AS TOLD TO HIS FAMILY
Building a Railroad
                       Denver & Rio Grande R. Road
                             San Juan extension, Colorado U. S. A.

Care of Hammond & Hendricks
January 9, 1881

Dear Sister Jenny,

     On the evening of Dec 21 I went to the Logan P. O. and got your letter to me, and the next day myself and Wille got on the train for Ogden — the same day we left Ogden on the U. P. R. R., traveled night and day but very slowly — going through snow sheds, over mountains, through towns and cities — too many to name — where when we came in 1862 with ox teams was barren & desert, and also over the Dale Creek bridge 300 feet high of timber, and reached Cheyenne, 517 miles east from Ogden, here we took the Kansas Pacific R. R. for 137 miles south to Denver — one of the most wonderful towns of America for growth — arriving Dec. 24.  Here we stayed 2 days, then we got on this D. & R. G. R. R. and came for 350 miles south west, going back again across the Rocky Mountains, arriving on the evening of Dec 31, 1054 miles for 8 days & nights travel, and we are now here on Wolf Creek in New Mexico, 9,933 feet high (altitude) in the Rocky Mountains, camped in tents with 12 in. of snow and very cold nights — but we are comfortable, stoves in our tents, plenty of bed clothes, plenty to eat, and in the company of H. & H. with 120 men most of whom are from Cache Co & are Mormons.  I am clerk and Commissary & Wille works in the cook tent.  The company has a contract to lay the R. R. tracks from Chama to Durango, 120 miles.  We hope to lay 1 ml-lie each day when we get on the construction train about the 20th, but for the present we are shoveling snow off the grade — wages are $1.50 to $2.00 per day, (from 6 to 8s) and board.  We expect to go home again in 3 or 4 months.

     I was much in need of some money and could earn none at home this winter, so I accepted the offer to come here and it only cost us $10.00 each for fare.  I brought Wille for a treat to him and company for myself.  The D. & R. G. R. R. runs along, through & over mountains going up a mountain and making short turns round the head of a ravine until the train is in the form of a letter C, and sometimes of an S and going up 400 feet in a mile, and twice we ran off the track — while away up on the mountain side.  While on one side of a canyon we could see on the other side away up our own road that we had to travel over — it is so dangerous that many of our men say they will not trust their lives again on such a rail road.  It is being built to the mining towns & coal fields in the mountains.  We had to sit up in our seats in the cars 5 nights of the 10 — so crowded with Irish R. R. laborers.  All was well when I left home and I have not yet heard from anyone.

     Annie is growing stronger, John is taller than I am and a very good boy and we are in no hurry to get them off our hands.  I would like to see you in Utah somewhere near me and married just to see how much better you would manage these things.  I hope that you will be in peace from the Land Leagures. I understand well the condition & feeling of the people.  Here every man is a law unto himself and carries a revolver & belt of bullets to put it in to enforce his law — and it is so in nearly all the mining camps—but all have to be very careful and wise.  Accept of all the good wishes & thanks we can send for letters & papers & pictures — and may you be blessed & prospered so that we can meet again — and with best love.    J. H. Barker