Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, May 14, 1867

In this letter from May 14, 1867, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing recent Indian attacks near Julesburg, Nebraska. He also mentions that since the railroad has been completed from Omaha, NE to North Platte, his only concern will be with the new construction to the west. The eastern section will be "the same to me as any foreign road."

Omaha, NE, NE
May 14, 1867

I have just come in from North Platte for a day or two and shall return there tomorrow evening.

The Indians are troublesome in the vicinity of Julesburg. One of Mr. Boyles sub-contractors has lost 20 mules. They were run off last Friday night. I fear the grading will be delayed if we do not have ample protection from the government. The road to North Platte has been accepted by the company. My base of operations will be North Platte. The road east is the same to me as any foreign road. This arrangement takes off my hands an immense amount of labor and leaves me to devote all my energies to building the new road which I shall do and hope and expect to astonish the world at the rapidity the road will be built. Your presence would be of immense benefit to me.

(On the 9th day of May 1866, but 40 miles of road were completed. In 182 working days thereafter, 25 additional miles were laid and put in prime condition, every rail and tie and spike having been brought up from the rear. The bridge at Loop Fork is 1500 feet long and as fine a Howe truss as can be found in the land. While our train was running the sixty miles from North Platte, over a mile of track had been put down, and our train passed over it.)