$8,000,000.”[529] Postponement of the sale of the Kansas Pacific was to be allowed, the committee meanwhile making up its mind on what terms to bid it in. This proposition was telegraphed to Washington and quickly accepted. It constituted a complete surrender on the part of the committee, so far as the Union Pacific proper was concerned. Instead of being refunded, the government debt was paid off in cash; instead of compromising for the principal alone, both principal and interest were paid in full. The result reflects credit on the sharpness of the Attorney-General, but the method was scarcely worthy of the Government which he represented. November 1st and 2d, 1897, the property was sold under foreclosure of the government and first mortgage liens, and the prices were: For the Union Pacific main line, $40,253,605 For bonds in the government sinking fund, 13,645,250 ----------- $53,898,855 In addition the Government received in cash in the sinking fund as of November 1st, 4,549,368 ----------- $58,448,224 In addition to this sum the committee was obliged, under its agreement with the Government, to buy up the first mortgage, amounting to $27,637,436 The total of the first and second mortgages was 67,891,041 Adding 13,645,250 Of securities purchased for cash, the total payment aggregated over 81,500,000[530] On February 12, 1898, the reorganization committee bought in the Kansas Pacific, guaranteeing for the Government a bid at the sale which should equal the principal of the government debt, _i. e._ $6,303,000.[531] Other minor roads were also bought back on foreclosure sales, and from time to time as the mortgage committee sold the collateral back of the trust notes of 1891 the Union Pacific Railroad Company bought portions of the same. In 1899 the Union Pacific stock was increased $27,460,000, and the new issue was exchanged share for share with Oregon Short Line stock, thus regaining control of that important property. Later the same year a further increase was effected to retire $14,000,000 Oregon Short Line bonds and $11,000,000 Oregon Railway & Navigation Company preferred stock. The net result was to avoid any considerable dismemberment of the system. Whereas 7673.59 miles had been reported for 1892, 5399.01 were reported for 1899. The main line from Portland, Oregon, to Omaha and Kansas City, via Ogden, Cheyenne, and Denver, was kept intact, the principal losses being of branch lines in Nebraska and Kansas.[532]