles, north and south, and on the general
direction OF the forty-second parallel of
latitude, some fifteen thousand miles of in
strumental lines have been run, and over
twenty-five thousand miles of reconnois.
sances made.
In 1868 and 1864 surveys were inausu-
rated, but in 1866 the country was svste-
matically occupied; and day and night.
summer and winter, the explorations were
pushed forward through dangers and hard
ships that very few at this day appreciate.
as every mile had to be run within range
OF the musket, as there was not moments
security. In making the SURVEYS numbers
OF our men, some of them the ablest and
most promising, were killed; and during
the construction our stock was run off by
the hundred, | might say by the thousand
and as one difficulty after another arose
and was overcome, both in the engineering,
running and construction department. a
new era in railroad building was insugu
rated.
Each day taught US lessons by which we
profted for the next, and our advances and
in the art of railway con-
struction were marked by the progress of
the work, 40 miles of track having been
laid in 1865, 260 in 1866, 240 in 1867, in
Guiding the ascent to the summit of the
Rocky Mountains at an elevation of S, 235
feet above the ocean; and during 1868 and
to May 10, 1863, 555 miles, all exclusive of
side and temporary tracks, of which over
$50 miles were built in addition.
THE FIRST GRADING
Was done in the autumn OF 1864, and
the first rail laid in July, 1865. When
you look back to the beginning at
the Missouri river, with no railway COM
from the east, and 500 miles
of the country in advance without timber,
fuel or any material whatever from which
to build or maintain a railroad. except the
sand of the bare roadbed itself, with every
thing to be transported, and that by teams,
or at best by steamboats,, for hundreds and
thousands of miles; everything to be Gre
ated, with labor scarce and high, you can
all look back upon the work with satisfac-
ton and ask, under such circumstances,
could we have done more or better?
THE COUNTRY Is EVIDENTLY SATISFIED
That you accomplished wonders and have
achieved work that will be a monument
to your energy, your ability and to your
devotion TO the enterprise through all its
gloomy as we'll as its bright periods; for it
is notorious that, Notwithstanding the aid
of the Government, there was so little faith
in the enterprise that its dark days-when
your private fortunes and your all was
staked on the success of the proiect-far
exceeded those of sunshine, faith and con-
fidence.
This lack of confidence in the psoiect,
even in the West in those localities where
the benefits of its construction were mani
fest, was excessive, and it will be rssaem-
bered that laborers even demanded their
pay before they would perform their days
work, SO little faith had they in the pay
ment OF their wages, or in the ability
of the company 10 succeed in their efforts
Probably no enterprise in the world has
been so maligned, misrepresented and
criticised as this; but bow, after the calm
judgment of the American people is
brought to bear upon it. unprt jgGiesd AMI
biased. it is almost without exception pro-
nounced
THE BEST NEW ROAD IN THE UNITED STATES
Its location has been critically examined
and although the route was in compare
lively short time determined upoa, as COM
pared TO that devoted to other similar pro-
jects, yet, in regard to the correctness of
general route, 10 question is ever raised ;
and even in the details of its location, 100
miles of which were done in less than six
months. it has received the praise of some
of the ablest engineers of the country. Its
defects are minor ones, easily remedied,
and all the various commissions, some of
them composed of able and noted engineers,
have given the company due credit in this
particular, although they have attacked 1t
IN others; and to-day, as in the past the
company need fear no fair, impartial criti-
cism upon it, or no examination made by
men of ability and integrity, or such as are
masters of their profession.
That it yet needs work to finally COM
plete it no one denies, but whatever is nee
essary has been or is being done
Its future is fraught with great good 1t
will develop waste, will bind together the
two extremes of the nation as one, will
stimulate intercourse and trade, and bring
harmony, prosperity and wealth to the two
coasts. A proper policy, Systematically
and persistently followed, will bring to the
road the trade of the two oceans, and will
give it all the business it can accommo-
date; while the local trade will increase
gradually until the mining, grazing and
agricultural regions through which it
passes will build up and create business
that will be lasting and permanent sup
port to the country.
After General Dodge's paper had been
read, General Raum addressing the 2resi-
dent:
al move vor sir that tho hoo rtv than he