Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-03
Remarkable Experiences
Alexander Majors,
Who Died in Chicago
Two Weeks Ago.
Observation-Disclosures

Colonel Alexander Majors, the man
who more thar any other opened the
way for the Union Pacific railroad, died
m chicago few days ago says the
Recori Of that city, By esta6-
llshlng an overland freight line and
the pony express, both musical and his
torlcal in the ears Of old plalnsmen,
Colonel Majors demonstrated the prac-
tlcabllty, the absolute necessity, OF the
first great railroad that linked the East
and West. For twenty years he
"freighted' over the Santa Fe and Salt
Lake trails and conducted a wagon
train system which was the wonder OF
its day. In one year he carried 100000
pounds Of government supplies to
United States troops In Utah, Forty
thousand oxen, a thousand mules, and
over 5000 men, under his supervision.
once carried freight and mail from tho
Missouri river across the Rocky Noun
tains. Seventy Years on the Frontier"
sum up the lie Of one OF the last OF
the old plalnsmen and Of the remark
able group Of pioneers who made the
West Of today. Seventy years OF Col
onel Majors life were crowded with the
events which are History. Today stories
which were real 10 the old man read
like romances, and the figures In them
loom like giants through a mist.
Though Colonel Majors did so much
10 advance civilization. It In turn de-
prived him Of his occupation, and he
died comparatively poor where he had
once been worth a million. To the last
the old man fought with his head up.
He knew that times had changed. and
even at Sc he stroye to put himself in
harmony with new things.
I'm a young man yet" he said when
q reporter called at the house a few
days before he died. 'Tell the news
paper man to come out IN a few days,
when I'm better and I'll have reml-
absences enough 10 make a book"
Colonel Majors had come TO Chicago
from his daughters home IN Kansas
City during the holidays, 10 arrange for
bringing out an invention which he had
made, He was tall erect. and carried
his elghty-six years wonderfully well.
Except FOR his fund OF anecdote he did
not seem like an old man. His step
was quick and his eye alert Among
his old friends was Colonel Cody
Buffalo Blll"-to whom Majors had
given employment as n boy on the
Overland express. They remained firm
friends, and one Of the last to visit the
old man was Buffalo Bill" \ few
years ago Colonel Majors brought out
his memories, Seventy Years on the
Frontier and Buffalo Bit wrote the
preface.
II Was in lsis that Colonel Majors
began his freighting on the old Santa
Fe trail. running a line OF wagons be-
tween Independence, Mo, and Santa
Fe. n. NJ. Majors Overland freight
soon became famous all over the world.
He was not the first man 20 carry
freight over the TRAN. but he was the
first man to develop overland freight
Ing as an Industry and 10 insure In any
degree the safety OF his goods. His
beginning was made ausplcl0usly on
the edge OF the gold fever. and soon he.
and the partners he afterwards assocl.
ated with him, had established lines 10
Mexico. California, Colorado and Utah.
and In one year the profits OF the firm
OF Majors, Russell & Waddell amounted
20 100000 Nearly all OF the freight
carried over the Rocky Mountains by
contract at that time was carried in
Majors wagons, and the government