Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-05-11

Pacific Railroad Celebration - The
Grandest Affair RVer Witnessed In
the CIty-The Entire Population Join
I'm the Exercises.
SAN Francisco, May S.-The celebra-
ton to-day was one to be remembered for
all time in San Francisco. The day was
ushered in by salute of one hundred
guns. At noon all the federal forts in the
harbor fired a salute; bells in the city set
ringing and steam-whistles screaming. AT
night the whole city was illuminated and
presented q brilliant appearance. The
procession was the largest and most en-
thusiastic ever witnessed in San Francisco.
The people were willing and eager to OBJ
serve ar event Of 30 much importance to
this city and the Pacific coast, aud turned
out en- mssse.
Business wal generally suspended, and
nearly every citizen exhibited hearty in
terest in the demonstration. The military
and civic display was grand. 10 addition
to the State militiS all available Unsfed
States troops from several forts and pre-
sidios participated on the OCCASION while
civic societies turned out with full ranks.
The city and harbor presented M 'gnit-
.
streets being draped with banners of every
nation and thronged with excited and joy
Gus people, and the shipping was dressed
in foe style. A dispatch from the juno
ton Of the road announcing the driving
of the last spike o. the Central Pacific
road at 10 o'clock A NJ. seat thrill OF
JOY through the city. COngratulatory mes.
sages we're transmitted by the directors of
the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific
by California pioneers. Ae Sacramento
the event was celebrated in the graRdest
manner. The city was crowded with
multitude of people from alt parts of the
State and Nevada. The Grand Lodge of
Odd Fellows in session in this city
accepted an invitation to attend at
Sacramento. Demonstrations from Nevada,
Grass Valley, Vallejo, San Francisco, Pla-
cerviEle, San Jose, Marysville, Virginia
City and Gold Hill, Nevada, were ia at
tendance. The line of travel from Sacra-
meh.o was thrown open TO the public free,
and immense numbers Of people took adj
vantage OF the circumstance and Hooked
hither. The Central Pacific Company had
their locomotives gsily decorated aud
arranged 10 the city front, and at the sig
nal gun announcing the driving OF the last
spike the road locomotives opened the
chorus with whistles, and all the bells and
steam whistles joined in. Profound regret
was expressed that The roads were not
Joined to-day The failure is attributed 10
the obslinacy or inability of the up road
to make connection. Dispatches from
PromontOry says several hundred men
seized the train al Piedmont on which was
President Durant, telling him they were
hungry and must have their money, and
wouldn't release him till it wss fortheom-
ing. The nOn-arriVSl Of Durant ID alleged
as reason of the postPOnement Of the
ceremony Of joining the road until Monday
next.
The Road COmpIeted-E776 Miles of
Continuous Kali.
PRoMoNToRY SUMMIT, Utah, May 10
To the Assistant President The last rail
il laid and the lasEspike is driven in the
Pacific Railroad Ii is completed 10 a
point Of junction 1886 miles west Of the
Missouri river, aud coo miles east of Sac
rameUtO. ...
LELAND STANFORD, Z. P. Il. f.
To c. DQrant, Sidney Dillon, John
Duff, U. P. Il. X.