Mark Hopkins

105

Recd. Apl. 17/69

Salt Lake March 14th 1869

Friend Mark

I arrived at Brigham City a week ago to night. I have telegraphed to let you know the situation.

Our work is going on well and is so far advanced that there need be no delay in track laying from end of present track to Ogden in consequence of grading. The U P have changed their line so as to cross us five times with unuqual grades between Bear River and the Promontory.

They have done this purposely as there was no necessity for so doing.

I think they have calculated on a report of the Special Commission favorable to this line and but for the addition of Clum to the Commission would have got it. That the thing was set up with Warren and every thing understood as to what the U P needed I have no doubt. His behavior has indicated

that he had a part to fill. Bo. was safe to adopt his own line besides his friendship for Dodge was another strong reliance.

Warren & B did not wish to go to Echo Summit to examine uncompleted line claiming uncompleted line to be only between the ends of this track. I made strong representation to Williamson and he and Clum determined on going and B concluded to go with them but Warren came down here in charge of U. P. people.

I dont think any report will be ready to mail for a week or more. Then there will be disagreement and two reports probably.

If the U. P. could have got report favorable to ther line I conclude their intention to have been to deny that we had the right of way and claim it for themselves and that we must not get on it. Hence their crossing us and at inequal grades. They have laid track about three miles

west of Ogden. I do not intend to finish up our line but keep men scattered along it until our track is close upon them, I dont think there will be any attempt to finish our line while it is unfinished and we are working it.

I am strongly of the opinion that if it were known that we had the bonds for unfinished work that the U P would call off their grading. They commenced to break ground last Monday on the heavy work at the Promontory. We shall serve notice for them not to interfere with our line and rest there for the present.

Just now as we have those bonds it seems to me we had better keep quiet if they do not crowd too hard and get our track forward as fast as possible. I shall keep Judge Robinson here probably until every thing is safe, when that will be I dont know.

Yours truly

Leland Stanford

From

Leland Stanford (Salt Lake)

March 14, 1869

Recd. Apl. 17th

Our work progressing well, & will be ready for the track layers.

Blinkey & Warren are against us.

Cluns app. interferes with their plan.

There will be two reports - 2 & 2.

Our having the Bonds will damp the U. Co. expectations.

Will keep Robinson at Salt Lake

San Franco July 19 1869

Received at Sacto July 19 1869 150 PM

To Mark Hopkins

Arrangement made for one hundred thousand 100,000 as per yours of the seventeenth 17

Leland Stanford

17Dh