January 13, 1870 | Letter
In this January 13, 1870 letter, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family informing them that it will be at least a week until his accounts are settled. He notes that other accounts are also being reviewed and that the New York office "has largely overpaid some parties."
January 16, 1870 | Letter
In this brief January 16, 1870 letter, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family announcing that Sidney Dillon wants him to go to Texas and survey 200 miles of road.
January 20, 1870 | Letter
In this brief January 20, 1870 letter, a dejected Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family informing them that his accounts are still not settled. He admits that he is "heartily sick and tired of the unbusinesslike way in which I am treated and do not hesitate to let those who are here know the fact."
January 22, 1870 | Letter
In this January 22, 1870 letter, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing an outing to the museum at Harvard College, as he has yet to hear from the Union Pacific Company regarding his accounts.
January 28, 1870 | Letter
In this January 28, 1870 letter, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his work balancing construction accounts for the Union Pacific Railroad. He states that he "shall get clear of the U.P.R.R. Co. with a clean record as far as money accounts go." Reed continues to wait on his personal account, however.
January 31, 1870 | Letter
In this January 31, 1870 letter, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family announcing that he will close his accounts on February 1st. He boasts that "there are no company books and vouchers in New York or Boston that are in as good shape as the construction accounts I return from the west."
February 3, 1870 | Letter
In this February 3, 1870 letter, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family announcing that his business with the Union Pacific will be settled the following day. He also notes that he knows "the exact cost of the road from Omaha to the end," but does not give the figure. He further states that Sidney Dillon continues to discuss Reed's work on a Texas road, but "I had much rather build one in Illinois if I can make arrangements with Mr. Mitchell."
February 8, 1870 | Letter
In this February 8, 1870 letter, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family from New York, having finished his business in Boston. His personal accounts are not yet settled, but Sidney Dillon has promised him that "they shall be this week and the balance remitted to me at Joliet," Illinois.
March 19, 1870 | Illustration
This image from the March 19, 1870 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts workers and a snow plow attempting to clear a snow drift on the Pacific Railroad.
March 19, 1870 | Illustration
This image from the March 19, 1870 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts an accident due to a bridge collapse on the Mississippi Central Railroad.
April 28, 1870 | Legal decision
Catharine Brown's case--Case No. 4582--was scheduled to go to trial in October 1868 in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, but was delayed because of various procedural motions by the railroad's attorneys. When these motions were denied, the case was tried over three days in March 1870. The all white jury rendered a verdict of guilty against the railroad company and awarded Brown $1,500 in damages. Then, the defendant railroad attorney's sought an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Here is their statement of argument, denying that the railroad used violence or made derogatory remarks. Furthermore, in denying Brown's claims, the railroad argued that there were distinctions between through and local passenger types of service, even on the Baltimore and Ohio, and that separate colored cars on local lines were run at the request of black passengers.
February 25, 1871 | Illustration
This image from the February 25, 1871 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the recovery of bodies following a serious railroad accident at New Hamburg, New York.
February 25, 1871 | Illustration
This image from the February 25, 1871 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts New Hamburg, New York the morning following a serious railroad accident.
February 25, 1871 | Illustration
This image from the February 25, 1871 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts a burning railroad car following an accident at New Hamburg, New York.
April 22, 1871 | Illustration
This image from the April 22, 1871 issue of Harper's Weekly depicts the three large piers of the terminus of the Central Pacific Railroad in California.
January 1, 1872 | Letter
In this January 1, 1872 letter, Henry Wilson states that on the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company's lands in Iowa and Nebraska, "the class we most want is Farmers or Land buyers." In his estimation, the climate and environment are best suited for agriculture and the prospects for "persons dependent on their labor are not so good as in older States," which would make it difficult for them to succeed in America.
January 5, 1872 | Letter
In this January 5, 1872 letter from C. R. Schaller to A. E. Touzalin, Schaller outlines a plan to use London's conservative press to advertise the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company's lands in Nebraska.
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 10, 1872 | Illustration
This image from the February 10, 1872 issue of Harper's Weekly offers an artist's conception of the response of a train crew to a warning of impending disaster.