No criticisms that opponents could offer discouraged this persevering man. He continued to send circulars to the farmers and petitions to the legislature, until finally it was voted to grant a subsidy of $250,000 to the company that would construct the first hundred miles of road. A company was organized and a charter granted under the name of the "Oregon Central." Before the work of construction began a division arose in regard to the policy of construction by Oregon interests or the more abundant capital of California. Reconciliation was impossible, and two enterprises took the place of the one. The opposing factions planned to construct roads upon opposite sides of the Willamette River, and began a long and bitter rivalry. Curious methods were resorted to by each to get within the terms of the charter and to gain the right to the original name of "Oregon Central." Both were anxious to get the grants of land which had been promised by the United States government.
Construction was begun by the two divisions in the spring of 1868. The west side line was first to start amidst demonstrations of approval by the population of Portland favorable to their interests. A few days later the east side line began construction with even greater demonstration of approval. Neither of the factions had much money to back their enterprise. Skillful financiering was necessary to keep the men at work. Bitter litigation was in progress all the time, but still they kept on with the construction. The west side road at first seemed to have a little the better of the conflict. Conditions were changed with the appearance on the scene of a gentleman from California in 1868. In the person of Ben Holladay the east side road had secured a master in his line of business. Bold and autocratic in his methods, regardless of the feelings of others, unscrupulous in the methods pursued, he was able to crush the west side
