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July 30, 1868 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, July 30, 1868 (#2)
In this second letter from July 30, 1868, Samuel Reed updates his wife and family with news that he has been reappointed as General Superintendent and Engineer of Construction. He notes that "Division Superintendents receive orders from me on all matters pertaining to construction." Reed plans to get to business immediately, as "the company is straining every nerve to build as much road as it is in the power of man to do before connecting with the Central Pacific."
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August 7, 1868
Letter from Oliver Ames to Thomas C. Durant, August 7, 1868
In this letter from August 7, 1868, Oliver Ames writes to Thomas C. Durant regarding the changes Durant proposed in the grading of the railroad. He states that I. L. Williams, the "Special Messenger of the Secretary of the Interior," has argued strongly against the change of grade and that "his opinions would be almost Law to the Department." Ames tells Durant "before making any change let us have the best Evidence that a change is required for the best interests of the Company."
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August 12, 1868
Letter from Oliver Ames to Thomas C. Durant, August 12, 1868
In this letter from August 12, 1868, Oliver Ames writes to Thomas C. Durant informing him that the company has decided to keep the grading of the road "down to 90 feet." He states, "we can't afford, with the magnificent Subsidy we have, to do anything but the best possible thing for the Road and the Government, while, at the same time, we are doing the best thing for ourselves."
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August 14, 1868 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, August 14, 1868
In this letter from August 14, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family asking Mrs. Reed, who lives in Chicago , to meet Mark L. Seymour, a cousin of Colonel Silas Seymour, and join him on a trip to Reed's headquarters at the end of the Union Pacific line.
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October 28, 1868
Letter from Oliver Ames to Thomas C. Durant, October 28, 1868
In this letter from October 28, 1868, Oliver Ames writes to Thomas C. Durant praising him for completing 7 miles and 1,940 feet of track the previous day. He calls it the "achievement of the year," and tells Durant that his work will help expose the Central Pacific Railroad to the public as "Dogs in the Manger." Ames also discusses some of the Union Pacific Railroad's financial affairs.
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October 31, 1868 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, October 31, 1868
In this letter from October 31, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his never-ending work and the arrival of a snow storm while he was camping outside without a tent. Reed complains about the inefficiency of the Division Superintendents, whose incompetency causes him a great deal of extra work.
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November 17, 1868 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, November 17, 1868
In this letter from November 17, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family updating them on the progress of the Union Pacific line.
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November 28, 1868 | Illustration
Earthquake in San Francisco, California, October 21, 1868
This image from the November 28, 1868 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts four scences of damage in San Francisco, California following a severe earthquake: the Coffey and Risdons Building, the Railroad house and Rosenbum's Tobacco Warehouse, the Gas Works, and California Street.
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December 3, 1868
Letter from Oliver Ames to Thomas C. Durant, December 3, 1868
In this letter from December 3, 1868, Oliver Ames writes to Thomas C. Durant regarding the financial status of the Union Pacific Railroad. He states that the company has a right to ask the government to advance it two-thirds of the cost of "work done in advance of the track," and believes the company possesses sufficient funds and materials to have all the security that the government would require for the completion of the road. He also tells Durant, "your idea of letting them [the government] have the lands or Land Bonds as Security is a good one, and I think will be a good get off for them from the infamous position they have taken in regard to our Road."
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December 3, 1868 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, December 3, 1868
In this letter from December 3, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the continuing effort to grade the railroad bed "as rapidly as the frozen ground will admit," but the work is so difficult that "we can not make much progress on light work in the hard frost."
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December 5, 1868 | Illustration
Hoosac Tunnel—Drilling Machine
This image from the December 5, 1868 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a drilling machine working to create the Hoosac Tunnel in western Massachusetts.
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December 5, 1868 | Illustration
Hoosac Tunnel—Entrance
This image from the December 5, 1868 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the entrance to the Hoosac Tunnel in western Massachusetts.
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December 5, 1868 | Illustration
The Serra Viaduct, St Paul's Railroad, Brazil
This image from the December 5, 1868 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the lengthy Serra Viaduct of St. Paul's Railroad in Brazil.
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December 6, 1868 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, December 6, 1868
In this letter from December 6, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the difficult grading work still being done. His men work "night and day without cessation" because the work "goes very slowly on account of the hard frozen ground which it is impossible to move without [gun]powder." He places the blame for this difficult work on Thomas Durant, whose interference with Reed's plans caused the work to cost twice as much and take twice as long.
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December 16, 1868 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, December 16, 1868
In this letter from December 16, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the progress on grading and decribes the recent weather, which has been clear. Reed again complains about Durant's interference, noting that "this work would all have been finished long ago if my arrangements had not been interfered with."
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December 23, 1868
Letter from Oliver Ames to Thomas C. Durant, December 23, 1868
In this letter from December 23, 1868, Oliver Ames writes to Thomas C. Durant regarding the Union Pacific Railroad's impending acquisition of government bonds. He also discusses the issue of corruption within the company at length, stating "the Road must be costing us very much more than we are getting for it, or everyone out there is stealing." Ames worries that the company will be deep in debt by the time the road is completed and urges Durant to "do Something to Stop the thieves from Stealing our last cent and making the Road suffer."
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December 24, 1868
Letter from Oliver Ames to Thomas C. Durant, December 24, 1868
In this letter from December 24, 1868, Oliver Ames writes to Thomas C. Durant informing him of an arrangement Ames has made for the Union Pacific Railroad's acquisition of government bonds. He also complains about the "awful" bills the company is receiving, and urges Durant to do all he can to "weed out the thieves" in the company.
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December 28, 1868 | Letter
Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, December 28, 1868
In this letter from December 28, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the arrival of Thomas Durant. Reed also states his longing to return home.
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1869 | Artwork
The Union Pacific Railroad - A Prairie on Fire in Nebraska, about 1864-69
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January 4, 1869
Letter from Oliver Ames to Thomas C. Durant, January 4, 1869
In this letter from January 4, 1869, Oliver Ames writes to Thomas C. Durant complaining about the large bills the company is receiving. He urges Durant to sell any excess unused material, fire "useless" laborers, and hire by contract whenever possible. He tells Durant that he, "as the Manager of the Construction, must feel any Slip up by which the Central [Pacific Railroad] should come out triumphant and we Bankrupt keenly, and it would be a burning shame to us to suffer it."
