person, or by attorney, on the surrender of this certificate, and payments

of all instalments then due.

Witness the signature of the secretary and treasurer.

The following directors were elected to constitute the standing committee, to wit:

Executive Committee. The president, General Dix, chairman; Messrs. Durant, Jerome, Opdyke, Bushnell, Dunham, Davis.

Finance Committee.-Messrs. Lanier, Gibson, Blair, Tuttle, Durant, Thomson, Lambard.

Committee to memorialize Congress-Messrs. Ogden, Poor, Rosekrans, Blair, McComb, Lambard, Scranton.

Mr. Ogden, from a committee appointed to report a plan of action for the future operations of the company, offered the following resolutions, which were adopted:

Resolved, That no further call shall be made upon existing stockholders without the consent of a majority of the whole number of the executive committee; and further, that calls, when made, shall not exceed ten per cent. at any one call, and at least thirty days' notice shall be given by publication in some one or more of the leading newspapers in New York city, and a notice mailed to each subscriber whose residence is known, before such calls shall become due and payable, and that calls shall not be made oftener than once in four months. Resolved, That in all contracts for materials and construction that may be made prior to the obtaining the desired legislation of Congress amending the company's charter, a clause shall invariably be inserted reserving the power to this board, its executive committee, or any officer of the company duly authorized to terminate such contract at any time when they shall think proper, without claims for damage on the part of the contractors for any material not delivered, or work not actually done.

Resolved, That the treasurer be authorized, with the approval of the chairman of the executive committee, to place the funds of the company in some safe depository, so as to be accumulative, and at all times applicable to meet the periodical demands on the treasury for the purposes of the company.

Resolved, That the executive committee be instructed to cause a full examination, by eminent engineers, of the country between the Missouri river and the one hundredth degree of longitude, and the mountain regions between the eastern base of the Rocky mountains and the State of California, with a view to secure the best and most practicable route for the great national highway.

Resolved, That so soon as the eastern terminus of this company's railway be legally fixed by the President of the United States, at the western boundary of the State of Iowa, the company will proceed at once to grade the track for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, from the Missouri to the valley of the Platte river, the present fall and winter, with a view to preparing it for track-laying in the early spring, and that an ample corps of engineers shall be vigorously set to work at once to make all necessary surveys, with a view to an early and definite location of the entire line of the road from the Missouri river.

Resolved further, That the executive committee be, and are hereby, authorized to take the necessary steps to procure material, in accordance with instructions of this board, for the construction of the first one hundred miles of this company's road.

Mr. Carter offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the board of directors shall hold regular meetings, at their office in New York, on the first Wednesday of January, April, June and October, when

the officers and committees shall respectively report their acts and proceedings for consideration and approval: and that the secretary be instructed to furnish each director with a copy of this resolution, personally or by mail, the same to be due notice to each director of all such meetings.

Brigham Young, of Utah, was elected director, in place of Nathaniel Thayer, resigned.

Mr. Durant laid before the meeting the following communication, which was read and ordered on file:

NEW YORK, October 30, 1863. GENTLEMEN: I beg to congratulate you upon the harmonious organization of your company, and to place at your disposal information relative to the character of the country through which your road is to pass, the result of explorations made by competent engineers, at private expense, and at various times during the past ten years. Much of this information is necessarily of a negative character, but is not the less important, nearly eighteen months having been spent in the mountain passes in its acquisition.

I beg also to inform you that in August last, becoming convinced that the subscriptions to the stock of your company would not reach the amount required by law for election of directors in time to get together a competent and efficient corps of engineers before the season was too far advanced, I gave instructions to P. A Dey, esq., to proceed at once to organize parties for immediate service, and on the 19th of September sent them into the field to survey four lines from the western borders of the State of Iowa to some common point in the Platte valley, for the purpose of ascertaining facts in regard to location, a copy of which orders is herewith submitted, marked Nos. 1 and 2.

Subsequently, fearing it would be impossible to accomplish much this season, if more time was lost, and that there would be a delay of six months, at least, if nothing was done until after the company was organized, and in view of the importance of a more definite knowledge of some of the difficulties to be surmounted in building a road through the mountains, at an elevation which has, as yet, only been ascertained by means of barometrical observations, I determined, if within the range of possibility, to run a level, and obtain a profile of two or more of the passes this fall. I accordingly instructed Mr. Dey to despatch a party of engineers to the valley of Lodge Pole creek, where the same leaves the mountains at the foot of the Black Hills, there to commence surveying a line through Cheyenne Pass into the Laramie plains; thence near the base of the Medicine Bow mountains to Bridger's Pass, through Bridger's Pass to the plains beyond, striking Bitter Creek valley, this being all that a single party of engin eers could reasonably be expected to accomplish, even under the most favorable circumstances. I also instructed Mr. Dey to make arrangements to put another party in the field, commencing near Utah lake, running up the valley of the Timpanagos river, through the Wahsatch mountains, eastward, to meet in Bitter Creek valley the party last named, suggesting that he might be able to make the arrangement with Governor Brigham Young, the details of which will be seen in paper herewith submitted, marked instructions No. 3 and No. 4. And I would here state that in reply to my telegram to Governor Young, asking if he could furnish a party to make survey, I paying the expense, I received immediate answer: "I will furnish a party and engineers, if you wish, and pay the expenses." You will perceive there is now in the field four parties of engineers from whom we may expect to receive very full reports. The four lines first named should be completed in two weeks if the weather is favorable.

The line through Cheyenne and Bridger's passes will not occupy a long time if the party meet with no serious obstacles or interruption from the Indians. It is here that the information derived from the examinations made by General G. M. Dodge, and those made last year by Mr. Dey, who was sent out by the com

mittee appointed by your board of commissioners, proves of great value, as the present party will avail themselves of the examinations of those gentlemen, and run the lines first which they found most practicable. In order to save time they have gone by stage, and have arranged for transportation to be furnished them from some of the stations of the stage company.

I applied to the President for an order on the commander of the post at the mouth of the Cache à Poudre, or at the fort near Medicine Bow mountains, for military escort, provisions, &c., to be used, if found necessary, for the safety of the party, but was unable to obtain the same on the ground that there was no authority for the government to aid in making the surveys. Nothing daunted, the party in charge of B. B. Brayton, esq., determined to lose no time, and have pushed on without delay, trusting to their own resources, not only for protection, but for provisions or transportation, in case they lose what they take with them by Indians. snows, or other casualties. I have no fears, however, for their safety, as I learn by telegraph from parties residing west of Julesburg that provisions can be had at that point, and the mountaineers employed as guides are well versed in all the wiles of the Indians.

Another and very important matter for your consideration is the investigation of the coal-fields and iron ores which the engineers report to exist to a vast extent in the vicinity of Medicine Bow mountains and the Black Hills.

Believing this to have an important bearing on the location of the road, I have despatched Professor J. T. Hodge, an experienced geologist, to make an examination as to the extent and character of said coal-fields, iron ore, limestone, &c., and their proximity to each other, and the line of road being surveyed, a copy of whose instructions are herewith submitted, No. 5.

All of the above-named parties understand that they are employed by individuals, and not by the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

I would recommend that your company continue their services for the present. The accompanying map of the Missouri river, showing depth of water, sand, &c., for a great distance, is placed at your disposal.

Very respectfully,

To the BOARD OF DIRECTORS

of the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

THOS. C. DURANT.

The following are the instructions referred to in Mr. Durant's communication:

No. 1.

NEW YORK, September 19, 1863.

DEAR SIR: You are hereby directed to proceed to the Missouri river and examine four routes to the North Bend of the Platte.

The first, starting at or near the mouth of the Platte and following up the valley. The second, from Bellevue, following up the west branch of Pappillion creek, and reaching the Platte by the most practicable route, uniting with the first.

The third, starting from Omaha City and running as near west as practicable.

The fourth, from some point at or near the mouth of the Boyer river.

These four routes to make a common point, or reach some township or section line running north and south, common to all.

The surveys to particularly mark the character of streams crossed, and the material, such as timber, gravel and stone that may be serviceable for construction.

You will call upon John E. Henry, esq., Davenport, for funds necessary for the above. Yours, &c.,

P. A. DEY, Esq., Engineer.

THOS. C. DURANT.

No. 2.

NEW YORK, October 2, 1863.

DEAR SIR: Referring to instructions of September 19, marked No. 1, you will proceed to examine and run a line upon any route between the points designated, provided you are of

the opinion that any such route may exist that will be more feasible than those designated, the object being to ascertain the best possible line.

Yours, &c.,

P. A. DEY, Esq., Engineer.

No. 3.

THOS. C. DURANT.

NEW YORK, October 2, 1863,

SIR: You will proceed at once to despatch a party to run a line, and get profile of the same, commencing at a point in the valley of the Lodge Pole creek, near the base of the Black Hills, through Cheyenne Pass, to the Laramie plains. If they have time, run across the plains by the most practicable route, and through Bridger's Pass into the valley of Green river. If time is short, skip Laramie plains, and commence where streams rise to Bridger's Pass, and thence to the plains beyond.

The heavy work through these passes, and the grade about which there is any doubt, must first claim your attention; then the entire line through Wahsatch mountains on one or two of the most practicable routes. To accomplish the latter you had better make arrangements, by telegraph, with Governor Brigham Young, to send a party to run a line from some point, to be designated by yourself, up the valley of the Timpanogos, or any other desirable route, to meet with the first named in Bitter Creek or Green River valley.

If it is late in the season run only the line through the mountains. Governor Young, undoubtedly, has good engineers, and can probably run the line in less time and at less cost than we could do. Ask him to do so with as much economy as he can; but have it done at once, if it can be this fall. Let teams go very light from Omaha, and if provisions can be obtained from Julesburg get them there. Perhaps you can procure teams there for the time you want them. This you can ascertain by telegraph. Afterwards you can get your supplies from Denver City via Cherokee trail, or stage road; or if necessary, and you are near Fort Hal.eck, let teams go to that post, obtaining an order to do so from Colonel Chivington, commander of district, headquarters Denver City. I would suggest that you hire mule teams, and not purchase teams, unless compelled by being unable to hire except at very high prices; also that your party consist of one chief assistant, one compassman, one leveller, one rodman, two flaginen, three chainmen, one cook, three teamsters, one with horses, two or three packmules, a mule team to procure supplies, &c., or less, if it can be done to advantage. Of the necessary outfit, however, you are the best judge. My idea is, to be encumbered as little as possible. Government rations and hard work must be the rule. If you have a party of suitable men in Nebraska, send them, and find more men to fill their places. If you can get teams and supplies at Julesburg, you can send on the men by stage at once.

It will be well for the party to be provided with revolvers, if they have them; and if you want muskets, you can probably get the governor of Nebraska to furnish them.

Yours, &c.,

P. A. DEY, Esq., Engineer.

No. 4.

THOS. C. DURANT.

NEW YORK, October 3, 1863.

SIR Referring to yesterday,s instructions, marked No. 3, I have learned that you may be able to procure supplies of George Ackley, or Ackley & Gillett, near Julesburg. You can communicate with them by telegraph from Omaha. The stage fare, I understand, is $50 to Julesburg, and no certainty of always getting a stage You may therefore conclude to send your party by teams from Omaha. If, however, that cannot be done in time to make the surveys this fall, then send by stage. Snow will not prevent a profile being obtained, and you must send men who are not frightened at its appearance. If you are hard pushed, both passes can be surveyed in a very short time, and we can form an estimate of what will be required.

If you are not at work with two parties in Nebraska put on your men without delay, or send me word and I will send men to you.

Yours, &c.,

P. A. DEY, Esq.. Engineer.

No. 5.

THOS. C. DURANT.

NEW YORK, October 14, 1863.

SIR: You will please proceed to one of the proposed routes of the Pacific railroad, west of Omaha, and join the engineering party in charge of B. B. Brayton, esq., engaged in survey ing said line from Lodge Pole creek, near the Black Hills, through Cheyenne Pass, and along the foot of Medicine Bow mountains.

The object to which you will particularly direct your attention is the resources of the country in the vicinity of the Black Hills and Medicine Bow mountains, for the manufacture of iron, making explorations of beds of iron ore, coal, limestone, sandstone suitable for building furnaces, &c., as near as these may be found to the line of railroad.

Upon this work you will be occupied as long as the season will admit of your doing so to advantage; and on your return you will present me a full report of your explorations, including also notices of any other minerals of interest or importance that you may discover. Your compensation for this service will be $500 per month and your travelling expenses. Yours truly,

JAMES T. HODGE, Esq.

The board then adjourned.

THOS. C. DURANT.

Proceedings of the company subsequent to the election of directors.

The executive committee of the company, upon which the management of its affairs devolved when the board of directors was not in session, in obedience to the resolutions of the board embodying a plan for future operations, immediately assumed the acts and instructions of Mr. Durant, already recited; and as soon as the surveys of the country intermediate between the Missouri and the north bend of the Platte river were completed, placed before the President of the United States the results of the same, as well as of the surveys made for the purpose of ascertaining the most favorable point for crossing the Missouri river, for the purpose of obtaining his decision fixing the eastern terminus of the road. This decision, rendered on the 17th of November last, established the eastern initial point of the road within the township within which is the city of Omaha, the capital of the Territory of Nebraska.

As soon as practicable thereafter, on the 2d day of December last, the company made a formal commencement of the work of construction by breaking ground on the line of the road near Omaha. The ceremonies on the occasion were appropriate to the magnitude and grandeur of an enterprise which is to work an era in the commercial and political history of the country, and were participated in by the governor of the Territory of Nebraska, the mayors of the cities of Omaha and Council Bluff, and by the great mass of the citizens of the surrounding country.

Addresses were made by the Hon. A. Saunders, governor of the Territory; Mr. Kennedy, mayor of Om ha; Mr. Palmer, mayor of Council Bluff; and by Messts. Train, Morrell, Larimer, and Poppleton. The occasion was observed at Omaha as a general holiday. Among the letters and sentiments read from distinguished persons, whose official duties prevented them from being present, were the following:

EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, December 2, 1863. GENERAL: I have not been permitted until to-day to present to the President your com munication of the 23d of November. He directs me to express his deep regret that his illness will prevent him from giving expression to the profound interest he feels in the progress of a work so vast and beneficial as that which you are about to inaugurate. I have the honor to be your obedient servant,

Major General Dix,

JOHN HAY, Assistant Private Secretary.

Committee of Arrangements, &c.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, November 25, 1863.

MY DEAR SIR: Your kind note inviting me to attend the ceremony of breaking ground or the Union Pacific railroad in Nebraska has just been received. For the first time, as I hink, since the foundation of the government, the foreign relations of the country exact the