Mark Hopkins

[Rcvd. Janry 25/69.?]

Ogden January 15th 1869

Friend Mark

On my return from Omaha I found quite a number of letters from you, they were all interesting as your letters always are and each one deserved an answer, but as Huntington was going on to California I concluded he should answer all.

He has been and returned, and it has been a great satisfaction to me that he has been out and learned the true state of matters.

Col Gray left here this morning for California. He will be able to post you as to matters here more fully than I can write. The weather continues remarkably good. So far for us it has been a failure in great part?. Ives says two years ago last September when he was at Echo Summit snow fell four feet. Such a fall of snow this year would have saved us notwithstanding the slow progress of our track. After the {words crossed out} report of the Special [Commrs?] on the U.P. { next words crossed out] showing clearly an unfinished road [word crossed out] Govt gave the U.P. its full amount of bonds. It is not very encouraging for us to believe that they will withhold bonds

from the UP for the track through Echo & Weber because they are not exactly on our line approved by the Sec of the Interior. To me it seems what we can fairly hope for is to have our line to Ogden on which we have worked accorded to us. And that claiming more is likely to weaken our case. We are working substantially along our whole line between Ogden and Monument Pt. From Ogden to Bear River the two lines are generally from 500 feet to a quarter of a mile apart. At one point they are within probably two hundred feet. From Bear River to the Promontry the UP are close to us and cross us twice, on the Promontory itself they will be very close to us, but they have so many lines, some crossing us and some occasionally running within a few feet of us and no work on any that I cannot tell you exactly how the two lines will be. They are still surveying there for a location.

Our work from Ogden to Monument goes very slowly. Our contractors have many excuses. But the real trouble

is they are trying to do the work too close.

But I have started Brigham after them and they give indication of doing better. I will get all done here that I can, but we must rely upon Strobridges forces to finish up the work and to have the grade ready for the track.

To day I have been preparing affidavits to be signed by Clun Ives & Stevenson as to variation of the UP line in Weber & Echo from approved line, and as to their temporary track of about (8) eight miles around Tunnel and heavy work west and near Echo Summit. To day Mr Ives expects to have finished tracing of our map filed at Washington, showing variations of UP line. I think they will all be ready to go off to morrow.

Dont you think it best to apply for two thirds on W Pacific. I think we had better without delay. I shall be over to California as soon as possible

Yours truly

Leland Stanford

#12.

From.

Leland Stanford. Salt Lake.

Jany 15. 1869.

Glad Huntington came & saw for himself.

Gray left this morning for Sacramento.

Discription of progress of grade at east end.

How near & parallel Union line is to ours.

Ives maps & affidavits showing U.Co. grade & its variations from official line is nearly ready to to send to C.P.H.

Thinks reports on unfinished work should be had immediately.

Ogden, Jan. 21, 1869 Sac(ramento) Jan. 21 9:11 AM Mark Hopkins

I propose to start from Salt Lake City tomorrow morning for California Leland Stanford

10DH CPRR V