Evening star., 1944-05-07
Capital Sidelights
By viii P. Kennedy.

The celebration next Wednesday of
the 18th anniversary of the completion
Of the Union Pacific Railroad, uniting
by rail the Atlantic and Pacific sea-
boards, emphasizes how Congress has
exercised its powers" enumerated in
the Constitution-"to provide for the
common defense and general welfare"
ito establish post offices and post roads,"
ito promote the progress of science and
useful arts" Congress passed statutes
Of July l, 1862, and amended July 2,
1854, ito aid in the construction of a
railroad and telegraph line from the
Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, and
to secure to the Government the use of
the same for postal, military and other
purposes" Thus Congress, according
to a report from the select committee
Of the House, incorporated the Union
Pacific Railroad Co., thereby uniting
the railroad systems of the Eastern
States with the railroad system of Cali
fornia, strengthening the bonds of union
between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
and leading to development of the i'm
mense resources of the great central
portion Of the North American CONT
nent-creating new route of commerce
from the Atlantic and Europe to the
Pacific and Asia. As O. transportation
and communication system during these
emergency days of the present global
war, this railroad and telegraph line"
authorized by Congress 50 years ago has
done honor to the foresight of Congress.
1t has been bond of steel uniting the
Nation.
The famous golden spike joining the
rails at Promontory Point, Utah. on May
10, 1869, was driven by Gov. Stanford of
California and Thomas c. Durant, vice
president of the Union Pacific.
Three months after Congress had au-
thorized that railroad and telegraph
hne," another great pioneer service
The Pony Express-which had contrib
uted an heroic and exciting chapter to
American history ceased operation after
Its dauntless riders, the youngest of whom
was a 14-year-old boy later known as
Buffalo Bill" Cody, had covered
through Indian-infested territory ESQ.,
coo miles, carrying 10000 pieces of mail,
with loss of only one pouch. The Pony
Express quit when telegraph lines ad-
vanclng from east and west were Joined.
Ihe Union Pacific Co. took over the
pony route from St. Joseph, Mo,
through Forts Kearney, Laramie and
Bridge, Salt Lake City, Carson City to
San Francisco (Sutter's Fort).
When Miss Leila Livingston Morse,
granddaughter of Samuel F. B. Morse.
visited the District Public Library for a
conference on displays to be arranged
IN the technology division and the
children's room for the centennial of
telegraphy, she was surprised to learn
that the central librarian, Mrs. Louise
Strother Shepard, is a granddaughter
OF Gen. D. Hunter Strother, who was an
art student under Prof. Morse, and at
one time saved his teachers life. In the
library is volume of Virginia Illus
trated.' published in 1871, written and
pictured by Gen. Strother under the
pseudonym of Porte Crayon."
The story of the association of Morse
and Strother is told in THE Age of
Invention" by Holland Thompson in
the Chronicles of America Series" pub
lished by the Yale University Press.
Morse was the leading candidate to
paint one of the great mural paintings
for the rotunda of the Capitol John
Quincy Adams was chairman of the
committee to select the artists, and he
favored having foreign artists do the
paintings because he thought no Ameri-
can artist was qualified. James Feni-
more Cooper, who was a friend of
Morse, was infuriated by this attitude
and wrote an unsigned attack on Adams
in the New York Evening Post. Adams
jumped to the conclusion that Morse
had written 1t and summarily struck his
name from the list of artists to be con-
sidered. Morse had been working on his
sketches for the heroic painting and was
impoverished. Young Strother was one
OF his pupils, paying $50 for one quar-
ters instruction. At the beginning of
the next quarter his expected remittance
was delayed. Morse pleasantly asked
him: How are we off for money!" He
received the reply that he was sure
his funds would arrive next week. Next
week" replied Morse sadly 'I shall be
dead by that time" Young Strother was
Mortified. Yes, dead by starvation"
Morse explained. Strother had just $40
and asked if that would help. Ten
JNJ1 PT-t.-