This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1869 Excerpt: ...the crest of the Sierra Nevada. The Company intend to complete the road from Sacramento to Virginia City 156 miles in 1867 - " Austin 320 " " 1868 " " Salt Lake City 585 - "1870 The estimated cost and equipment of the road from Sacramento to the state line of California are estimated at $14,000,000. For 15 miles, the pathway up the ascent of the Sierra Nevada has been cut in solid granite. Daring the progress of the work, the daily consumption of powder was 350 kegs, worth 81400. During the fall 1866, the working force was 8,000 Chinese. The number of horses and mules employed upon the road was 1200. This spring the Company intend to increase their industrial force to 12,000 or 15,000 men. In 1866, the earnings of the Central Pacific were: From Sacramento to Colfax, 62 miles, May, $65,000 " - " " June, 67,000 - " Alta, 69 - July, 85,000 " - - - August, 112,000 " " " " September, 114,000 - " - " October, 127,000 From Sacramento to Cisco, the tarif of rates is $9,50 for passengers, and 814.00 a ton for freight. But even at these high prices, there is a saving of 20 per cent. on the former cost of carriage. The Express Company of Wells and Fargo charge on freight From San Francisco to Austin, 320 miles, 50 cents in gold per pound. " " Salt Lake, 710 " 75 " " " In Nevada, green fire wood is $13 a cord in gold, and the timber necessary for mining purposes costs from $30 to $45 per hundred. The quantity of lumber requisite for this use may be inferred from the alleged fact that the mine of Gould and Curry contains as much timber as Virginia city, a wood-built town of 15,000 inhabitants. Yet, notwithst...