Mark Hopkins

#10

Recd. Dec 21 1868

Salt Lake Dec 13th 1868

Friend Mark

Your letter [Nos?] 14 and 15th dated respectively 2 and 3 Dec each

I have held the theory steadily that the approved line is the only proper our and have acted upon it. Yet any policy seems to be the reverse of Huntington He writes about freeing the U.P. on to the accepted line or else to stop them and wonders that I do not do our or the other. Now my idea is and has been that if our theory is sound that the accepted line is the only Pacific RR line then let the UP work off it and

when they want to [dragev?] Bonds on their line raise the question. It was in pursuance of this policy that I did not want our line [must?] from Ogden so indicated that the U.P. would work on it but that they should go to work on their line and give us the chance to occupy our own line without hindrance. M have now got the line well well occupied and I presume the right of way secured through all [possibility?] claims though I have not heard of Bishops wish entire [success?] He had at east report secured all in Ogden county but has not exported as to Box Elder

the county worth of Ogden and which [Embeoces?] all not in Ogden [le?]. I think we are now in pretty good condition as to the line west of OGden. But east it is another matter Huntington in his last letter rode last night and of date Dec 2 says "It does seem to me as the it would be well to set some at work on the west end of the tunnel if you can get at it"

Now Echo Summit Tunnel is 330 miles east of our 435th mile which may have been reached last night. To go to work at Echo SUmmit seems to me such utter folly in every way that it can be viewed that I am satisfied

That either Hungitngton or I [completely?] fail to comprehend the situation. I intend to go to Ogden tomorrow and if things are safe to leave I shall telegraph Huntington tomorrow at Omaha and Start from Ogden go up the [miller?] along the line of the U.P. and if possible along the [easter?] line to the end of their track

I was in hope to be home by Christmas but I shall have to give that up one my venture from Omaha to shall probably start and go over our own line to Humboldt Wells. There are [euestons?] of classifications which each be settled until I can [upset?] the work.

Yours truly Leland Stanford

Echo City 16 1868

Sac Dec 16 10:10 AM

Mark Hopkins

Expect to meet Huntington at Omoha on the 22nd

Leland Stanford

10DHCPRR