 In August 1868, Holladay moved to Oregon, where he had organized the construction of a railroad along the Willamette River, purchasing the illegally incorporated Oregon Central Railroad of Salem, turning it into the Oregon and California Railroad Company.In April 1868, construction started on lines along both the sides of the river.Holladay's "Eastsiders" completed of track before the competition, using "every trick known to man" in the construction, including bribing the Oregon Legislature in October 1868.