History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

UNION AND CENTRAL PACIFIC. 755
Central Pacific, including forty miles of road between
Ogden and the promontory, had been completed
and accepted; but on the 10th of May, 18G9, it was
claimed by the saints that the former company was
indebted to them in the sum of $1,000,000, and the
two companies about $1,250,000. Toward the close
of the year John Taylor, Joseph A. Young, and John
Sharp 9 went eastward, with a view to bringing the
In 1S68 Gen. Connor built and launched a small steamer, named the Kate
Connor, for carrying railroad ties and telegraph poles from the southern to
the northern shore of the G. S. Lake. lies, and Attract, of Utah, 63. The
ties were for the Union Pacific. This appears to have been the first steamer
that navigated the lake, though in the S. F. Bulletin, July 29, 18.">6, it is
stated that there was one at that date. In 1SG9 an excursion steamer was
built, and in 1870 a boat costing §45,000, first named the City of Carbine, and
then the General Garfield. In 1879 the latter was still used mainly for excursions,
as there was little freight to be had. At this date there was a considerable
yachting fleet on the lake, the first, and for some years the only
yacht, being built by the Walker Bros. For description of excursions on G.
S. Lake in 1879, see Marshall's Through Amer., 191; for navigation on the
Colorado in 1865, Austin Reese River Reveille", June 27, 1865; in 1873, Prescott
Miner, Jan. 18, 1873.
9 Bishop Sharp, known in Utah also as the railroad bishop, was born in
1820 at the Devon iron-works, Scotland, and when eight years of age went to
work in a coal-pit. In 1847, being then a coal-miner in Clackmannanshire,
he was converted to Mormonism, and the following year sailed for New Orleans
with his two brothers, who had also joined the faith. They reached S.
L. City in 1850. Here Sharp was first employed in quarrying stone for the
tabernacle and tithing-office, and was soon afterward made superintendent of
the quarry. In 1854 he was ordained a bishop, and ten years later was appointed
assistant superintendent of public works. When the contract was
made with the Union Pacific by Brigham, as above mentioned, Sharp was
one of the principal sub-contractors. In 1871 he became superintendent of
the Utah Central, and in 1873 president, having previously been elected vicepresident
of the Utah Southern. While employed as purchasing agent for
the latter company in the eastern states, he became associated with the directors
of the Union Pacific, by whom he was afterward elected a member of the
board. Among those who were awarded contracts by the Central Pacific was
Lorin Farr, who, with Benson and West as partners, graded 200 miles of the
road, Aaron F. Farr being employed as superintendent. Lorin Farr also took
an active part in the building of the Utah Central and Utah Northern, of which
more later, and was one of the prime movers in bringing the Denver and Rio
Grande into Ogden. In 1868 he built the Ogden woollen-mills in conjunction
with Randall Pugsley and Neil, and for 20 years was mayor of that city.
Aaron F. Farr was for six years probate judge of Weber co., and was elected
a member of the Utah legislature.
In connection with the Central Pacific may be mentioned the name of James
Forbes, their agent at Ogden between 1869 and 1S84, and in connection with
the Union Pacific, A. G. Fell, at the latter date superintendent of division in
the same city. Forbes, a native of Conn., came to Cal. when 16 years of age,
and after being engaged in mining for several years, was appointed agent for
the C. P. R. R. at Elko, New, soon after the line was opened, removing
thence to Utah a few months later. Fell, a native of Ontario, Can., and in
18G7 employed in the traiu-despatcher's office at Montreal, also removed to
Utah in 1867.
Joshua R. Nichols, appointed assist super. U. P. R. R. in July 1869, says