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  • Letter from John R. Boyle to Samuel B. Reed, January 2, 1860

    In this letter from January 2, 1860, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed from Iowa City, Iowa discussing the difficulty he is having finding profitable employment in the railroad business. He states that his brother in Massachusetts wrote him that the railroad company there "is very timid in letting their road [as] money is more scarce south than it has been." He writes that he does not believe very much of the road he is currently working on will be built the next summer, and states "I don't hear of a road to be let any place in the country."

  • Letter from William H. Seevers to Thomas M. Isett and William C. Brewster, November 12, 1860

    In this letter from November 12, 1860, William H. Seevers writes to Thomas M. Isett and William C. Brewster discussing the sale of their land near Oskaloosa, Iowa. He states that Reed was correct in his belief that "our land could not be avoided" by the railroad construction, but believes that they must also consider the desires of the stockholders.

  • Letter from Anna R. Benedict to Samuel B. Reed, September 22, 1861

    In this letter from September 22, 1861, Anna R. Benedict writes to her brother, Samuel Reed, discussing the drop in prices for farm products as a result of the "national troubles." She states that it "scarce seems possible that this war can last very long." She notes that her family has been practicing the "strictest economy," but still needs to hire help to accomplish all that is necessary on the farm. She expresses surprise at Reed's claim that he has been doing all the farm work himself, but advises him not to sell pieces of his farmland until after the "present panics have passed over."

  • Letter from Jennie Reed to Samuel B. Reed, September 6, 1863

    In this letter from September 6, 1863, Jennie Reed writes to her husband, Samuel Reed, describing a recent trip she made to Chicago. She notes that she hopes his letter to Chicago, requesting employment closer to home, will be successful and reminds him that he is missing his youngest daughter's "babyhood." She also asks if he can get a pass on the Burlington and Missouri Railroad for his sister, Marion K. McMurphy, telling him "you can scarcely afford to pay out so much money, if it can be avoided."

  • Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, October 25, 1863

    In this letter from October 25, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife describing his journey from Eddyville, Iowa to Albia, Iowa via stage coach as reminiscent of "old times." He states that stage coaches "are like the wild indians soon to be banished from the land to b known no more." Reed comments on crop prices and states he intends to come home for the winter unless "the work on the new road is commenced." He also notes that he has been reading William Howard Russell's My Diary, North and South, and finds it highly amusing.

  • Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Jennie Reed, November 24, 1863

    In this letter from November 24, 1863, Samuel Reed writes to his wife after returning to Burlington, Iowa from a visit home to Joliet, Illinois. He states that he has not yet seen Mr. Thielsen and therefore does not know "how much work he wants done on the line," but says there will be plenty to do in Burlington until after the first of the next month. Reed also notes that he met several stock drovers on the train from Chicago who believed beef prices would "be very high before New Year's." He advises his wife not to allow their steers to be sold until they can bring a good price.

  • Cause of the Strike and a Remedy

    This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune outlines the various causes of the strike—placing blame on railroad workers and railroad executives—and stresses that the remedy to this situation can only be achieved once mob rule has been replace by law and order.

  • Timely Advice

    This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the St. Louis Dispatch advises the Missouri Pacific Railroad to "set the example to other roads to promptly acquiesce in all reasonable demands" by the workers in order to peacefully end the railroad strike.

  • [Let Us Have Peace]

    This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Chicago Inter-Ocean argues that a strike cannot be allowed to start in Chicago, or the city will see the same bloodshed and violence as in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The editors state that violence must not be allowed to flourish; despite the contention between railroad workers and railroad executives, peace should trump workplace disagreements.

  • The Great Strike

    This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune suggests that railroad corporations should adopt new policies to meet the needs of railroad workers, which will also keep many of the corporations from falling into bankruptcy.

  • Bad Allies

    In this article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the Toledo Blade, the editors support the striking railroad workers, but condemn the "mob of scoundrels who took advantage of the occasion to commit all sorts of depredations."

  • The Strike

    This article from the July 23, 1877 edition of the St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat condemns the recent actions of the railroad strikers and hopes that the city can avoid a repeat of the violence in Pittsburgh, where the mob has "pillaged and burned and murdered in the carnival of crime."

  • The Strike

    This article from the July 24, 1877 edition of the St. Louis Dispatch notes the outbreak of violence in the city and states that "the railroad war in St. Louis has actually begun." The newspaper condemns the workers who are destroying property, but supports the "real workingmen" who "do not cut their own throats in this way."

  • Progress of the Strike

    This article from the July 24, 1877 edition of the St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat commends the actions of the Missouri railroads, which have done their best to support the workers and have "removed the last excuse for disorder or violence." The editors condemn Communists, but support the striking workers in their quest for higher wages—a request the newspaper hopes the company will consider.

  • The Tyranny of the "Brotherhood"

    This article from the July 25, 1877 edition of the Toledo Blade states the newspaper's strong oppositon to the "tyranny" of the railroad union, whose "managers care nothing for the welfare of the community at large, nor the best good of its members."

  • The Chicago Strike

    This article from the July 25, 1877 edition of the Chicago Inter-Ocean gives notice of the newspaper's support for the striking workers. The editors state that "we recognize their privilege to do as they please about working, and shall utter no reproach against them," as long as they abstain from violence.

  • | Annual report

    Annual Report to the President and Directors of the Board of Public Works, 1850

    When proposed and the first efforts made in 1850, the Blue Ridge Tunnel was to be the longest tunnel in North America. Claudius Crozet, as chief engineer, warns his Board of Public Works against comparing its progress with other tunnels. The condition of the rock and the scale of the project were different and unprecedented, respectively. Crozet tries to educate the Board on the nature of the project.

  • | Book

    Phelps's Travellers' Guide Through the United States

    This pocket atlas listed over 700 railroads, steamship lines, and canals in the United States and their routes of service, state by state. Frederick Douglass probably consulted a rudimentary timetable in the Baltimore newspaper or one posted at the depot for the Baltimore to Philadelphia route, described here twelve years after Douglass made his escape from slavery on the Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore Railroad.

  • | Book

    The Book of the Great Railway Celebrations of 1857

    Works like The Book of The Great Railway Celebrations were published with multiple purposes - they served great publicity for railroad companies and town boosters, as well as celebrations of technological advancements and ingenuity. The detailed illustrations and descriptions of the celebrations also made them prized souvenirs for event attendees.

  • | Book

    Railroad Strike Violence at Martinsburg, WV

    In this excerpt from The Story of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Historian Edward Hungerford offers an account of the violence at Martinsburg, WV during the 1877 railroad strike. This selection also includes Allan Pinkerton's vivid description of the event.