summer
of 1861 found Judah and his party in the gulches and defiles of the
Sierras, earnestly prosecuting their labors. The result but confirmed
the previous report, with, if possible, more encouraging details
regarding country, cost, etc. Judah then visited many of the principal
capitalists of San Francisco to obtain subscriptions for the work, but
failed to obtain a dollar. "But this road--what is it? Nothing that
concerned them. It did not represent capital. A poor engineer wanted
to make some money, and had started the idea for that purpose." These
wise men shook their heads, and sneered at the undertaking. "What can
they do," said they, "even with their Charter from the State? They
have no money--they are poor men. It's only a sharp dodge on their
part. They think the road will be undertaken in time, and then when
that time arrives, they will stand a chance to sell their Charter and
realize a few thousands--that's all. But they'll be dead before a
railroad will be built across the continent." Such was the general
tone of conversation among moneyed men regarding the road in its
infancy, and it cannot be denied that the people of California owe
nothing to the capitalists of their State--not even their thanks--for
aid in the earliest days of the enterprise. The bone and sinew of the
people--the mechanic and the merchant, the farmer, laborer and
miner--did all that could be expected of them. But the capitalists
held back--and for good reason. They feared that the railroad would
give the death blow to the monopolies in which they were more or less
interested. Sacramento alone deserves the credit of having originated
and brought to a successful completion the Central Pacific Railroad.
When the State had chartered the Company, when only funds were
necessary to insure the completion of the work, only two subscriptions
were obtained in San Francisco, and one of these came from a woman.

In 1862, Judah went to Washington with charts, maps, etc., of the
road. Sargent was there, as enthusiastic in the support of the measure
as Judah himself. He drew up the bill under which the road was built.
James H. Campbell, of Pennsylvania, and Schuyler Colfax (than whose
there is no more honored name in California,) were his most efficient
supporters in the House. In the Senate, McDougal, of California,
Wilson, of Massachusetts, and Morrill, of Maine, also stood manfully
by the measure. And there was fought the great battle. There,
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