In commenting upon how this road obtained its name, General Dodge narrates that various lines proposed had received the names of the "North Route," "Buffalo Trail," "South Route," but that in 1858 a bill was fostered that gave out the name "Union Pacific." One of the arguments advanced for the bill that eventually passed was that the route proposed would tend to hold the people of the Pacific coast in the Union. He adds :

"Lincoln advocated its passage and building, not only as a military necessity, but as a means of holding the Pacific Coast to the Union. This bill became a law in 1862, and there is no doubt but what the sentiment that the building of the railroad would hold the Union together gave it the name of the Union Pacific."

He continues :

"In May, 1866. I resigned from the army, came to Omaha and took charge of the work as chief engineer, and covered the line with engineering parties from Omaha to California, and pushed our location up the Platte valley. In 1866 we built 260 miles.

"In the winter of 1866 we planned to build the next 288 miles to Fort Sanders. As cur work had to be clone under the protection of the military, I was continually in communication with General Sherman. Although he had expressed the belief that our proposition of building so far in 1867 would be almost a miracle, yet during the year 1867 we reached the summit cf the Black Hills and finishing at Cheyenne where the population of nearly 10.000 gathered around us."