The record-union., 1896-11-23
MORE LASTING THAN STONE.
Monuments to the Builders Of the Gen.
trail Pacific.
What q California Tourist Says of
the Achievements of
Those Men.

~sAASs~~~
Those Men.
(H. T. Payne in Field Sports.)
There are but few people who now
cross the continent by way OF the Cen
| trail and Union Pacific, and Northwest
ern Railroads. surrounded as they are
| by adj the luxurtes Of palace car travel,
SO marked upon these lines, who ever
knew or even wonder what indomitable
energy, what unyielding determination,
| what sacrifices. and what privations
were necessary to establish this rapid
and most luxurious mode Of travel
How many Of the thousands who are
whirled around the dizzy curves OF
mountain crags, or across the vast
stretches Of unpeopled desert, while re-
clinng at ease, halfburied in the al
most downy seats of the Pullman car,
ever think Of the brave hearts and far
seeing-aye, almost audaciouS-rninds
that first planned and carried to sue
cesSful completion this great and stu
pendous undertaking? How many of
those who cross the continent to-day
can realize what the country was in
1S49-trackless, save for the trails Of
savage and relentless foe; barren, dry
and desolate; peopled by barbarous
tribes, cunning, remorseleSS, treacher-
GUS and bloodthirsty. and holding the
white-faced intruder as their natural
prey? How many can understand the
courage and miraculous foresight OF
Thomas H. Benton, who, standing In
the United States Senate on February
Z, 1S49, advocated, even at that early
day, the building OF railroad from the
Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean? How
prophetic his words: "An American
road to India, through the heart Of our
country, will revive upon its line all
the wonders of which we have read,
and even eclipse them. The Western
wilderness, from the Pacific to the Mis-
sissippi. will start into life at it's touch" !"
I doubt much even If Senator Benton,
with all his enthusiasm. and all his gift
Of prophesy, even dared ito dream Of the
magnificent results which this trans
continental road has produced. At that
time even the western half OF lowe was
unsettled, and Kansas and Nebraska
were known only as the Great Ameri-
can Desert"
While the first idea of a transconti-
rental road was an American road to
India" as stated by Benton the reports
Of the fabulous richness of the Califor-
mia gold fields again revived the pro-
ject in 1853, and General G. M. Dodge
was ordered by the Government to make
explorations and surveys for railroad
from the Mississippi River to the Paci-
fic Ocean. These surveys were con-
tinued from year to year, but no active
steps were taken toward the commence
ment of building until the war of the
rebellion aroused our law makers to the
danger in which the Pacific Coast stood
from external foes, with no more rapid
means OF communication than that by
way of Panama. Accordingly a bill
was passed by Congress In 1862 provid-
ing for the rapid completion of these
surveys. While the first grading was
done in the autumn Of 1864, and forty
miles of track laid at the Omaha end in
1866, 1t was not until 1865 that actual
occupation Of the line was commenced,
and only then with the Winchester and
the musket as field companions Of the
compass and theodolite
Railroad building in those days was
not mere matter OF pick and shovel.
It was not wholly a question of over
coming the rugged topography of the
country There was something more.
and OF even greater importance than
these which had also to be overcome:
and that was the many tribes Of Indi-
ans which infested both plains and
mountains from the Pacific to the Mis-
souri, River. Fortunately the great war
OF the rebellion had just ceased. and
thousands Of those who for years had
carried the musket, had to return to the
arts of peace; and as brave men, accus-
TONED to exposure and privation were
IN demand, they found employment on
the transconttnental roads, in the dual
positions OF laborer and soldier. And
many were the times that the pick and
shovel We're dropped at the call to arms.
and solid and irresistible line of battle
moved forward with veteran nreciston
to repel the attacks OF the wild red man
Of the West. Many were the times that
the little handful OF men left to guard
the stations fought the fight Of heroes.
Usually they were the victors: but oft
were they vanquished by overpower-
ing numbers, leaving all along the line
graves which tell the great sacrifice of
life that this stupendous undertaking
cost.
NO State In the Union has furnished
the country. in her hour of need. with
more patriots than has California No
state In the Union has shown more bus
mess energy or financial courage than
has the Golden State. And when the
project was broached to build a trans
continental road, for the double purpose
OF providing military protection to the
Pacihc Coast and developing the great
productive resources Of the whole Ma
ton. citizens of California arose and de-
manded the privilege Of building half of
that great artery of commerce. Besides
Stanford, Huntington. Croc,xer and
hopkins, who staked their fortunes on
the enterprise, there were Judah, Col
ton' Iowne. Montague, Clements. Good
man, Ives. Gray, and others. whose
services were OF no less value. and
whose distinguished abilities In several
caliings Is marked by the Lnperishable
monuments of every prosperous city
from San Francisco to Ogden. Some of
these, alas, have been gathered to their
fathers. and possibly the thoughtless
throng that now enjoys the fruits of
their courage and their skill, may IN the
busy hustle of life, have forgotten their
services; aye, even their names: but
when the historian writes the history of
the great empire Of the setting sun, he
shall build DER their graves monuments
more lasting than granite