that year and the two following. Financial stringency
together with complications arising over their relations with the
Kansas Pacific Railway forced the abandonment of the project. After
the consolidation in 1880 the line was recommenced, practically new
grades being necessary. It was completed in 1882, the work being done
under the Colorado Central Railroad Charter.

All of the above lines were absorbed by the Union Pacific Railway and
were a part of that system up to 1893 when the total mileage reached
eight thousand one hundred and sixty-seven, made up of one thousand
eight hundred and twenty-three miles Union Pacific and six thousand
three hundred and forty-four miles, owned, leased and controlled. On
the 13th of October, 1893, the United States Court at Omaha appointed
S. H. H. Clark, Oliver W. Mink, and E. Ellery Anderson, Receivers, and
in the following month Frederick R. Coudert and J. W. Doane were added
to represent the interests of the United States, this receivership
being forced on the Company by the very general business depression of
1893 and the consequent decrease in traffic and earnings. At the time
of appointing receivers for the main line, the Texas Line and the
Denver, Leadville and Gunnison (South Park) were segregated and placed
under the control of separate receivers. The Oregon Short Line and the
Oregon Railway and Navigation Company reverted to the hands of the
original Companies, and have ever since been operated independently,
although the controlling interest in both lines is owned by the Union
Pacific Railway Company. In all, three thousand one hundred and
thirteen miles of affiliated lines were segregated from the parent
Company. In February, 1899, the "Julesburg Cut Off"--Julesburg to
Denver--reverted to the Company, having been operated by the Receiver
of the Union Pacific Denver and Gulf Railway in the interim.

Among other troubles which the line has encountered during its
thirty-eight years existence has been that of train-robbers. These
were a class of men the outgrowth of Western desperadoism, now happily
passed into history. Without the fear of God, Man, or the Law, they
would singly or in bands attack trains, rob the mail, express and
sometimes the passengers.

Among the most noted cases of this kind were the Big Springs Robbery,
occurring September 18th, 1877, when a gang of twelve masked men took
possession of the station at that point, bound and gagged the
employees, cuttin