the
terms of the original act, an appeal was made to Congress resulting in
a supplementary act passing the House of Representatives, July 2nd,
1864, and soon thereafter becoming law. This increased the amount of
the Land Grant to the odd numbered sections within ten miles of either
side the track, and made the bonds of the Government a second mortgage
instead of first, they to be issued on sections of twenty miles
instead of forty, two-thirds of the bonds being available as soon as
the grading was done. The limit extended in which the line must be
completed, and but one-half the earnings on Government business
withheld to meet the bonds. The Company was also authorized to
maintain a ferry or ferries across the Missouri River at Omaha as a
means of connection with the Iowa Lines until such time as they could
construct a bridge suitable for this purpose. Coupled with these
favorable amendments were two provisions that eventually militated
against the Company. One of them permitting the Kansas Pacific Railway
to connect with the Union Pacific Railroad at any point its projectors
saw fit at or east of a point fifty miles west of Denver, Colo.,
instead of at the hundredth Meridian. This created a competitor
instead of a feeder. The second was allowing the Central Pacific
Railroad Company to build on east one hundred and fifty miles to meet
the road from the East instead of stopping at the California State
line. The restriction to one hundred and fifty miles was withdrawn in
subsequent legislation. This resulted in a race as to which Company
should cover the most ground and involved both of them in much
additional expense. With the Charter thus amended, the Union Pacific
Railroad Company which had not thus far done any real work, commenced
active construction. The Credit Mobilier was formed to do the actual
building, and with many trials, discouragements, and unforeseen
expense, the work was continued to its completion.

The initial eastern point had been fixed by the Charter two hundred
and forty-seven miles west of Omaha--at the hundredth Meridian,
branches being contemplated to connect it with the Missouri River. In
1866 Congress authorized commencement at Omaha without reference to
this fact,--the line to extend from Omaha to a connection with the
Central Pacific Railroad.

The question of the gauge or width of track was another matter that
occupied the attention of Congress. The question had by the Charter
been left