Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1917 — WHY “UNION” PACIFIC. [ARTICLE]

WHY “UNION” PACIFIC.

It was Lincoln who urged the construction of an East and West railroad. He insisted that the government help to build it, “not only as a military necessity”—as General Dodge had said —“but as a means of holding the Pacific coast to the Union.” From this ideal of a united republic came the name: Union Pacific. Since the reorganization of this national railroad in 1897, over 5269,700,000 have been invested in improvements and the debt of $60,000,000 to the government has been paid in full.