The Story of the First Trans-Continental Railroad | Page 5

very hazy
estimates of the prospective volume of trans-pacific business. With an
active and aggressive population of three hundred thousand in

California, practically all of eastern birth and affiliations the situation
became materially changed and the necessity of railroad
communication apparent. Both great political parties pledged their
support in their quadrennial platforms. Presidents--Pierce, Buchanan,
and Lincoln, in their several messages to Congress, strongly
recommended its construction. The matter had been thoroughly
discussed, both in and out of Congress and the whole country was
convinced of the advisability of its construction, and only awaited a
leader and a feasible plan. From 1850 to 1860 the question vied with
that of slavery in public interest. Survey after survey was undertaken by
the Government and private parties. Senator Benton being the first to
introduce a resolution looking to the appropriation of sufficient money
to pay for a survey. This being in 1851. The question of the North and
South, entered into the matter, as it did everything else in the days
preceding the Rebellion. "You shall not build through free soil," said
the South and "we won't permit it to run through the Slave States," said
the North. Compromise was out of the question, and it was not until the
southern element had been eliminated from Congress by their secession
was any action possible.
It was found that private corporations, duly aided by land grants from
the Government, were able to build the necessary connecting links
through the comparatively level country, between Chicago and St.
Louis, and the Missouri River. From the Missouri River west it was felt
that the undertaking was too great for any one set of men or corporation,
besides local interests in California were already in the field,
consequently two companies were determined upon, one of them
working eastward, the other westward, and it was thus arranged.
CHAPTER II.
The Proposition in Congress.
Situation 1861--Curtis Bill of 1862--Amended Charter of
1864--Further Amendments--1866--Legal Complications in New
York--Controversy With Central Pacific.

Commencing with the session of 1835, when a memorial on the subject
of railroad communication between Lake Michigan and the Pacific
Coast, was presented by Hartwell Carver, up to the present, the Pacific
Railways have been ever present in Congress. The Catalogue of
Government Publications gives one hundred and eighty-five having the
Union Pacific, or Pacific Railroads as their subject.
It is not necessary to recount the many schemes for the construction of
these roads that were proposed to Congress. We have already outlined
the principal ones previous to 1861.
At this time our country was in the midst of its greatest difficulties. The
North and South unable to harmonize over the slavery question, had
recourse to the arbitration of arms. The Union forces had met with
numerous and severe reverses. The people of the Pacific Coast were
loud in their demands for better means of communication. The
Government was straining to what seemed the breaking point, their
credit and resources to carry on the war and as a Government enterprise
the building of a Pacific Railway was out of the question. All were
convinced of not only the desirability of such a line but of the absolute
necessity thereof, and it had resolved itself into a question of ways and
means. Previous discussions had thrashed out the chaff and it now
remained for Congress to winnow the wheat. Government surveys had
demonstrated the existence of five feasible routes through or over the
Rocky Mountains. The Northern, now followed by the Northern Pacific
Railroad, the South Pass, Snake and Columbia Rivers, now traversed
by the Union Pacific Railroad to Granger, thence the Oregon Short
Line and Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. The Middle
Route-Union Pacific Railroad in connection with the Southern Pacific
Company (Central Pacific Railroad). The thirty-ninth parallel route,
now followed by the Santa Fe Route and the Southern via El Paso, now
followed by the Sunset Route. The first two while available, could be
eliminated owing to their not reaching California direct, as could also
the two latter, on account of their traversing in part at least, country that
was then in a state of insurrection.
These reasons were in themselves sufficient to determine the selection,

but with the many other arguments advanced, there was no trouble in
bringing Congress to adopt practically unanimously the "South Pass"
"Middle" "True Pacific" Route as it was variously called. For years this
had been the route of the fur traders and trappers, the emigrant, the
Overland Stage, and the Pony Express, and if these various interests
had agreed as to this being the shortest and best route it was evident
there were good and sufficient reasons for their decision, it being
incontrovertible that it was the shortest one that reached the desired
territory. Especially as their decision was reinforced by the result of
numerous