© 2006–2017
All Rights Reserved
William G. Thomas
Copyright Statement
April 5, 1867 | Letter
In this letter from April 5, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the expected arrival of Union Pacific Vice-President Thomas Durant. Reed also notes an attempt by a representative of Ames & Company to overhaul the construction department's books and vouchers.
April 2, 1867 | Letter
In this letter from April 2, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing contracts with Boyd & Reed and I. H. Lacy to construct ten miles of road each. Upon completion of their contracts, the Union Pacific Railroad will reach 400 miles, or 25 miles west of Julesburg, Colorado.
February 19, 1867
In this letter from February 19, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas Durant informing him that some of the estimates received from General Grenville Dodge for work on the track are much higher than what Reed and Durant anticipated when Reed was in New York .
January 31, 1867 | Letter
In this letter from January 27, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family letting them know that he will leave New York City that evening. He mentions that work on the railroad may not progress as quickly as the previous year because of a "difficulty in procuring the necessary funds to build the road."
January 17, 1867 | Letter
In this letter from January 17, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing a "stormy meeting" of the Union Pacific Railroad's executive committee. He is fearful that "the progress of the road will be very much retarded" by proposed changes "in the mode of building the road."
1867 | Book
Albert D. Richardson's Beyond the Mississippi; from the Great River to the Great Ocean is a detailed and exciting account of life and travels in the West and Far West in the years before the transcontinental railroad was completed. From Native American life, to gold fields, to emigrant trains, Richardson's portrayals of the region are interesting and informative. In this section, he describes the building of the transcontinental railroad in Nebraska - "the Conquest of Nature moving toward the Pacific."
November 29, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from November 29, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, informing him that he has recovered from his severe illness and will be departing for his home in Joliet, Illinois soon. He expresses regret that he was unable to devote his personal attention to the construction of the bridge at North Platte, Nebraska, noting that it could have been completed in time and not delayed the laying of track. Reed also states that "the Indian scene and severe storms" have driven most of the men off the line and delayed the grading work, but assures Durant he is doing everything he can to push the work forward as quickly as possible.
October 9, 1866
In this letter from October 9, 1866, Jennie Reed, wife of Samuel Reed, writes from Omaha, Nebraska to friends at home and the Reed children describing Samuel's ill health. She states that he has improved somewhat, though his symptoms linger. They hope "in a day or two there will be a decided change for the better." She tells the children to behave themselves and gives instructions for their care.
September 24, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from September 24, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, informing him that he is leaving Omaha to oversee the work on the bridge in North Platte, Nebraska. Reed states that the grading work will be completed on time and will not delay the laying of track, but he fears it will be impossible to complete the bridge before the track reaches it.
September 23, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from September 23, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing an upcoming visit by Thomas C. Durant, Vice-President of the Union Pacific Railroad. Reed also notes that he plans to go west soon and will be gone for most of the week, which he hopes will be his last trip for the season.
September 17, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from September 17, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, describing the progress of the work on the line. He calls Durant's attention to several aspects of the construction which require his immediate attention and approval. Reed states that the work will only be completed on schedule if "the men imployed on the work are not molested by the Indians," and notes that "a few days since Dr. Peck lost 98 mules 50 miles from the west end of the work." Reed fears a raid, and says he is doing all he can to get troops on the line to protect the workmen.
August 14, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from August 14, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, updating him on the status of several aspects of the railroad construction. He calls Durant's attention to the fact that work on the bridge at North Platte, Nebraska needs to be commenced as soon as possible in order to have it finished by the time the track is laid to that point. He states that the grading is being done as quickly as possible and "40 miles will be completed by the first day of Sept. unless we have another strike among the men." Reed also notes that work on the car shop and road house at Omaha is progressing slowly, as strikes have been occurring among the laborers and masons.
July 18, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from July 18, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to his wife describing a fierce political fight involving Thomas C. Durant and George Francis Train of the Union Pacific Railroad. Their larger-than-life personalities cause Reed to comment that "one stage coach or steam boat could not hold two such men."
July 10, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from July 10, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, listing the engineers assigned to each construction task on the line.
June 21, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from June 21, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, discussing a bill received from Dunbar and O'Hanlon. He states that the only items on the bill which should be paid are those for siding and flooring work done on a mill to be used by contractors building the railroad. The other charges should not be allowed, Reed argues, because the mill was returned to the railroad contractors by Dunbar and O'Hanlon in disrepair, costing the railroad at least $7,500 to put it back "in working order."
April 17, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from April 17, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, describing a visit from a group of railroad commissioners. He states that they "did not measure the width of the embankment or count the ties in the track except at the extreme west end" and "appeared to be well pleased with the work." He gives Durant an update on the status of work on the line as well as a detailed account of the iron chains and spikes received to date. He also notes that they are finally receiving an ample supply of railroad ties, but are still having difficulty obtaining the piles required for bridge construction.
April 7, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from April 7, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, informing him that he is sending the "report of surveys on the Pacific slope in 1865," with the profiles to follow the next week. He gives a summary of the work done on the railroad since he last wrote Durant, noting that "we have more than one hundred thousand ties on the line of the road." He asks if he should close a contract for another 50,000 ties.
March 26, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from March 26, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, describing the estimates he has been given for various contract work related to the construction of the railroad.
March 23, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from March 23, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, informing him that he has sent the estimates for building the railroad "from the Green River to the east line of the state of California" and will soon send the report and estimate of the work done in the mountains the previous season. Reed also notes that he has had great difficulty obtaining piles needed for the temporary construction work.
February 5, 1866 | Letter
In this letter from February 5, 1866, Samuel Reed writes to Thomas C. Durant, Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad, requesting orders as to whether or not to employ the State Geologist of Illinois to "examine the country west of Omaha for coal ."
© 2006–2017
All Rights Reserved
William G. Thomas
Copyright Statement