The Missouri Pacific Railway. A History/ (Title Page) A History Of The Missouri Pacific Railway

Missouri Pacific Railway

Publication: Pennsylvania Art Printing Company, 1888, Philadelphia

13" x 10" in printed wrappers. [100] pp., printed on one side only. Illustrations. Charts. Advertisements. Full-page photograph of Jay Gould. A very detailed history of the Missouri Pacific Railroad beginning with the fact that as early as 1849, "some of the most enterprising and far-seeing citizens of St. Louis conceived and began to agitate a national road, from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast." The War with Mexico had just ended and it became important that there be a more accessible way of reaching the gold mines and California and Nevada. The idea was brought before the government by the then Senator of Missouri, Hon. Thomas Benton. It was his speech that gave life to the Pacific Railroad (the earliest predecessor of the Missouri Pacific Railroad). Booklet gives information about the company's initial capital stock; election of various officials and their positions throughout the years; surveys conducted; the first act which provided for the insurance of State Bonds to the amount of $2,000,000 to the Pacific Railroad and going on to explain that the bonds were to be issued in sums of $50,000 running for 20 years and being paid 6%. Possible routes of the railway were discussed and decided on June 18, 1851, and it was decided to adopt the route through Choutian Pond, the valley of the Des Peres to the Maramec, and up the Maramec Valley (approximately 39 miles). Information on cost of building various lengths of the railroad; cost of properties purchased to extend railroad; improvements made to railroad; costs of improvements. On September 6, 1876, the Pacific Railroad was foreclosed by the third mortgage bondholders and sold, and the company purchasing the Pacific Railroad at a price of $13,700,000, reorganized under the name of the Missouri Pacific Railway, with a share capital of $3,000,000. From 1879 Missouri Pacific was under the control of successful but controversial New York financier Jay Gould until his death in 1892. Up until 1880 the Missouri Pacific Railway consisted of a single line connecting St. Louis and Kansas City via Jefferson City and Sedalia (approximately 300 miles). Gould's management introduced an era of consolidation and extension, eventually developing into one of the largest and most complete system in the world. Information on purchasing of various railroads along with mileage of each. Includes information on the main line of the Missouri Pacific Railway, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway and its branches, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railways and branches, the International and Great Northern Railway, the Central Branch of the Union Pacific Railway, the Texas and Pacific Railway; expansion to include information on the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad, Sedalia, Warsaw and Southern Railroad. Charts showing names of railroads; miles of line completed; number of locomotives, sleeping cars, chair cars, passenger cars; information on freight equipment for various railways; gross earnings & expenses of all lines; etc. Additional lines were finished during 1886, at total miles completed, 517; the total number of miles under construction, 758. etc. Information on the "Great Strike" of 1886, which extended over the entire length of the railway, paralyzing trade for over six weeks, in which 3,000 men belonging called the "Knights of Labor" most employed in the machinery and car department, simply quit, resorting to violence against those who did not want to walk off the job. Loss of revenue was astronomical. Offers the address by First Vice-President of the company to the employees which presents the real issues of the strike. Offers a Directory of the Missouri Pacific Railway System for 1888, naming the various railways and miles for each along with listing of members of the Executive, Legal, Land, Operating, Transportation, and Traffic Departments along with names of General and Traveling Agents. Black and white illustrations throughout surrounding text. 50 pages of beautiful advertisements, many in color to include advertisements for The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.; St. Louis Car Wheel Company, St. Louis, Mo.; William Sellers & Company, Philadelphia, Pa.; Chicago Tire and Spring Company, Chicago, Il.; The Sherwin Williams Co.; The Great American Refrigerator Transit Co., St. Louis, Mo.; The American Brake Company, St. Louis, Mo.; Schulenburg & Boeckler Lumber Co., St. Louis, Mo.; The Standard Steel Works Steel Tires, Philadelphia, Pa.; Chicago Varnish Co., Chicago, Il.; Pennsylvania Steel Company, Steelton, Pa.; Hussey - Binns & Co., Limited, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Sanford Mills, Boston, Ma.; Clarence Brooks & Co. Varnishes, New York; etc. Moderately worn with water staining to bottom edge of first 8 pages and to top corner edge of several advertisements. It appears that pages were stuck together and someone separated them, thereby tearing the tops of some pages; however, no soiling, water staining, or tearing does not affects any text or artwork. Covers and spine are moderately soiled and worn.
A wonderful piece of railroad history.