Stanford University - Quad Yearbook (Palo Alto, CA)

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The Stanford Quad PRECEDING PAGES. LEFT: LelandStanford. California Gov-trnor, Unittd Stans Senator, Builder of the Central Pacific, and Co-Founder of Stanford University; RIGHT: Leland StanfordJunior, painted in Paris by Bonnat in 1884. This PAGE: Jane Lalhrop Stanford, also by Bonnat. OPPOSITE PAGE The Golden Spike, pounded by Leland Stanford at Promontory Point on May 10. 1869. 36 1885-1981

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Volume 90— 1985 1885-1985 35 AU kttnrudl pbtttinpht ttmritiy tf tint I dnJ Pit Hit Jinn nj tht Artbim

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Vou;me90—1985 dominantly pro-Southern, much of the population having roots in the South. In 1856, Stanford helped to found the California Republican party — in one sense a daring move, given the climate of opinion. The party slowly grew stronger, but even though Lincoln won the Presidency in 1860, the California party was not yet strong enough to secure Stanford’s election as governor. By 1861, things had changed; the party was poised for victory, and Stanford was elected. He assumed office in January of 1862. During his tenure, Stanford worked hard for the goals of his party; he, more than any other person, was responsible for converting opinion in the state to anti-slavery, pro-union sentiment, and keeping California loyal. THE CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD One of the topics Leland Stanford spoke to in his inaugural address was the benefit to California that would be realized by the construction of a transcontinental railroad. In 1861, Stanford, Charles Crocker. Mark Hop- kins, and Collis P. Huntington, all Sacramento merchants, had organized the Central Pacific Railroad company. In the summer of 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act chartering the Union Pacific to build westward from Omaha, Nebraska and the Central Pacific the build eastward from Sacramento until the two met. It was to be an incredible feat if completed, especially for the Central Pacific which had to build through the Sierra Nevada. The partners were risking their fortunes on a project most people thought impossible. The construction of the railroad became a race between the two companies, for since each would control the carrying trade for its portion of track, the farther each got, the more regional trade and profit would go to that company. The Union Pacific expected it would be able to complete its line well into the Sierra Nevada, putting the Central Pacific at its mercy. In the end however, its expectations were far from realized: the railroads met up not at the California border, nor in Nevada, but at Promintory Point, Utah, on May 10, 1869. The completion of the line was performed by Leland Stanford, when he pounded a ceremonial golden spike through a silver rail, into a polished laurel tie. His hammer strokes sent a telegraph message across the country: DONE!” The Central Pacific partners had risked sizable fortunes that most would have protected, but the payoff was great, resulting in the fortune that would ultimately make the University possible. LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR Leland and Jane Stanford had only one child, Leland Stanford Junior. (His parents christened him Leland deWitt Stanford, but he changed his name in his early teens to be “just like Papa.”) Leland Junior was born in his parents’ 18th year of marriage, on May 14, 1868. Mrs. Stanford later recalled that her husband was so overcome with joy he went down on bended knees to pray — the only time she had ever seen him do so. Leland told (Continued on page 38) 1885-1985 37