I have had quite a big lot of correspondence on the subject and from the most authentic sources have finally run it down to Major O. B. Gunn of Atchison, Kansas. He made the first surveys and had the title of Chief Engineer. The first mention I found of his name in connection with the Santa Fe was in Webb Wilders History of Kansas, Page 425. It says "November 27th, 1865, Major O.B. Gunn, leaves Atchison to survey the A.T.&.S.F. R.R."
I found the following from the files of the Atchison Champion of Wednesday, December 6th, 1865 - "The Grass Hopper Falls Jeffersonian, notices the arrival of Major O. B. Gunn, Chief Engineer, of the A.T.&.S.F. R. R. with his surveying party at that place on last Saturday evening." About the progress of the survey it says, "The line leaves the Atchison & Pikes Peak R. R. (now the Central Branch of the Union Pacific) at Parnell, 6-1/2 miles S.W. of Atchison, thence down a branch of Stranger Creek to a point near St. Nicholas, thence up Spring Creek to the head waters of Walnut Creek and thence to Grass Hopper (now Valley Falls), making nearly a straight line from Atchison in 25 miles distance. The maximum grade is 60' per mile and the shortest radius of curvature is 2000'."
I also found from the files of the Atchison Champion of Friday, December 15th, 1865, the following items: "The Topeka State Record of December 13th, 1865, announces the arrival at that place on Saturday last of Major O. B. Gunn, Chief Engineer, of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad with his corps of assistants." The record says of this survey: "From Atchison to Topeka: "He reports a practicable and feasible route. All the way from Atchison. He came out about 6-1/2 miles on the Atchison & Pikes Peak Railroad (now Central Branch of the Union Pacific) S. W. from Atchison, then nearly on a direct line to Grass Hopper Falls and from that place nearly in a direct line to Topeka via Mt. Florence. The distance from the Missouri River to the Kaw River is just fifty miles. The party left on Monday intending to run a line to Council Grove. From that point they proposed to run a line to Fort Riley and then from Council Grove down the Neosho River some distance below Emporia and then back from Emporia to Topeka. The object is to ascertain the best route. Mr. Gunn immediately on the completion of the surveys goes to New Yourk to lay them before the Capitalists, who are interested in the work. The prospects are good that early spring will see a large force at work on this road."
From the Atchison Champion of January 12, 1866, the following news item is published "The Topeka State Record says, "Major O. B. Gunn, Chief Engineer, of the A.T.&.S.F.R.R. arrived in town Sunday evening. The rest of the party will be in today. He reports a feasible route for the railroad both by way of Council Grove and Emporia." Nothing more can be found from the files of the news papers with reference to Major C. B. Gunn's survey of connection with the Santa Fe Railroad, after he finished his survey, Atchison to Topeka and Topeka to Council Grove and Emporia to Topeka.
Extract from a letter received from Mr. A. A. Robinson of Topeka, one of the early Chief Engineers bearing on the same subject, which I think settles without doubt - - that Major O. B. Gunn made the first surveys and was the first Chief Engineer.
Dear Sirs,
Answering your question, I will state that, as I remember the Santa Fe Line, from Purnell Junction about 6-1/2 miles, southwest of Atchison, was first located by Major O. B. Gunn, Chief Engineer of A.T.&.S.F.R.R. It was afterward relocated by myself, Atchison to Topeka.
In April, or early in May 1871, I was given the notes of this survey and instructed by Mr. T. J. Peter, Superintendent and Chief Engineer, to locate the line for construction. This I did in May and early June, 1871, from Atchison to Topeka.
Yours very truly, (Signed) A. A. Robinson"
Major O.B. Gunn was born in Montague, Franklin County, Mass., November 29, 1828. Died in Kansas City, Missouri, February 18, 1901. Buried in Oak Hill Cemetary, Lawrence, Kansas.
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