Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14

enterprises in California, and after
completing the Sacramento Valley road.
a distance of thirtytwo miles between
Sacramento and Folsom. in February,
1868, he undertook to interest the
capitalists in Sacramento and San
Francisco in a transcontinental roa1
and devoted the remainder of his life
to that work. His entire time during
the spring Of 1855 until the fall OF
1859 was spent in Washington lobby
ing for the passage Of a bill making
grants Of land In California for rail-
way purposes. But Congress was not
disposed to take any definite action on
ton was absorbed by the sectional con-
troversies which led to the civil war.
Being unsuccessful In his mission.
judah returned to the Pacific coast at
the adjournment Of Congress In 1888
and devoted his energies to the organ
ization OF a convention Of delegates
from every county in Washington. Ore
gon, California and Arizona. The at
tendance was large and enthusiastic.
He was the soul of that gathering, and
satisfactory information furnished by
him that the convention declared Its
preference among the several routes
mentioned for that over which the
Central Pacific railroad was afterward
built.
Washington Visit Fruitless.
Judah was appointed the oficial agent
OF the convention to proceed to Wash
ington and present a copy OF Its pro-
ceedings to the President, the cabinet
and Congress, and to ask the passage
of an act chartering . company and
granting a subsidy Of land and money
for the construction of the road. He
spent the two following winters IN
N and the outbreak or
the war. He realized that such a period
Of political excitement and controversy
was not favorable to his mission and
returned to California, where he made
report and submitted a statement
showing that although his expenses
had been moro than $4,000, the only
bills he had to present were for print
ing. amounting to $40.
While the political controversies were
raging Judah concluded to organize
his forces for future appeals to Con-
gress and endeavored to obtain FUNDS
in San Francisco for the continuance
OF the agitation: but the capitalists OF
that city had no faith: they were not
convinced Of the practicability Of his
enterprise. He then returned to Sacro-
mentO. where, as ! told you In re-
cent letter. he succeeded In interesting
Ave merchants-Collis p. Huntington
and Mark Hopkins. who had hard
ware store; Leland Stanford, who dealt
in provisions and groceries, and Charles
Croker and his brother, who were IN
the dry goods business. They finally
were convinced and organized the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad Company June 20,
1851, under the laws Of California. with
a capital stock Of $8.500.O00 in shares
of 500 each.
With money furnished by them Judah
organized engineering parties and sur
veyed more than twenty routes across
the mountains before he finally DECIDED
upon the Bonner pass. which had lighter
lt.H4 <nynyn -
than any other route. He followed the
Truckee river from the outlet OF Lake
Bonner. about fourteen miles north OF
Lake Tahoe, through the eastern range
with a grade not exceeding forty feet to
the mile. The distance from San Fran
cisco to the Truckee was 123 miles, and
to the state line 145 miles. Judah esti-
mated that eighteen tunnels would be
necessary. and that the average cost Of
construction would be $500 per mile.
Action by Congress
AS soon as his report was made he was
sent to Washington to procure aid for
the construction Of the road. He be-
came acquainted with members of the
committees on the Pacific railroad in both
branches Of Congress and was appointed
secretary Of both, with the privilege OF
the floor In both Senate and House. Al
by southern congressman was wanting In
this session by reason Of the civil war.
there were many obstacles to be over
come and much tactful maneuvering and
compromise necessary before the desired
legislation was obtained July !. 1867. The
act provided that the company might
construct a railroad and telegraph line
from the Pacific coast. at or near san
Francisco to the eastern boundary OF
California. Right Of way for 2OO feet on
each side Of the road was granted and
all ground needed for buildings and fve
alternate sections Of public land. per mile.
on each side Of the line or all the ooo
sections within the limits OF ten miles on
each which had not been sold. reserved
or otherwise disposed of. except mineral
lands The Secretary of the Treasury was
instructed to issue to the company con-
structing these sections bonds to the
amount of $4S.OOO per mile. The amount
of bonds to be issued for the intermediate
country between the Sierra Nevada and
the Rocky mountains was fixed at 900
per mile and $4,000 for the remaining
sections. The company had to build nity
miles the first two years and nifty miles
each additional year.
Judah lost no time in fling in the Of
flee of the Secretary of the Interior the
necessary maps and papers relating to the
route Of the Central Pacific railroad
thereby securing the withdrawal from
sale Of land along the line. He made ar
rangements in New York for rails and
other equipment for the first fifty miles
of road and late in July, 1S62, sailed Tor
San Francisco, carrying with him testi-
monial from a number Of senator's and
representatives as to the value and ef-
fectiveness Of his work.
Six months later Judah filed a report
estimating the cost Of the first fifty miles
| of the road at nearly s.. 2JO.O 900. At this
| time the bridge over the American river
| was nearly completed and about eighteen
miles graded. Six thousand tons OF rail