Letter from Peter A. Dey to Samuel B. Reed, April 25, 1864

In this letter from April 25, 1864, Peter A. Dey, Chief Engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, writes to Samuel Reed informing him that the Board of Directors has assigned him to survey the land between the Great Salt Lake Valley and Green River in Utah. He states that "President [Brigham] Young has volunteered to furnish you party and transportation for your work." Dey gives detailed descriptions of the areas through which the line will most likely have to be run, telling Reed that "it will be safe to sacrifice distance and straight lines to cost of construction."

Copy of Instructions to S.B. Reed
Engineers Office Union Pacific Rail Road

Omaha
April 25^th 1864

Samuel B. Reed Esq. Dear Sir

By Order of the Board of Directors you have been assigned to the Survey between the Great Salt Lake Valley and Green River. President Young has volunteered to furnish you party and transportation for your work. You will take with you Mr. Mathewson as Assistant and form the balance of party there. To accomplish what is necessary you will probably have to run two distinct lines the whole or most of the distance.

The first line should start from Great Salt Lake City and run up the valley to the point where the Weber breaks through the Mountains, thence up the Valley to either Echo Creek or Morine fork called on some maps White Chalk Creek to the summit then down to Bear River from there to some branch of Blacks fork and probably following it to a point nearly opposite the mouth of Bitter Creek thence across the table land to Green River where you will connect with Mr. Evan's Line. In case you should reach there before him place some conspicuous monument that he may be able to find it.

On your return you will follow nearer the Uutah [sic] Mountains running if practicable considerably south of Fort Bridger, and in case you are forced to make the Weber valley run up it into Kamas Prairie then down the Timpanogosto Lake Utah and round the foot of Lake to the river Jordan. At intermediate points on this survey you must run I think quite a number of lines, for instance you may be able to cross the Summit between Echo and Yellow Creeks on the Weber line or may make the crossing easier by White Chalk Creek. Or you may be able to reach Bear River from the Timpanogosto Lake Utah and thence by a direct line to Blacks fork near its mouth. Actual examination will alone develop that rugged country and there is not enough known of that region to give you more than a general outline.

From Salt Lake City and the foot of Lake Utah you will make a reconnoisance [sic] west through Tuilla and Spring Valleys and determine as near as you can the most feasible route west from both points, this need not be an instruemental [sic] Survey and would not advise it unless you have time after exhausting the country between Green River and the Valley. But see the country west fifty or sixty miles, as the route west may decide the approach to the Valley from the East. The Board rely upon your known experience and ability to secure a line within their limit of gradients and within reasonable cost of construction, if the formation of the country will admit of it. As a general rule it will be safe to sacrifice distance and straight lines to cost of construction, the aims of the company bring to secure a line they can afford to build.

Respectfully Yours
Peter A. Dey