The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-27
ASKS 100000
FROM SHORT LINE
P. B. McKeon Seeks Amount for His
Services in Grade War.
RECITES TALE OF PROWESS
DECLARES HE GAINED POSSES
SION AND KEPT

Alleging his services in securing for
the Oregon Short Line possession of
the grade between Uvada and Caliente
during the grade war" of southern
Nevada in 1902 were worth $500. 600 to
the railroad company, Patrick B. Nc
Keen. by his attorneys, Powers &
MarioueaUx, yesterday filed an action
for that amount in the district court
Mr. McKeon places the value of the
grade at 81, 900 900 and says possession
of it was secured for the Oregon Short
Line through his efforts made in pur-
suanee Of request by the company.
Reeites Trouble Over Grade.
In his complain he says:
In February of the year 1902 there
existed in the State of Nevada a GER
tain railroad grade, beginning at a
place about 200 yards south of certain
station in the State of Utah known
as and called Uvada, and extending
1rom said last named point southwest
erly in the State of Nevada to a point
Known as and called Caliente. which
IS now a station on a certain railroad
belonging to the San Pedro, Los An
geles & Salt Lake Railroad company.
That in February, 1902 the said de-
fendant company desired to build a
railroad from Uvada in the State of
Utah TO Caiente, aforesaid and be-
yond to the city of Los Angeles in the
state OF California, and that it was
absolutely necessary in order to build
SAD railroad in accordance with the
plans of said company that said de-
oehdant company should gain possess
sion or SAID railroad grade extending
as aforesaid from Uvada to CaIiente
That at that time there existed another
railroad corporation known as and
called the San Pedro, Los Angeles &
salt Lake Railroad company, which
said last named railroad company also
desired and had planned to build a
fdllroad from said UVada, aforesaid to
said Caliente, aforesaid, and beyond.
southWesterly through the State of Ne
Vada to the city of Los Angeles. in
the State of California; and it was then
ana there necessary. in order that said
last named railroad might be able to
build its said railroad as aforesaid that
u should acquire possession of said
railroad grade extending from Uvada
as aforesaid to Caliente as aforesaid
and that the said railroad grade, afore-
SAID, was worth. as this plaintiff is in
formed and believes. and therefore al
leges, to whichever of said railroad cor
porations should be able to secure pos
session of the same, the sum Of to-
wit, two million dollars
Hired by Short Line.
Continuing Mr. McKeon alleges
that on Feb l, 1902 said defendant
company specially requested this plain
TIL 10 gain possession of the said grade
Tor II at any cost and at the date last
aforesaid the said San Pedro. Los An
geles d Salt Lake Railroad company
was endeavOring with a large force of
men 10 gain possession of said grade
and there was thereupon participated
a contest and struggle between the said
raurOad company, defendant herein
and the said San Pedro, Los Angeles &
SAT- Lake Railroad company and a
race Of diligence enSued between the
two corporations for the possession of
sald grade; and thereupon this plain
tIff, pursuant to the request of the
said defendant railroad company. as
aforesaid, undertook and agreed TO gain
possession of the said grade for the
said defendant railroad company and
with a large force of men and teams en-
tered into said struggle against the
Said san Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt
Lake Railroad company acting for and
on DehaH OF this defendant railroad
company, and did gain possession and
complete control Of the said grade be-
tween UVada and Caliente as afore-
said. for the benefit of the said defend
ant company, and thereby prevented
the said San Pedro, Los Angeles &,
salt Lake RAILROAD company from gain
ing possession thereof. and thereafter.
and by reason of the labors of this
PLAINTIFF in its behalf, the said defend
ant company built its railroad along
and upon said grade from Uvada. to
Caliente and beyond"
Mr.. MckeOn further alleges that the
reasonable worth and value of his SER
vice in gaining possession of the grade
was and is. the sum of two hundred
thousand dollars, no part of which sum
has been paid