Railroad Check Signed by Famous Western Expressman Ben Holladay, 1870. Outstanding check from the Oregon & California Railroad Company, signed by famed western expressman Ben Holladay as president, Portland, Oregon, July 9, 1870. Payment charged to the North Pacific Transportation Company of San Francisco. Very nice vignette of steam locomotive at left, with orange imprint revenue stamp. Measures approximately 3.5" x 9."
Ben Holladay moved to California in 1852 where he developed profitable stage and express routes. By the spring of 1864, Holladay had acquired a dominant portion of the stage, mail, and freighting business between the Missouri River and Salt Lake City. Known as the "Stagecoach King," Holladay eventually controlled 2,670 miles of stage lines and was among the largest individual employers in the United States. Holladay sold his routes to Wells Fargo Express in 1866 for $1.5 million and moved to Oregon. The Oregon & California Railroad Company was organized in 1869 by Ben Holladay along with the Western Oregon Railroad (1870) and the Oregon Central Railroad (1871), which later incorporated into the Oregon & California. In 1887 the Oregon Central became part of the Southern Pacific Railroad system.
Condition: Fine-very fine
Shipping: Miscellaneous Collectibles, Smal (view shipping information)
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Lot: 43046
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