Although Thomas Durant was a great leader, he used his power to get things done but not always the morally correct way. After multiple illegal shipments with General Dodge, Durant decided to hire Dodge as chief engineer and Jack Casement as chief track layer. Dodge had his own ethics issues and bought UP stock on inside information. When sought out by the government, he disappeared. A colleague commented he was "a man of wonderful resources, and can live in Texas all winter, out of doors, if he wants to, where none of your marshals can go, and if he don't want to come he will not come." General Dodge hired Jack Casement and his brother to build and oversee the construction of the railroad to Promontory, Utah.
Durant made things happen, and completed the railroad, however, was involved in stock manipulations and scandals, used new legal structures for his own personal gain, and bullied his partners. In the end he got things done. |
General Dodge & Jack Casement
Vise President Thomas C .Durant helped build the railroad with raising finances and management skills, and helped influence lawmakers to pass laws for the creation of the Union Pacific.However, he took advantage of subsidies to lay down more track than needed. He formed a banking company, Credit Mobilier, and took control of it until the Ames brothers kicked him out for misusing his power.
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