The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-05-23
BAMBERGER HAS
HAD THE COURAGE

MAD I'LL UUURRUl
"Suck-to-it-lyeness" is the word
Bamberger, president, general mana.
ger and principal owner Of the Salt
Lake C Ogden road The whole
career of Mr. Bambcrger is one OF
sticking 10 thing until he has ao-
compllshed his purpose.
When in 1891. he announced that
it was his intention Ia build rail
road from Salt Lake CITY to the sec
ond largest city In the state the wise
ones laughed Were there not already
TWO railroads. owned and operated by
rich and powerful corporations opera L
Ing between the two citics7 What
need was there for another
Unlike Hartman OF a Gould he
could not go into the big financial
circles and borrow money on which
To build a road that would compete
with other roads. But he had faith
In himself and In his project, and
work WAS started The road was built
as far north from Salt Lake as Beck g
Hot Springs and there II stopped
Bamberger planted trees and grass
and flowers and mado a pretty little
park. and built fine bicycle track.
There was q hotel and one of tho
finest hot springs in the world, and
the knowing ones said.
That Is as far as BamberGcr ever
intended to build that road, and as
far as he ever will build It."
Two or three years later the dunn
my line" as it was known, probably
for the reason that the locomotive
made more noise than any half dozen
other engines in tho state. was pushed
on to Bountiful. ten miles north OF
Salt Lake and here another pretty
park was established, called Eden
Money did not como as fast rs the
promoter would have liked it, and the
road ended here for a year or two.
Then 1t was pushed on To Farming
ton, and the famous Lagoon resort
was opened.
A few now began to believe that
II was Bamberger's intention finally
TO build the road into Ogden. but
II was not until some FIVE or six
years later that Mr Bamberger an
nounccd that he intended to start
work. He made application for a
right OF way through tho north part
OF Davis county and tho south part
of Weber county, but was opposed by
powerful influences. He persisted, he
gave and took, and finally won the
franchises
Then came the application for n
franchise into ogden City Powerful
influences again opposed, and for
months the matter hung In the bal,
ance. Bamberger won But to enter
Ogden he must cross the main line
OF the Union Pacific and that great
corporation fought him as hard or
harder than any promoter OF a short
railroad has been fought in the his
tory Of railroading In this country.
Behind the new road was a man
now hardened to opposition, He was
accustomed 20 overcoming obstacles.
and he won out August 1. 1908.
seventeen years after he had announc-
ed that he was going to build a rail
road from Salt Lake City to Ogden.
the first train over the newt road
was run from this city to Ogden,
Then came the announcement that
within a year the work of installing
electric power on the road would com.
mence- BY this time few people smil-
ed at a promise made by Bamberger.
Men who had learned to know the
man said:
only one thing can prevent him
from carrying out his plan-death
Within the year the work was COM
mcnced. Everything was done In the
best character OF workmanship The
cars ordered were OF the finest type.
II took little over a year to COM
pletc the Job. but It has been complet-
ed. and today 1t stands as a monu-
ment to Simon Bamberger and his
stick-to-it-iyenesS.'
Simon Bamberger was born in Darn
February q, 1S47, When 13 years old
he emigrated TO America, and settled
In Indiana, later he removed to Mis-.
souri,. whore in 1868 he became inter
ested In a contract for the Union Pa.
clfic In 1869 he arrived In Ogden
and opened what was known az the
White house a hotel and restaurant.
In 1877 Mr.. BamberGer went 10 Salt
Lake City and took charge OF the old
Delmonico restaurant on the south
west corner Of Main and Second
South streets. which he remodcled and
named the White house, by which 1t Is
still known I'm 1872 he became inter-
ested in mining in Big Cottonwood
and In 1879 In the coal fields in San
pete county. u was largely through
his influence and energy that the San
pete Valley railroad. now a part Of
the Denver & Rio Grande. was built.
or this line for time he was pres
ident and general manager
Since his arrival In Utah Mr.. Bam-
berger has been largely identified
with the upbuilding Of the state and