New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. In 1874 General Dodge visited Europe, primarily on account of his health, and until 1879 he spent a portion of each year abroad. During this period, at the solici tation of President Grant, he met the German and Italian engineers engaged in building the St. Gothard tunnel, and also examined the system of internal improve ments in various parts of europe. In January, 1880, he organized the Pacific Railway Improvement Company, of which he became president, and com pleted a large section of the Texas Pacific road. He was subsequently presi dent and promoter of various railroad organizations in the United States and Mexico. In 1871 and 1886 the Chinese government invited the aid of General Dodge in carrying out certain internal improvements, but he declined. After the spanish-american war he surveyed various railroad routes in Cuba. It is not too much to say that no man of his day contributed so much to the establishment of transcontinental railroads, and he was to the last a constant inspiration to rail road projectors and builders throughout the land.