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  • | Letter

    Letter from Danforth H. Ainsworth to Samuel B. Reed, June 16, 1865

    In this letter from June 16, 1865, Danforth H. Ainsworth writes to Samuel Reed describing the progress of the Union Pacific Railroad construction in and around Omaha, Nebraska. He states that unwillingness on the part of the President and the Secretary of the Interior to approve a change of the line to Mud Creek caused quite a bit of excitement in Omaha, noting that "the Omahas were pretty thoroughly frightened, and for a few days Bellevue stock had an upward tendency." Ainsworth also tells Reed that he wrote to Mrs. Reed to tell her "she might consider you beyond danger from indians, at least on your trip to Salt Lake."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Danforth H. Ainsworth to Samuel B. Reed, April 13, 1860

    In this letter from April 13, 1860, Danforth H. Ainsworth writes to Samuel Reed discussing his position in Iowa City, Iowa as resident engineer. He states that he "would like it pretty well if I had only a respectable salary," noting that he had wanted to work on his farm but did not have enough money to "take on the first year's experiments." Ainsworth concludes that he can stand his position so long as it is not often necessary to explain delinquent payments to his suppliers.

  • | Letter

    Letter from D. F. Vanniss to George P. Cather, December 23, 1878

    On December 23, 1878 D.F. Vanniss informs George P. Cather of a death in his family delaying his trip to Nebraska. Vanniss wants to purchase a productive 160 acres of railroad land and asks Cather if he can buy it before he arrives to ensure that it is not sold to someone else. He tells Cather that he plans to make Webster County his new home, and wonders about the possibility of growing fruit in Nebraska-requesting that Cather send him a report of the temperature on New Year's Day.

  • | Letter

    Letter from D. F. Shipre to George P. Cather, September 23, 1901

    A year and a half after sending his first letter to George P. Cather, D.F. Shipre writes again on in September 1901, to inquire about purchasing or leasing land adjoining his current spread. He tells Cather that he wants the land as pasture for his cattle and estimates paying a higher price for the land than he did in his first letter. Inquiring about Cather's slow response and fearing it is because Cather distrusts land agents, Shipre informs Cather that he is only a farmer and a poor one at that.

  • | Letter

    Letter from D. F. Shipre to George P. Cather, March 3, 1900

    On March 3, 1900, D.F. Shipre of Quickville, Kansas writes to George P. Cather about the possibility of buying or leasing the land adjoining his current property. He estimates the cost at $100-$175 per quarter section (about 160 acres).

  • | Letter

    Letter from D. F. Jewell to George P. Cather, September 30, 1927

    In his September 20, 1927 letter to George P. Cather, D.F. Jewell asks about the possibility of buying or leasing some of Cather's land or selling or trading his own.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Cordelia L. Bailey to Jennie Reed, November 3, 1867

    In this letter from November 3, 1867, Cordelia L. Bailey writes to Jennie Reed, wife of Samuel Reed, inquiring why she has not written in so long. She asks if Mr. Reed will remain in the West throughout the winter, and if it would be alright to send her son Walter west even though "the season is so far advanced." Bailey states she believes it would be a good time for Walter to go west, given that "the Indians seem to have been awed, or coaxed into a more peaceful frame of mind."

  • | Letter

    Letter from Clifford Percival to John H. Devereux, October 13, 1863

    An engineer/machinist escaped from the South inquires about employment opportunities on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet to the Virginia Board of Public Works, November 5, 1854

    Claudius Crozet comments on the problems with white labor on the Tunnel project, and the possibilities for increasing the use of black slaves.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet to the Virginia Board of Public Works, December 28, 1854

    In one of his regular reports to the Board of Public Works, Claudius Crozet comments on the use of enslaved labor and the use of "time" that its employment enables. Because slaves were worked longer hours, often in gangs, and not paid by the hour, unlike whites, they could be transferred from one task to the next until their annual hire was renegotiated with the slaveholder.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet to the President and Directors of the Blue Ridge Railroad Co., May 6, 1850

    Claudius Crozet keeps the Board informed of the project's progress on the Blue Ridge and measures that progress in numbers of "hands" employed and the amount of rock and earth moved.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet to the President and Directors of Public Works, November 15, 1850

    Claudius Crozet reports on his disagreement with the Tunnel's general contractor.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet to the Board of Public Works, Reporting the Progress of Work for November, 1853

    Claudius Crozet reports on labor costs and the national labor market as it affects the Blue Ridge tunnel project. He encourages the Board to consider a mixed labor force of white and enslaved black workers as a means to keep both in check.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet to the Board of Public Works, January 17, 1854

    Under pressure from the legislature to complete the Blue Ridge Tunnel project as soon as possible and at reasonable cost, Claudius Crozet outlined the progress on the construction for the Board of Public Works.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet to the Board of Public Works Reporting the Condition of Work, August 2, 1853

    Claudius Crozet explains what he thinks prompted the strike among the Tunnel workers in April 1853 for $1.50 a day wages.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet to Governor John B. Floyd, November 15, 1850

    The Kelly contract dispute occupied the first year of Claudius Crozet's project to build the Blue Ridge Tunnel. This letter from Kelly to the Governor of Virginia explains the contractor's view of his contract and his disagreement with Claudius Crozet, the chief engineer. Kelly claims his contract was to include the building of some parts of the project, while Crozet let these to another contractor at a much lower price.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet Reporting the Condition of Work Under his Charge, December 1, 1854

    Commenting on the unreliablity of Irish labor, Claudius Crozet recommends to the Board of Public Works that they hire black enslaved labor instead.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet Reporting the Cholera Epidemic at the Blue Ridge Tunnel, September 1, 1854

    When cholera broke out among Irish workers at the Blue Ridge Tunnel, Claudius Crozet reported on the epidemic and the various problems on the project with contractors.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Claudius Crozet Reporting Generally upon the Conditions of the Work, August 2, 1853

    Claudius Crozet reports on the changing costs of labor in 1853.

  • | Letter

    Letter from Chester Weed to Samuel B. Reed, October 26, 1860

    In this letter from October 26, 1860, Chester Weed writes to Samuel Reed regarding the possible sale of right-of-way and depot ground near Oskaloosa, Iowa to the Mahaska County Railroad Company. Weed states he would like to be sure they get the most possible out of the land, but does not want "our interest so tied up that we can't give right of way to the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad if they ever want it." He asks Samuel Reed to go out to Oskaloosa as soon as possible and see to the situation, as he is much better acquainted with the "lay of the land."