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Show Pg. 94 The Railroad. In the spring of 1868, the great Union Pacific Railroad was pushing its way westward, and by this time had reached what was then known as Great Cho. This proved to be a blessing to the people. Grading gradually came down until it reached Weber Canyon. The people of Morgan were fortunate in securing a contract to grade two miles of road, from, and including, Carlyle Cut, and continuing westward into town. Richard Fry and T. R. G. Welch had the contract for the first mile, from the cut to the Williams Point. And Wyman Parker and Philemon C. Merrill had the contract from there on. Besides this they had the contract to construct a wagon dugway from the cut east, above the track, for several hundred yards. The contract specified that the price for moving the earth and making the fills was to be .27 cents per yard. Much of this grade was put up with wheel barrows. Richville became a tie center for the railroad. Men would go from there into the canyon and get a load of ties and back to Richville. This was considered a day’s work. Three days were allowed to take that load of ties to Echo and return. Wages were $10.00 a day for man and team. If the trip could be made in less time they received $30.00 just Pg. 95 the same. Sixteen ties was a standard load. Hardscrabble Canyon produced tens of thousands of ties for the railroad. Men had camps in the canyon and hued the logs. They were cut into 8 – foot lengths. Some of the men, after hauling the ties to Echo, would go on to the mines at Coalville and bring back a load of coal. The railroad brought provisions into the country in schooner wagons, with eight and ten mile teams. Sugar sold for .40 cents a pound, potatoes for $3.00 per cut., hay $60.00 per ton. Shoes $5.00 and $10.00 per pair. Good cow hide boots could be purchased for $10.00 F. W. Clark. Had it not been for the work furnished by the railroad the people would have suffered during the winter of 1886 and 69. Several men were killed at Devil’s Gate while working on the railroad. The road was completed May 10 – 1869. This changed the entire industrial history of Morgan County. After this the people were able to obtain more of the necessities and comforts of life. It also opened up a market for lumber, timber, etc. Mr. Daniel Williams found a good quality of lime rock on his place, and burned all the lime used in the construction of the |
