January 16, 1869
In this letter from January 16, 1869, Oakes Ames writes to Thomas C. Durant regarding the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad and the need to secure the approval of the government appointed commissioners in order to ensure that bonds for building the road are not withheld. He urges Durant to work with the commissioners, stating "we cannot afford to fight the government now."
October 23, 1878 | Letter
The October 23, 1878 letter from N.T. Waters in Illinois to George P. Cather requests information about available land in Webster County, Nebraska. Waters' primary concern is that the land contains a stream with drinkable water, and asks specifically about sections of land seen on a land map provided by the railroad.
March 26, 1865 | Letter
In this letter from March 26, 1865, Mary C.E. writes to Jennie Reed, wife of Samuel Reed, describing flooding which has damaged the local railroad and bridges, preventing mail from getting through. She discusses the drafting of a family member, who has not yet received his notice and may therefore avoid having to report for duty. She also notes that an acquaintance died sixteen days after receiving a wound to the ankle in the war, and that his family did not learn of his death for two weeks.
September 23, 1863
In this letter from September 23, 1863, Marion K. McMurphy writes to her brother, Samuel Reed, asking his opinion of employment with the "Union Pacific Railway." She also informs him that she received a letter from their enlisted brother, Erastus H. Reed, who is still doing well.
February 26, 1860
In this letter from February 26, 1860, Marion K. McMurphy writes to her brother, Erastus H. Reed, from Pontoosuc, Iowa discussing family news and the prospect of a railroad being built "from Appanoose to the junction or Burlington the coming summer." She states that she hopes the railroad will "make business a little more lively here as it is very dull on account of hard times in getting money."
1860
In this letter from April 1860, L.C. Dillaway writes to Jennie Reed discussing family news and some of the latest women's fashions available in Baltimore stores.
September 12, 1867
In this letter from September 12, 1867, Juliet L. Elwood writes to Jennie Reed, wife of Samuel Reed, discussing plans to travel to St. Louis and the possibility of accompanying her on a trip to Omaha, Nebraska. She inquires about the prospects of Mrs. Reed procuring a railway pass for her for the journey. She also details an encounter she had on the railroad cars during a day trip to Joliet, Illinois with a "military gentleman" who knew Samuel Reed. She states that she "understood him to say he was Prest of Pacific Road, but I think I must of course have misunderstood, as Gen Dix is President, or was."
September 25, 1860 | Letter
In this letter from September 25, 1860, Julia B. Abbott writes to Jennie Reed, wife of Samuel Reed, discussing various family news. She notes that she attended the anniversary exercises at the Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts and enjoyed it very much. Among those "celebrities" she saw and heard were Professor Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher.
January 4, 1864
In this letter from January 4, 1864, Joshua M. Shaffer, Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment for the First Congressional District of Iowa, writes to Samuel Reed informing him that his name has been successfully stricken from the draft enrollment list in Burlington, Iowa upon receipt of proof that his name is on the enrollment list in Joliet, Illinois.
April 19, 1872 | Letter
In this April 19, 1872 letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, Osborn describes the immigrants headed to Burlington and Missouri River Railroad lands in Nebraska and Iowa as being "as poor as church rats."
January 15, 1872 | Letter
In this January 15, 1872 letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, Osborn describes his efforts at recruiting European immigrants to Iowa and Nebraska in the United States. He expects a small number of immigrants this year, but hopes that the seeds he has sown will bear fruit in future years.
February 5, 1872 | Letter
In this February 5, 1872 letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, Osborn reports on his work in Europe, publicizing the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company's lands in Iowa and Nebraska. He has printed 10,000 copies of a land brochure to be distributed in Denmark and Norway.
February 15, 1872 | Letter
In this February 15, 1872 letter from Joseph E. Osborn to George S. Harris, Osborn describes the results of a business trip to Norway, in which he tried to find favorable rates of passage for Norwegian immigrants who have purchased Burlington and Missouri River Railroad land in Iowa and Nebraska.
April 20, 1854 | Letter
When two slaves were killed on the Blue Ridge Tunnel project, the slaveholders retained legal counsel to negotiate a settlement with the Board of Public Works.
October 29, 1860 | Letter
In this letter from October 29, 1860, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing his search for railroad employment. He states that they missed out on a contract in Oskaloosa, Iowa, but he remains determined to find work in that area as he believes "there is nothing to be made in this western country now as there is too much competition in the way of RRoading." He notes that there has been much "log rolling" with regard to a 70 mile extension of the Cedar Rapids road, and also tells Reed he is worried he may lose some money on his present work in Washington , Iowa.
November 8, 1860 | Letter
In this letter from November 8, 1860, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed informing him that he has just finished his work, is "settling" with his men, and will therefore be unable to visit Reed in Joliet, Illinois. He asks Reed to inquire about the nature and pay of some winter railroad work for them both, telling him not to take if for less than 15 cents as he believes "work will be plenty in the spring" and not to "touch it at any price...if they have no money."
November 26, 1860 | Letter
In this letter from November 26, 1860, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed from Washington , Iowa describing the character of work on the railroad there. He states that the work is "very light," and approves of the fact that the company "has ordered their expenses very low." He notes that after he paid all of his men he received $2,600 instead of $5,600, but believes all will be well eventually. Boyle also writes that he has not heard back from "those Cedar Rapids people" regarding some work, but he does not believe they have enough money to offer work in any case. He says that not much will be done over the winter with "the country in such a disturbed state."
March 8, 1861 | Letter
In this letter from March 8, 1861, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing the prospects for employment on a railroad in the near future. He states that he would prefer working for Mr. Thielsen to working on the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad as he does not believe that railroad will be capable of "doing anything as long as those troubles between the north and south exist." Boyle also notes that he rejected an invitation to work on the Cedar Rapids Railroad, believing it would be better to "stay on our farms than work on a R Road that has no money." He declares that if the troubles between the North and South were settled, there would be more work available.
March 17, 1862 | Letter
In this letter from March 17, 1862, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing their shared opinion of the war as "unrational." Boyle states that he believes "we are decimating and depopulating the country" and expresses worry that there will not be enough work for all of the men once the war ends. He claims that agents from Australia and Canada are encouraging people to emigrate, and proposes that Reed work with him in a future venture.
July 30, 1863
In this letter from July 30, 1863, John R. Boyle writes to Samuel Reed discussing his progress constructing the rail line in Washington, Iowa. He notes that he has "about 14 men on my 12 miles," but has trouble finding men to work despite the high pay. Boyle states that he will be finished with his present work by the first of October "if they don't take all my men away," and asks Reed to give him "timely notice" if he decides to extend a portion of the railroad.