Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, April 19, 1867

In this letter from April 19, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing the recent flooding on the Platte River and his attempts to get the road repaired by the following week, when the Union Pacific's executive committee will arrive to inspect it.

Omaha, NE
April 19, 1867

Hereafter I shall have no faith in the saying of the oldest inhabitant. The water has risen in all streams emptying into the Platte beyond precedent. I hope to have the road so far repaired that we can get trains over it by the first of next week. The Doctor and committee to accept the road on the part of the company are in Chicago and, I understand, will leave there for Omaha tomorrow.

A superintendent will probably be appointed to run the road independent of construction. Mr. Snyder will doubtless be the man. In that case I shall go to North Platte, or at least spend most of my time there to be convenient to the work.