through then the trade of Southern Oregon would be entirely with San Francisco. So in Portland Elliot received little support.
With Elliott were associated Mr. Geo. H . Belden of Eugene, formerly of Portland, and Col. Chas. Barry who had recently come from the Civil War, having resigned because of a wound received while in service. The survey had caused some excitement and on October 13, 1863, the California and Columbia River Railroad Company was incorporated at Jacksonville with J. H. Moores, J. Gaston and S. G. Elliott as incorporators. The capital stock was to be $1,500,000.[1] The survey by this time had been largely completed,[2] but dissension seems to have arisen and the party split.[3] Mr. Belden returned home and Elliott returned to California. Col. Barry stayed with the party and through the efforts of J. Gaston, the party was enabled to subsist until Spring, when Barry carried on the survey.
On December 1, 1863, was organized the California and Oregon Railroad Company.[4] It was not at this time incorporated, but nevertheless immediately began work toward the proposed railroad, and for them Elliott completed the survey and in 1865 made a report to the Company. The Act of the California Legislature had limited the time of organization to July 1, 1865, so accordingly the California and Oregon Railroad Company filed articles of incorporation June 29, 1865, at Sacramento, California. It was to the officers and directors of this company that Elliott made the report of his preliminary survey.[5]
- ↑ Report of Secretary of State, 1864.
- ↑ Oregon Statesman, October 26, 1863.
- ↑ Just what the reason for the division was is uncertain. Mr. Gaston claims that it was over the question of leadership of the party. This, however, would seem strange for in the election of officers of the California and Columbia River Co., Mr. Gaston was elected secretary and Mr. Elliott chief engineer. Mr. Gaston would lead us to believe that the company was not organized until 1864 and that Col. A. C. Barry was the chief engineer. Col. Barry did become chief engineer in 1864.
- ↑ Elliott, Report of Preliminary Survey.
- ↑ The Report of the Survey is not dated. Many have said that Elliott never completed a survey. For discussion see Appendix C.
