History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

756 COMMERCE AND COMMUNICATION.
matter to an issue, and so vigorously and adroitly did
they press their claim, that, in the absence of funds,
rolling stock and material to the value of $600,000
were assigned to them in paj^ment.
On the 17th of May, one week after the completion
of the transcontinental railroad, ground was broken
near the Weber River for a line between Ogden and
Salt Lake City, to be named the Utah Central. 10
The road w T as built and equipped mainly with the
material and rolling stock transferred from the Union
Pacific; for even at this date there was little money
in Utah, mining and traffic being as yet undeveloped,
and the entire floating currency of the community was
probably less than $5,000,000. This, the pioneer line
of Utah, is the only one which has preserved its
original identity, and that it has done so is perhaps
due to the fact that it forms the main connecting link
between the route of transcontinental traffic and the
principal distributing point for the country.
In May 1871 ground was broken at Salt Lake City
for the Utah Southern, 11 the line being pushed forward
at intervals both north and south through some
of the richest lands in Utah, until, in June 1879, its
northern terminus was at Provo, 12 and its southern
limit at Juab, 105 miles south of the capital. 13 Later
that for three months after that date no director or manager dare travel on the
line without a body-guard. Nichols' Mining Much., MS.
10 For act granting right of way, see House Ex. Doc, 46th Cong. 3d Sess.,
xxvi. 974; Cong. Globe, 1870-1, p. 329; Zabriskie's Land Laws, 1877, suppl. 19;
Grant's Rights and Priv. Utah Cent. R. R. Co., in which last are the articles
of association, by-laws, and a copy of the mortgage executed by the company
to secure its first-mortgage bonds. Brigham Young was president, W. Jennings
vice-president, Dan. H. Wells treasurer, and John W. Young secretary;
the first three, together with Feramorz Little and Christ. Layton, forcning
the board of directors. The original capital was §1,500,000, divided into
15,000 shares of $100 each. It does not appear that the directors had much
faith in the undertaking, for none of them, except Brigham, subscribed for
more than twenty shares, while Layton took only 10, and Little 5 shares. For
celebration when ground was broken, see S. F. Bulletin, May 19, 1869; Tullidge's
Mag., i. 477; for ceremonies, etc., when the road was completed, Des~
eret News, Jan. 12, 1870; S. F. Abend Post, Jan. 12, 1876; Scientific Press,
Jan. 15, 1870; Tullidge's Life of Young, 362-3.
11
Deseret News, May 3, 1871.
*"
For bill granting right of way, see Cong. Globe, 1874-5; for special privs,
Provo City Revised Ordin., 127-9.
"13
Yov further items as to the Utah Southern, see Williams' Pac. Tourist,