st two years and one
hundred miles a year thereafter, and after finishing their own line
they could unite on equal terms with the Union Pacific Railroad
Company in the construction of the latter's line west of the
hundredth-Meridian. This gave them the alternate sections of land
within five miles on either side and United States Bonds to the amount
of sixteen thousand dollars per mile,--similar to the aid extended the
Union Pacific Railroad Company by the Government.

The Leavenworth, Pawnee and Western Railroad Company had been
incorporated by the legislature of the state of Kansas in 1855, and
was organized in January, 1857, but nothing was done of any
consequence under its state Charter. The Company was re-organized
June, 1863, and changed its name to harmonize with the Act of Congress
to "Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division." Under its state Charter
it was to have extended from Leavenworth, Kan., on the East to Pawnee,
Kan. (Fort Riley) on the West, with the privilege of building on west
to the Kansas State line,--the state charter not permitting work
outside of the Kansas boundaries.

Ground was broken on the line at Wyandotte, Kan., the state line
between Kansas and Missouri, in August, 1863. Active grading commenced
at Wyandotte, September 1st, 1863. The contract for the construction
was first let by the Leavenworth, Pawnee, and Western Railroad Company
to Ross, Steele and Company, but before they got down to actual work
the Company had been re-organized as the Union Pacific Railway,
Eastern Division, and had changed hands. The work was begun by Samuel
Hallett who had been very prominent in promoting the latter Company,
the contract being in the name of Hallett and Fremont. The Fremont
being the erstwhile candidate for the Presidency of the United States.
He is best known today as "The Pathfinder," from his several exploring
expeditions between the Mississippi Valley and the Pacific Ocean.
Fremont had been identified with the idea of a railroad to the Pacific
in the interest of St. Louis, Mo. He, however, did not continue as one
of the contractors but withdrew. It was a time of bitter feeling over
the Slavery Question. Missouri was "Pro Slavery," Kansas "Free Soil."
Hallett inaugurated his work by planting a post inscribed on the
Missouri side "Slavery," and on the Kansas side "Freedom." Mr. Hallett
was assassinated on the streets of Wyandotte, July 27th, 1864. An
employee named Talbot had surreptitiously w