Source: “Treasury Department Report on the Internal Commerce of the United States for the Fiscal Year 1889,” by William F. Switzler, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1889

At page 282, under a section entitled “Railroads of Missouri,” and a subsection entitled “Missouri Pacific Railway Company”—

“The original corporation, to which the Missouri Pacific Company succeeded, was chartered March 12, 1849, as the ‘Pacific Railroad,’ with an authorized capital of $10,000,000, to construct a line from St. Louis to Jefferson City, and thence went to the western boundary of Van Buren County, Mo., now Cass County, with a view to further extension westward to the Pacific coast…. In November, 1852, the first engine was put upon the rails, and on the 9th of December of the same year a passenger train was run to Cheltenham, a distance of 5 miles. In July, 1853, the line was completed and opened to Franklin, now called Pacific, a distance of 37 miles from St. Louis. In March, 1856, the road was extended to Jefferson City, 125 miles from St. Louis; to Tipton, 163 miles, in July, 1858; to Sedalia, 189 miles, in February, 1861, and to Kansas City, 282 miles, in October, 1865…. By 1875 the liabilities of the Pacific Company had risen to nearly $23,500,000, and proceedings were had for foreclosure in the interest of third-mortgage bondholders. On September 6, 1876, the property was sold to James Baker, and by him conveyed to the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, incorporated October 21, 1876, with an authorized capital of $3,000,000. This company took possession October 28, 1876, when the prior mortgage liens were $13,700,000, and the annual interest charges $679,000….”