70 WESTERN INCIDENTS.

The Pacific extension of the Burlington and Missouri River
Railroad, by the act of July 2, 1864, is not entitled to bonds,
but to lands to the extent of ten alternate odd sections on
each side of its line of route.

THE COMPLETION OF THE ROADS.

Having thus given the chief points of the law with regard
to the Union Pacific Railroad and branches, I would recall
your attention to the anticipation confidently entertained by
Mr. Stanford, the President of the Central Pacific Company
of California, that they will, even under the present law, be
able to reach Great Salt Lake during the year 1870. General
Dix, the President of the Union Pacific Railroad Company,
has informed me that they will meet the Central Pacific, of
California in five years; and, thus, according to both the
gentlemen named, we may expect the completion of the road
in 1871, or six years before the Ist of July, 1877—the limit fixed
by the law. It is submitted, however, that as the work in the
Rocky Mountains and Utah will be very heavy, there should
be some legislation which will enable the Union Pacific Rail-
way Company to work in advance of their completed line, at
least eight hundred miles ; so that the Company could now be
employing the Mormons in Utah, who, with the “ Gentiles,”
are willing and anxious to take contracts for grading the
road, getting out the ties, and making the necessary iron.
The act of July 3, 1866, enables the Union Pacific, and Cen-
tral Pacific of California, to work three hundred miles in
advance of their continuous line ; but while this privilege is
probably sufficient for the California Company, on account of
the nature of the country through which it will have to con-
struct its road, it is not so for the Union Pacific, whose diffi-
cult portions stretch out for so great a distance west of their
present work. It is hoped that this matter will receive the
attention of Congress at the earliest possible moment.