The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-21
BUILDING UNION PACIFIC.
r,,7 GREATEST RAILWAY ENTER
PRISE EVER UNDERTAKEN
IN AMERICA.

VTiuHliE SecUEtu int
snnnort of President Lincoln.
Troveled over $4,000 Miles in Re-
copuoitering the Route, and Ran
- 600 Miles of Line in Determin
ina. the Final Location of the Road.
had in Use at One Time 10000 An
finals and From 5000 to 10000
Iaborers-Gens. Sherman and
Grant Were Greatly Interested in
the Enterprise, and Contributed
10 It's success.
By Grenville NJ. Dodge.
Copvright, 1899, by S. S. Mcclure Co.
The Union Pacific Railway was organic
ed on Sept. ?, 1862, at Chicago, Gen. S. R.
Curtis being chairman of the commission
Amounted by Congress. The organization
was perfected by making Henry B. Ogden
Of Chicago president, Thomas w. Olcott
treasurer and Henry V. Poor secretary.
Henry Farnum selected Peter "A. Dey to
make &. reconnaissance from the Missouri
river 10 Salt Lake, to be reported at the
next meeting of the board. Mr.. Dey i'm
medately entered upon his work. In the
District Of Corinth, Miss, 1 received
dispatch from Gen. Grant directing me TO
report to President Lincoln at Washing
ton Having a short time before organ
lied and armed some negroes for the pur-
pose Of guarding a contraband camp at
Coriuth, which act had been greatly criu-
cised, was somewhat alarmed, thinking
that possibly I was to be called to ac-
count But on arriving at Washington 1
found my summons due TO an interview
between Mr.. Lincoln and myself at Coun-
ell Bluffs late in the sos. He was there
on business, and our party had just arriv-
ed from an exploring trip to the west
ward. Il was then quite an event for such
party to reach the states, and after din
ner While 1 was resting on the stoop of
the Pacific House, Mr.. Lincoln sat down
beside me and by his kindly ways drew
from me all 1 knew of the country West
aud the results Of my surveys. AS the
saying is, he completely "shelled my
woods getting all the secrets that were
later to go to my employers
Later l was for more than ten years ex-
porns and surveying for what was then
known as the Mississippi and Missouri
Railroad, under the direction of Henry
Farnum and Thomas Durant, the pioneers
Of Pacific Railroad enterprises.
Under the law of 1862 the President was
10 fix the eastern terminus of the Union
Pacific Railway, and, remembering our
TAX 10 the SOS, he wished to consult
me in the matter He was very anxious
that The road should go through 1 ex-
planned TO him as clearly as 1 could how
oHheult private enterprise would find its
UuilUlUg and t0ll him 7 Ia
should be done by the government. He
sIl That the government would give the
project all possible aid and support. but
Coud not build the road. After my in
vI!!e" with the President 1 proceeded
10 New York and met Mr. Durant. then
praehealy at the head of Union Pacific
n'eIes's' and other interested persons.
Iney TOOK new courage after had pre-
, Te..Su 1he residents views and at the
e. Hleeung of the company made
zen John A. Dix president, Thomas C.
Duraht vice president, Fl. V. Poor secre-
'aIy' ana j. J. Cisco treasurer
NlouHd was broken at Omaha for the
Dt s'illiis OF the road on the first day of
yo0slIOer, 1868, and in 1864 about $500 OO0
was spent il grading and SURVEYS AZ
tbo ny passage of the law of July. 1864.
Tre. 'ocatlon was started from Omaha
AZ ana IN 1865 forty miles of track was
resis,r.5 iiOllt. Oh Jan. /, 1865, Mr.. Dey
resisn eq as chief engineer, saying in his
bo.t suatlon that he was giving I'M "fhe
D1st position in his profession tbis co,,n
cars "os oHered to any man." The Off
M tne Union Pacific then requested
IN ~ take charge of the work was
o VGlAl1ahd of the United States forces
Tnaial plains campaigning against tbe
7 sh'' ana Gen. Grant was NOT yiIlin,
Tho '.l' leave, but 1 went to Omaha in
of c r5y,lls oil 1866 and assumed the duties
leave ~ engineer, having been allowed
ave-. y. sdhized for work on The nlotr.
,,.s rom civilization. each Of 81 pionlIs
parties consisted of cbiaf -
asgt al experienced civil engineer 80
far''ii'S' also civil engineers ro,1,,,<,,,
ated si.,dnd chainmen, generailv pradn,
evnsu JlYH engineers, but without nr9ctioai
toarl-'lce IN the field; besides avnaer,
exra.ti,s and herders. when the nartv
trv 70 AVe on the game of the conn
womb Huhter was added. Each party
twenf,.- -uS consist of from eighteen to
ing in men, all armed; when operat-
rao,' hostlte Indian country thew vrora
wes 1'IIty drilled, though after The iii
tber, us was unnecessary, since nozt ~
Dort N0u then been in the army Eoeh
tia g"'ering country occupied nv bos-
So -'iulans was furnished with n nnilitary
der VI from ten men 10 a COMPANY nm
esroa, Competent officer. The duty Of this
carr. was to protect the party whan IN
erali, When in the field the escort eon
l7~ occupied prominent hills comme e
be.no g territory in which the work was
toc.s zone, so as to head off sudden az
wora oy the Indians Yet the narfiss
Of G o'teh attacked, their chiefs or son,s
stoc c''r men killed or wounded, ana t5air
LUCK run OFF anu tNeir
trv d mary surveys in The open conn.
mia. pIr'y would run from eight to twelve
orsn VI line day. on location IN ~
be- country three or four miles ro,,d |
eer.r,,V5,r-eed' but in a mountainous countr,
wor,55l not 10 exceed mile All hands |
IN, h1, from daylight to dark. he co,n
VIII. is reconnoitered ahead bv the cbief |
the c,, .ioleated The streams to follow ana
eros olling points in SUBMITS and river |
low 'sS' The party of location mar foI-
ma1s me preliminary surveys had ~
locat.,aa''d Droiiles of the line selected for |
t5i,t.oon ana DEVOTED its energies 10 Oh.
leas, "a, a line of the lowest grades and The
~stN CIVature possible.
co1s,. iocntion parry was followed bv the
nil uctlon corps grading ceneraii,, 1oo /