course, presumed the station would be located in Nevada, but Mr. T. E. Alderman urged the contract should insure us the station.
The company, after the lands were given them, sprung the question of the duty of the citizens to contribute $400, or forty acres of land for depot grounds. The $400 demand was urged by the railroad company. Well, during the summer of 1863, the thing seemed to lie dormant or nearly so. During the fall of 1863 it became a question in which we were very much interested in the location of the station. The company insisted on the $400. Citizens became interested enough to raise by subscription over $300 during the fall and early winter. So it dragged along and the rumor was getting out over the country that Nevada was going to lose the depot, and that it would be located about one and a half or two miles west of Nevada on lands given to the railroad by the county. In those days I was acquainted with W. W. Walker, the chief engineer of the road and the business man of the company. I concluded to write Mr. Walker in regard to what they were going to do in the matter, and to give him the best turn I could, pleasantly, however. The following extract from his reply to me will show some of the cause for delay:
"DES MOINES, Feb. 13, '64.—W. G. ALLEN, Esc: Dear Sir—Your favor of the eighth was duly received, but I have not had time until now to reply. I do not differ materially from your views of the matter, except as to your people having done what they ought in proportion to their means. * * * All I can say is that I have gone to the utmost extent of the responsibility I am willing to assume in letting your people slide on without fulfilling only one single condition of the understanding and agreement which induced the company to undertake last spring to push the road westward, and the condition you did fulfill did not cost you anything. * * * The delay of your people in settling this matter is an inconvenience to the company as well as an injury to the place. Warner told me last week that he wanted to commence his well wherever the station was to be, and whether he is now at it or where I do not know, but it will make no difference with the final settlement of this question. Your people can quickly settle it by raising the $400, and if they refuse, it will go to the executive committee as I shall go no further in the matter without some authority to do so. In haste, yours truly, W. W. WALKER."
Well, the answer to my letter of the eighth of February, 1864, was, as above quoted, received about February thirteenth or fourteenth, 1864, and at once Major Hawthorn, C. B. Letson, E. B. Potter, and perhaps others, were called together to determine what was the best thing to do. As only fifty dollars were lacking to make up the $400, we determined to add to what we had previously subscribed; and as the Major was a good worker we thought he would soon work it up when the citizens could know what had to be done. Well, in a very few hours he raised the residue and reported to Mr. Walker the result. Just as soon as the mail could