Another robbery was that committed by Sam. Bass and associates who held up the west bound Pacific Express train securing from the express car some sixty thousand dollars in gold. This money was all recovered and most of the band either killed or arrested.
Another great event of this kind occurred in the hills of Wyoming, west of Cheyenne during 1898. The first section of the Overland West Bound carrying the mail and express was flagged and brought to a stop. A culvert behind it blown up with dynamite to prevent the second section interfering, and the express cars were then looted and the robbers rode off. Persistent pursuit lasting for years, however, brought them one by one to justice, one being killed near Kansas City while resisting arrest, another killed at Cripple Creek under similar circumstances.
In 1897 (January 1st) the present Company, Union Pacific Railroad Company, was organized under the laws of Utah as successor to the Union Pacific Railway Company.
During the construction days, Wells, Fargo and Company operated the Express service over the line. On completion the Company organized its own express "The Union Pacific Railroad Express" which continued to handle the express until re-organized as the Pacific Express Company.
Congress was appealed to in 1893 to pass a refunding bill, but failed to act.
Numerous unsuccessful attempts were made to reorganize the property, but this was impossible with the debt to the Government in an unsettled condition. Finally in 1899 an agreement (see [foot note]) as reached between the re-organization Committee and the Attorney General by which the line was to be foreclosed and the debt adjusted. This was accordingly done in 1899. The account standing:
| Amount due Government. | From Union Pacific. | From Kansas Pacific. |
| Principal | $27,236,512.00 | |
| Interest | 31,211,691.75 | |
| ——————— | ||
| Total | $58,448,203.75 | $12,891,900.19 |
| Less Sinking Fund | 18,194,618.26 | 6,303,000.00 |
| ——————— | ——————— | |
| Balance due | $40,253,585.49 | $6,588,900.19 |
and these amounts were accordingly turned over to the United States Government closing the account.[(Back to Content)]