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No. 5

Read Dec 7 1868

Salt Lake Dec 1st 1868

Friend Mark

Your letters of the 14th to 17th ult
each marked No 11 each. I arrived here
last night from the Promontory where
Col Gray and self spent several days
with [Clem?] and Bates trying to
improve the line or rather to avoid the
tunnel. We are able to avoid the
tunnel somewhat at the expense
of the [alignment?] and save
probably $75000.00 we shall have
one fill of about 100000 yds. The
Union Pacific have a line very close
to ours on which they say they intend
to build. After we have our line
well covered I may act on this
question of right of way. I am
revolving the question in my
mind and may be I will by and
large see clearly a course to pursue