eee ee er oe ee ee Cee rer een era 1

32

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

 

conversant with his business, persevering,
energetic, faithful to trust, upright in his
relations with his fellow-men, swecess 78 swre.

In person, Mr. Dillon is tall, exceedingly
well built, and combines suavity of man-
ner with great promptness of decision in
action. He was married in 1841, and has
two daughters. His residence is in the
city of New York.

 

Union Pacific Railroad.

Official Headquarters, Railroad Building,
Omaha, Neb., and 44 Equitable
Building, Boston, Mass.

 

 

Smney Dimton,..... President,...... New York.
EuisHa ATKINS,....- Vice-President....... Boston.
E. H. Rouins,..... Sec. and Treas.,...... *
S. H, H. Crark,....Gen'd Sup’t, ........0maha
J. T, CuaRk,........ Asst. Gewl Sup't,..-.
J. W. GANNEDD,.... AUdilor, 65... .2 ss -
N. SHELTON,.....--. Cashier... eine ee #
T, HK, SrokLEs,..... Chief Hngineer,...... ee
Laavirr Burneam.Land Commissioner, ‘
Jad; DIOKHY, 6.52655 Sup’t Telegraph,....  ‘

WP. VINING,..-.5- Gen Freight Agent, “
Tos. L. Korean, G. P. & 2. Agent,...  **
EF. Knowianp, General Hastern Agent,
287 Broapway, NEw YORK.
W. C. Toomeson, Gen’l Agent for New England,
Boston, Mass.

Though but little faith was at first felt in
the successful completion of this great
railway, no one, at the present day, can
fail to appreciate the enterprise which
characterized the progress and final com-
pletion of this road, its’ immense value to
the Government, our own people, and the
world at large.

By the act of 1862, the time for the com-
pletion of the road was specified. The ut-
most limit was July 1, 1876.

The first contract for construction was
made in August, 1863, but various con-
flicting interests connected with the loca-
tion of the line delayed its progress, and it
was not until the 5th day of November,
1865, that the ceremony of breaking ground
was enacted at a point on the Missouri
River, near Omaha, Neb.

The enthusiast, Mr. Train, in his speech
on the occasion of breaking ground, said
the road would be completed in five years,
Old Fogy could not yet understand Youn
America, and, as usual, he was ridiculec
for the remark, classed as a dreamer and
visionary enthusiast; the greater portion of
the people believing that the limited time
would find the road unfinished. But it
was completed in three years, six months,
and ten days.

Most Americans are familiar with the |
history of the road, yet but few are aware —
of the vast amount of labor performed in |
obtaining the material with which to con- |
struct the first portion. There was no /
railroad nearer Omaha than 150 miles east-
ward, and over this space all the material |
purchased in the Hastern cities had to be |
transported by freightteams at ruinous |
prices. The laborers were, in most cases, |
transported to the railroad by the same
route and means. Even the engine, of 70 |
horse power, which drives the machinery
at the company’s works at Omaha, was
conveyed in wagons from Des Moines, —
Towa, that being the only available means
of transportation at the time.

For five hundred miles west of Omaha

 

-|the country was bare of lumber save a_

limited supply of cottonwood on the islands |
in and along the Platte River, wholly unfit
for railroad purposes. Hast of the river, |
the same aspect was presented, so that the |
company were compelled to purchase ties
cut in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New
York, which cost, delivered at Omaha,
$2.50 per tie.

Omaha, at that time, 1863, contained less
than 3,000 population, mostly atrading peo-
ple, and the railroad company were com-
pelled to create, as it were, almost every-
thing. Shops must be built, forges erected,
all the machinery for successful work
must be placed in position, before much
progress could be made with the work.
This was accomplished as speedily as cir-
cumstances would permit, and by January,
1866, 40 miles of road had been constructed,
which increased to 265 miles during the
year; and in 1867, 285 miles more were
added, making a total of 550 miles on
January 1, 1868. From that time forward
the work was prosecuted with greatly in.
creased energy, and on May 10, 1869, the
road met the Central Pacific railroad at
Promontory Point, Utah Territory—the
last 534 miles having been built in a little
more than fifteen months; being an
average of nearly one and one-fifth mile
per day.

By arrangements with the Central Pa-
cific Railroad Company, the Union in
1870 relinquished to the Central 46 miles
of road, and again in 1875, another strip of
6 miles, leaving the entire length of the
Union, 1,032 miles, andits junction with
the Central at Ogden, Utah.

Oo--
For Snow Dirricu.rigs,see ANNEX No. 13.

 

Bs eS ua ss 0 rrr rane