S. A. Clarke

“ It is possible that in trying to handle so great an enterprise we mistook legal rights,—as when Governor Woods as chairman of the stockholders' meeting signed for $7,000,000 of stock, but that was no intended fraud and was as consistent as for Gaston to subscribe for $2,500,000 to float his west side company. ”

“ Whatever railroad schemes may have been on hand before that in Oregon had died out, for there was nothing in sight. Elliot had surveyed from Marysville to Jacksonville and commanded the respect of high class business men. As ours was no scheme for mere personal aggrandizement, it was natural to infer that success would repay us in honorable ways.
When I reached Salem this proposition was presented to gentlemen of standing, who received it favorably, and agreed to incorporate as the Oregon Central Railroad Company, to build from Portland south to the California line. ”

“ At Elliot's suggestion I remained a few days in San Francisco to interview with him one of the leading lawyers of that city—Mr. C. Temple Emmet—who was counsel for the California company. After consultation with its leading members he prepared and they signed a proposition, that, if an Oregon company would incorporate to build a railroad from the California line north, they would do all in their power to finance the company and assist in the construction of the road. ”