The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-02-07

> now in contemplation TO place upon
the spot where he stood, as a me-
mento of his visit to Council Buns,
a suitable monument or tablet bear
ing a proper inscription and recoS-
nizing the historical fact that from
here he looked down upon the place
| where by his order, four years later,
the terminus of the first tTaHseontl-
mental TaiiToad was established.
1T is a singular fact that while the
United States had spent a great deal
of money in exploration for a feasible
line for the Pacific railroad, the gov
eminent never had examined the nat.
uFal route along the forty SecOnd
parallel of latitude All the surveys
had been made and all the data OBJ
tanned by private citizens connected
with the Rock Island Railroad, at the
head of which was Henry Farnam
Of Connecticut. President Lincoln,
aftrr going over all the facts that
coulG be presented to him, and from
his own knowledge, finally fixed the
eastern terminus of the Union Pacific
Railroad where our surveys determ-
ined the proper locality-at Councl
Bluffs, Iowa.
after this discussion of the Ioca-
| ton, he took up with me the ques-
tion OF building the road. The law of
1862 had failed to bring any capital
or men TO undertake the work, and 1
said to him that in nay opinion pri-
vate enterprise could mot l3.-ild the
road. Mr.. Lincoln said that The gov
eminent had its hands full, and could
not assume the task. but was ready
to support any company TO the full
est legal extent. and amend the law
so as to enable such a company to
issue securities that would furnish
the necessary funds"
While President Lincoln is Temem-
bered for his personal interest in the
| cases of condemned military offsnd-
ers, there are not a few such which
have never been known to the public.
One of these General Dodge relates.
while in command of the depart
ment OF Missouri" says he, 4 daily
saw what a kind heart Mr. Lincoln
| had, how his sympathy went out to
everyone in trouble and how his great
desire was to save life. The conflict
in Missouri was a bitter. personal
revengeful one. I remember the day
before President Lincoln'S assassina-
| ton a lady came to see me whose
son was about to be executed for
murder committed as a guerrilla. She
| had been to Washington to save INN,
and had seen the president. She
brought me Mr.. Lincolns card, on
the back of which he had written:
Ny Dear General Dodge: Cannot
you do something for this lady, who
is in much trouble
/ II understood the case: that, while
he would not interfere, he hoped that
/ could see my way to do SO, and he
disposed of the lady in that way
The lady, in presenting the case, sup
1
her son, but when I told her l would
consider it, she was indignant, and
| left, no doubt, determined TO report
me to the president and appeal over
my head. That evening President
Lincoln was assassiBated. All Off
GERS holding important commands
we're notified in the night, so that
they could prepare for the excite
ment that was bound to come I was
especially cautioned to prepare for
trouble in Missouri. II was thought
the crime would anger the Union men
| in the state and cause an uprising and
acts of revenge upon the rebel SYM
pathizers. 1 brought into the city of
! st. Louis such troops as were near.
and issued an order Suspending ali
business. warning both sides to re-
main in their houses, and prohibiting
any gathering Of crowds on the
| streets. But I found that the south
eFn people were more distressed at
/ the great crime, If possible, than the
/ Union ssympathizers, The streets of
| ST Louis were deserted for two days
/ and there was nothing but sorrow 2x-
| hibited on both sides
/ The lady called the next day and
asked me for the card. She said she
| desired to keep it as a mementO; no
doubt giving up all hope for her son.
( but I did not have it in my heart,
after Liz coins death, 10 carry out the
/ order OF the court, and therefore
/ committed the sentence TO imprison-
ment.'