Evening journal., 1914-04-20
New News Of Yesterday
The ConqueStin Which He
Took the Greatest Pride
BY Holland.

RAILROAD men, and, ] think, civil
engineers, and the public regarded
as the most dramatic and sensa-
tional of all the achievements of Ed
ward ri. Hartman as railroad
builder the construction of the via
Duct or causeway across Great Salt
Lake whereby a saving OF some thir-
ty-five miles Of the Union Pacific
system was made possible" said the
late Charles S. Cox, himself a promi-
nent railroad executive and a per-
sonal friend of h. II. Hartman, the
friendship having been established
when both were young men.
Il remember hearing engineers
say that Mr.. Hartman was dump
ing millions into the Great Salt
Lake and would never get back a
penny" continued Mr.. Cox. "He
was advised by competent engineers
to desist from this purpose Of con-
constructing a causeway across the
Great Salt Lake, and was told that
the bottom OF the lake, If there were
any bottom, was probably miles be-
low the surface.
Hartman, however, persisted in
this work, and he at last was able
to report to his board of directors
that the undertaking was success
and that the trains of the Union Pa
cific could cross the Great Salt Lake
by means of a causeway made of
rock.
1T was always the presumption Of
railroad men that Mr.. Hartman
himself regarded this as chief among
his achievements as a railroad build
er, yet have the best of reasons for
knowing that this was not a correct
opinion.
Il heard. shortly after Mr.. Harri-
mans death, from very high authori-
ty that several gentlemen, one Of
these an English railroad manager,
were invited by Mr.. Hartman TO
take trip over the Union
Pacific lines. They called upon him
after the trip was ended to thank
him for his oourtesies, and they said
that they presumed the construction
OF the causeway across the Great
Salt Lake was regarded by him as
his greatest achievement as a rail-
road builder.
ITO their surprise, Mr.. Hartman
replied that he did not so regard the
building of that causeway. He said
to them that he took the greatest
pride in the conquest by Union Pa
cific civil engineers and skilled ar
tisians OF the great floods Of tho
--- river.
"These floods threatened COM
pletely to destroy the colossal irri-
cation works Of the valley and to
ruin many thousands of acres which
had been subdued to highly prifita-
bic cultivation. Damages of that
kind was sure to ruin thousands who
had invested all their capital in
these reclaimed lands.
"By order of President Roosevelt
Mr.. Hartman said, the government
4 engineers and forces attempted to
/ prevent complete disaster and tC
conquer the floods, but they were
unsuccessful Then the Presiden
communicated with Mr.. Hartman
seeking the aid of the Union Pacific
l engineering corps. Thereupon Nh
Hartman gave orders that the en-
tire available forces of the Union Pa
cific should at once undertake t
conquer the floods and to control thi
river so that the millions of proper
ty could thereby be saved. He CAV
orders that this work should hav'
precedence over every other-evel
train schedules-and that ther
should be no hesitation about tn
cost. II was nip and tuck when tn
Union Pacific forces began the worl
At last they conquered the great riv
er. which saved the irrigation plan
and they prevented the devastation
Of thousands OF acres OF reclaime
land.
''That. Mr. Hartman told thes
gentlemen. he looked upon as hi
chief achievement in railway con
struction and operation.
"He was asked If the gOvernmen
had ever reimbursed him OF the I'm
ion Pacific Company. He smile
with characteristic expression
shook his head gently, and said tina
although President Roosevelt ha
recommended that an appropriate
be made to reimburse the compan.
it was not made Instead, the gov
enrment was making preparations I
attack the Union Pacific with inten
TO disjOint it.
Copyright, 1914. by =. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards Will tell O
"a Political Renaissance OF an ex
Postmaster General"