the Nevada deserts, 157 miles, was built between February, 1865, and July, 1868, more than three years, with a force averaging 11,500 men.
The railroad from Wadsworth to Ogden, about 555 miles, was built between July, 1868, and May, 1869, about ten months, with a force averaging 5,000 men. If the country between Newcastle and Wadsworth and had been of the same average difficulty as that between Wadsworth and Ogden and between Ogden and Omaha, the labor that was out upon the Central Pacific Railroad would have built it to a point far to the eastward of Omaha in the same time, the work from the east slope of the Sierra Nevadas to Ogden being more than an average of that from Ogden to Omaha.
Very respectfully,
J. H. STROBRIDGE.
