The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-04-02

4
and rights-of-wey created little public
comment, so religiously was Gould.
| connection kept secret But there
were railroad interests in California
that were watching and preparing for
battle.
Bartnett was next confronted with
the necessity of finding the best way
Over the mountains. There came &c
solve his problem an old man, who
fifty years before had stumbled upon
the North Fork Of the Feather River
canyon and Beckwith Pass way
| through the SieTras. 4. W. Keddie
he was, and he sought out Bartnett.
He told the lawyer how he had found
the way years ago when he was,
as an engineer, serving on recon-
naissance commission under General
! ROsecrans.
In 1903 the Western Pacific rail
way was brought into legible being.
Even this did not disclose Gould's
identity because the incorporators
were Bartnett and his friends.
Bonds were issued to provide funds,
but few were sold because investi-
gators were certain that the men ap-
parently backing the project had not
the money 10 put it through. Friends
of the incorporatOrs pressed them to
tell what they knew and agents of
the inimical railroad interests sought
their condolences. But Gould was
not revealed.
Immediately difficulties beset the
new road from every angle. Harri-
man awakened TO the danger, though
it is said that he did not know his
real opponents. The fight TO cripple
the Western Pacific lasted until 1905
when II had its climax in the armed
possession by the new road of Oak
land harbor lands. II began in 1901.
Franchises at Sacramento along the
water front and at Marysyille were
bitterly fought.
Goud's connection with the West |
ern Pacific became known in 1903,
when il became necessary to re-
issue Western Pacific bonds before !
construction could be begun. The
underwriting syndicate OF bankers in
sisted that he virtually pawn the |
nenver & Rio Grande railroad 10
secure the $5O,OOO0OO issue of first
mortgage Western Pacific bonds. |
Then it was that Gould withdrew as
director of the Union Pacific rail-
road. dominated by Hartman.
The banking syndicate in under
writing the bonds, eXacted heavy tri-
butte. They demanded pledge of the !
Denver & Rio Grande to pay the in |
terest on the bonds if the Western |
Pacific failed; to set aside sinking |
fund TO meet the principal il the
Western Pacific did not; to pay the
taxes on the Western Pacific if the |
Western Pacific failed to do so, and
to provide any additional money |
necessary to complete the construc-
ton of the Western Pacific.
In addition, the Rio Grande and !
Missouri Pacific were forced to sign |
close operating agreement. The
pledge given to supply necessary
money should the $5O,000000 give out /
cost Gould's Denver & Rio Grande |
$25. 600, 900 in 1908, but the $5O,OOO,oO0
bonds were underwritten.
Then with Gould's connection re-
vealed and the s5O00O,000 available,
construction of the Western Pacific
was begun late in 1905. Gould was
elected a director. In January 1905,
the battle for the Oakland Western
Pacific mole between the Western
Pacific and the Southern Pacific took
place suddenly Southern Pacific Of
fcials awoke one morning to find
small army, equipped with real guns,
in possession of the mole.
Southern Pacific elected not to
equip an army, but sought the courts
for an injunction to prevent the lay
ing of the Western Pacific rails. 1t
was granted, but the Western Pa
ciiic soldiers did not strike camp
until the United States circuit court
OF appeals decided that neither rail
road owned the mole-that it be-
longed to the city of Oakland. Then
the Western Pacific rails went down.
Under tremendous difficulties the
work of construction of the Western
Pacific railroad proceeded on gigan-
tic scale. In 1905 it was seen that
more money must be had, and so
the Denver & Rio Grande. true to its
pledge. took up second bond issue
of $25.oOO.O00, itself issuing bonds
TO get the money, and the work went
on to completion.
But George Gould's dream had al
ready herlIn IN fade As the trans