onds were but little better, being worth but
sixty-five cents on the dollar. Durant and his friends were not men of
wealth nor did they command the confidence of wealthy men. The Company
had become greatly involved and was compelled to sell some of its
rolling stock to pay pressing debts. It was at this junction that
Oakes Ames entered the field, being persuaded, it is said, to do so by
President Lincoln who desired to enlist his well-known executive
ability and capital in the enterprise. Through the efforts of himself
and associates the paid up subscriptions were increased to two and a
half million dollars.

The original or first contract made with Hoxie for a hundred miles had
been extended to cover up to the hundredth Meridian, and the line to
that point, two hundred and forty-seven miles from Omaha, was
completed October 5th, 1866.

The second contract made was with a Mr. Boomer for one hundred and
fifty-three and thirty-five hundredths miles from the hundredth
Meridian west, at the rate of nineteen thousand five hundred dollars
per mile for that part of the distance East of the North Platte River
and twenty thousand dollars per mile west thereof. Bridges, station
buildings, and equipment to be additional. This contract was also
assigned to the Credit Mobilier. On this, fifty-eight miles were
completed when dissensions arose, occasioned by financial stringency
among the stockholders of the Credit Mobilier. Vice-President Durant
going into court, compelled suspension of action on the third
contract, made March 1st, 1867, with one J. M. Williams who had
assigned it to the Credit Mobilier. This covered two hundred and
sixty-six and fifty-two hundredths miles, commencing at the hundredth
Meridian at the rate of fifty thousand dollars per mile. For a time
matters were at a standstill, injunctions preventing the completion of
present or the making of new contracts.

Finally a compromise was affected between the two factions, Durant and
his friends on the one side, and the Ames interests on the other.

Under this, a fourth contract was made with Oakes Ames for which he
was to receive from forty-two thousand to ninety-six thousand dollars
per mile or forty-seven million nine hundred and fifteen thousand
dollars for six hundred and sixty-seven miles, commencing at the
hundredth Meridian. This it is supposed is the largest contract ever
made by one individual. It was later transferred by Oakes Ames to
seven trustees acti