OCR Text |
Show comparatively little work was done ou'' the road for a ported of close to a twelve month, and this delayed the completion of the road that would otherwise oth-erwise have been constructed la three jears. 'BUILDING' OF GOULD ROAD High tribute was paid to the Utah Construction company for Its Bharo In the building of the Western Pacific railroad when the business interests of California represented In the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and the ofllcials of the road met at a banquet ban-quet siven January 7. Tho occasion had the double purpose pur-pose of honoring Chief Engineer V. G. Bogue of the Western Pacific, and signalizing tho completion of the newest new-est Pacific highway. Felicitous speeches marked the banquet ban-quet evenlag, and the speakers were men prominent In the commercial affairs af-fairs of the west and high officials In railroad circles. President W. H. Wat-tls Wat-tls of the Utah Construction company was an Invlled guest. Fie returned from the coast this morning. Chief Engineer Bogue, in his response, re-sponse, took occasion to thank the workers upon whom fell the task of the actual construction, and to compliment com-pliment the Utah Construction company com-pany for Its great share in tho building build-ing of the road. Chief Engineer Bogue said: "A railroad has been built across the mountains and plains from San Francisco to Salt Lake City, nine hundred twenty-seven miles. It has been a great Undertaking, one of tho greatest of our timo "You have asked us to meet you here at this banquet to congratulate us,' aud as well yourselves and the people at large, on the completion of this work, and to greet and welcome those who aro to operate the property. "In behalf of all those brave men and good who have been associated with me, as well as In ray own behalf, I extend thanks for the high honor you here pay us. I shall always remember this occasion with gratitude and pride. "A railroad like the Western Pacific Is the outcome of a vast amount of human endeavor. No man can claim all tho credit. There are the original origin-al promoters, tho engineering, legal nnd accounting stalfs, the contractors and workmen, and above all the bankers bank-ers and the company which may stand as guarantee that the funds for construction con-struction will be provided. Besides all these there are the multifarious elements, including moral support such as you have extended to us, all of which go to make up the total. "The conception of a competing road from San Francisco to Salt Lake City bad been often considered by various companies and engineers during dur-ing many years before the construction construc-tion of the Western Pacific was undertaken, un-dertaken, but with respect to the idea which the Western Pacific now represents, repre-sents, lasting credit should be given our worthy president, Mr. E, T. Jeff-ery, Jeff-ery, of New York. A former citizen of San Francisco also had much to do with the enterprise In Its inception, incep-tion, and I want to say here, that bo ought not to be altogether forgotten here. "The construction of the Western Pacific has been carried on during troublous times. We have had to contend con-tend with serious shortage of labor, and transportation facilities, with two big floods, the fire which destroyed San Francisco, and the panic of 1907. The effect of all those cannot be fully ful-ly appreciated except by those who aro familiar with their effects upon works such as ours. They have been demoralizing and discouraging, but through all contingencies and difficulties difficul-ties our president In New York, upon whose shoulders fell the task of devising de-vising ways and means of providing funds, also Mr. George Gould and the bankers, Mr. Blair, Mr. Solomon and Mr. Read, have stood by us with unflagging un-flagging interest and zeal. No matter what difficulty presented itself they have not faltered but havo gone steadily stead-ily forward with faith In the outcome. "I deslro especially to say a word in ibebalf of tho engineers, who have assisted as-sisted me these years, many of whom havo displayed great talent. Many of thoni have frequently risked their lives along the canyons of the North Fork of the Feather river and its tributaries trib-utaries from day to day in making the surveys and setting the points for the guidance of contractors and workmen. They havo thus shown a willingness to give tap all in behalf of this enterprise. enter-prise. They are our heroes. "I must not fall to mention also the great contracting firm. The Utah Construction Con-struction company, which had the contract for most of the line. They havo done their work in the most faithful manner aud have been fair and honest in their transactions with us. "As to myself, the work has been one of prido nnd love; pride in the work itself aud pride of profession, and lovo because I believed, and be-llevo be-llevo now more than ever, that It would result in great benefit to this plorious state of California and this beautiful city of San Francisco, which have always been near my heart since I came to know time It has seemed to me during the darkest days that it was something which would not only benefit this state and city, but would mark a step In advance of civilization and of mankind. Feeling thus there has never been a moment when I have been quite dlscouragod. No matter how serlocs the occasion might be, the next morning sun brought with It renewed determination and energy for the problem. "Whatever my future may be. I shall always remember my friends hero and this city and state as coining coin-ing nearer to my ideal of a suitable locality for a home than any other place In the world. "Happy New Year and happy future fu-ture to you all." The construction of the Western Pacific Pa-cific was begun nearly four and one-half one-half yeans ago, and was completed d urine; the latter part of December, 1909. Its total length, from Salt Lake to San Francisco. Is 929 miles, and of this the Utah Construction company com-pany constructed 722 miles Tho bond issue providing for the road is 75,-000,000. 75,-000,000. Tho construction of tho road was attended by numerous engineering difficulties, especially at the California Califor-nia end and along the north fork of tho Feather river. Considerable heavy tunnelling wan necessary, and la many places the rock work was exceedingly havy. At times the construction con-struction company bad from 7,000 to 8,ono men employed on the road, and operated many steam shovels. Owing to the panic and financial de- ' presslon In tho years 1907 and 190$, |