Twelfth U.S. President - 1849-50

President Taylor Anticipates the Transcontinental Railroad

Letter Signed, 8” x 10”, as President, to “Hon. Jno. A. Rockwell, Norwich, Conn[ecticut],” the U.S. Representative from Connecticut from March 4, 1845 through March 3, 1849.

Anticipating a cross-country railroad system following the acquisition of vast new U.S. territory in the Mexican War and the discovery of gold in California, President Taylor thanks the former congressman for a report on the matter. The sectional crises of the 1850’s and the Civil War would delay the completion of the transcontinental railroad until 1869.

“Washington, Oct. 26/[18]49. Dear Sir, I have just received a copy of your valuable & interesting report on Rail roads & Canal routes between the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans. You will receive my thanks for your kind attention, & the assurance of respect with which I remain Your sincere friend & serv[an]t, Z. Taylor.”

In excellent overall condition, the letter and attached leaf, docketed “The President” in an unknown hand, have been tipped to a slightly larger page.

Confederate General & Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia

Document Signed, 8” x 10 ½”, as President of Washington College, Lexington Virginia, June 20, 1867, “R.E. Lee,” the partly printed report card for a student, “Mr. Edwin T. Dumble,” in the subjects of Latin, Greek, and Mathematics.

Born in Madison, Indiana in 1852, Edwin Dumble moved to Galveston, Texas with his family as an infant. His education at Washington College was twice interrupted by reversals in his father’s cotton and lumber businesses. He later served as an executive in several oil companies – most notably the Southern Pacific, the Rio Bravo, and the East Coast Oil Companies - and as Texas State Geologist from 1887 to 1897. In 1924, Dumble received a doctorate of science from his early alma mater, now Washington and Lee University, before retiring to Virginia. He died in 1927.

The document is lightly and evenly toned, with a few small stains. There are several tiny holes along the usual folds, none affected the text of the document.