The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1869-06-02
Correspondence Of the Carolina Spartan,
Union OF the Atlantic and Pacific.
WAsnINaToN CRY, May 13, 1869.

''.I 81 s.H - 4a3 .s'.I-@
WAsn1Naros C1rY, May 13, 1869.
Editor Spdrtdn-The 10th of
May, 1859, will be memorable in
the history of the United States,
indeed in the history of the world,
as the day on which the great Pa
cific Railroad was completed
passing over the plains and Rocky
, Mountains to California. From
New York city on the Atlantic
Ocean to San Francisco on the Pa.
cific, a continuous line oc 1927
, miles. It was finished, not at
either terminus, as is usual, but at
the point where the two roads, one
from California, the other from
the East, met; this was Promon-
tory Point, which is 1856 miles
west of the Missouri River, and
$50 miles east of San Francisco,
The day for laying tho last rail
has been anxiously looked forward
TO, for months. Several days last
week It was expected to be done,
but Monday, the 10th, at 8 p. NJ,
was fixed upon. The telegraphic
wires of nll the principal points in
the United States were put in con-
nection with that at Promontory
Point, so that the blows of the
hammer affixing the last spike,
would be heard by telegraph, 81
multaneously all over the Union,
including California, ut the mo-
meut they were being struck
An anxious throng waited at the
We.te-n Union Telegraph office
in this city. At three o'clock the
message came" Be ready 7"
when every j., cath was suspended
waiting for the soi:nd of the first
tap Of the silver hammer on the
spike, the message came" row,
they are at prayer" When these
solemn words were read, the heart
would overflow the eyes, and teare
could not be represscd, as imagi-
nation in the twinkiiug of an eye,
depicted the scene then transpir-
ing in that far off wilderness, a
Thousand miles beyond the bounds
of civilization-a band of men as.
sembled, in the plenitode of their
pride, to affix the cap-stone to one
of the mightiest monuments of
human power. The silver mount.
ed rail is ready, the golden spike
is prepared, the silver hammer is
raised. They knew that the eyes
of millions of people are turned
toward them, and the ears OF half
the, civilized globe listening for
that sound as the electric spark
will convey it. In this moment of
intense excitement, the death like
silence is broken by voice" Let
US first give glory to God in the
highest" and every head is uncov-
cred as the minister of Jesus rs.
cribes to Him praise and thanks
giving for tho power by which
alone this mighty work was ac-
complished, Surely IL was q scene
grand, and sublimcly beautiful -
one that should be commemorated
10y the painters skill on the walls
OF the Capitol, and handed down
in the poets lays to the latest gen.
erations.
The howlipg wilderness around,
without O trace of civilization,
save that narrow track of iron ;
9 the snowy and lonely mountains
near, the cleaning saline lake. in
the distance the hostile sayages,
scarce deignibg to conceal them.
selyes--and amid this wild scene,
g q few determined and brave men,
come to complete q chain that. II
. is hoped, will be q bond of {" peace
on eart5, and good will toward
me- I'd to this end they pause
in the Very moment of frnition. tc
ask the blessing Of Almighty God
Surely it was well done. Howev
s..er little religion there may have
been In that assembly Of rough
frontiersmep, this public acknowl
+ edgement Of an Almighty Rulel
: ofthe universe 10 good for the ma
tion,, as well as good for the indi
j vidual, especially atsnch momenil
as this, when human pride culmi
Mates. So must every heart bav,
fslt ~ in silence they, thousand