Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-10

Washington that something might be
accomplished with the federal authori-
ties if he could convince them that the
schedule could be reduced if he were
better paid. Holiday was at Salt
Lake and he planned at once to make
the highest speed possible to Atchison
"a trip that would astonish the au-
thorities as well as his friends.
Everything having been arranged,
the Overland king left Salt Lake in
his special coach and was carried in
extra fast time over the Wasatch
range and the Rockies, across the
plains to Atchison, a distance of 1900
miles, in eight days and six hours.
This was an unprecedented feat in
overland staging and created great as
constituent in Atchison when the stage
rolled in. Such time had never before
been excelled excepting by Pony Elk
press. The result was telegraphed
over the country, and in Washington
there was a speedy passage of Holla-
days bill which had been pending be-
fore congress.
End of Overland Stage Line
The profitable staging period for
Holiday was during the Civil war.
At that time he was rated as a multi
millionaire, and the magnificent country
home that he built near New York on
the Hudson river was one Of the finest
residences in America. Ophir Farm,
as he called it, was furnished in the
most luxurious fashion and art objects
and paintings worth hundreds of thous-
ands were brought from Europe to
beautify it. He also built a stately
mansion in Washington, opposite
Franklin square. where he developed
one of the finest private Libraries in
America.
After the war ended the plains In
dams became hostile and his financial
troubles began as a result of enormous
losses suffered through raids on stage
stations and attacks on stage coaches.
The stage line was virtually abandoned
for more than a month at one time
after a disastrous raid in Colorado,
when nearly half a million dollars worth
of property was destroyed. Most Of
the army of employees were idle. The
long delay in the opening Of the route
was a severe blow to the Overland. and
1t became necessary to send the letter
mail by ocean steamers and the 18th
mus Of Panama from New York. He
had hardly begun to recoup from this
loss when a similar disaster followed.
In 1866 all the stage stations for 400
miles were burned, hundreds of horses
and mules were run off and much val
liable property was destroyed.
Then the Union Pacific kept pushing
its road westward rapidly to form a
with the Central Pacific. which
was coming eastward. This kept short
ening the stage route. Financially crip-
pied, Holiday as In 1866 forced to sell
what was left of the great Overland
to Wells, Fargo & Co.. whose
freight and express business throughout
the mining camps of the west had been
For his interest, which COW
cred livestock and rolling stock. sta
tons. etc. he received So 1000 In
cash. besides $250,000 in stock of the
express company.
Holiday died at Portland In Auqust
1877. While he left a large amount
Of property, it was so encumbered that
his estate finally paid out practically
nothing. For several years prior 70
his death a bill was pending before
congress to reimburse him to the ex-
tent of $4,000 for losses susta;ned
through Indian d~epredations. but If
never passed. His remarkable career
n which he made and lost millions
during which one of the most ra'
narkable transportation systems In
history was built up and
passed away, occupied only a neriod Of
Is years.