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[preprinted] Office Central Pacific Railroad,

Corner Front and California Streets.

San Francisco, [/preprinted] Feb 5th 1867

Friend Mark

I rec'd a letter this morning from the Judge stating that he and Montague were intending to start [--fro--] for Benicia to determine what surveying is necessary to locate the most direct line to Goat Island. Now my idea is that we should at once extend our line to Goat Island and announce the fact, but it is useless to talk of a rout by the way of Benicia, First because the ground is already occupied, 2nd because to cross the Straits [insert] by bridge [/insert] is so costly as to render it substantially impracticable besides if the Straits were not crossed by a bridge a steamboat starting from here would reach Benicia as quick if not quicker that you could go by rail and two ferries. The Judge says Charly [sais?]