Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-21

General A. K. P. Stafford, in behalf
of the Territory of Arizona, presented
spike composed of iron. gold and silver
as an offering by Arizona, with the re-
marks
Ribbed with iron clad in silver and
crowned with gold, Arizona presents her
offering to the enterprise that has band
ed ever continent and dictated new
pathway to commerce"
THz SILVER SPIKE.
Hon. F. A. Tritle, from the State of
Nevada, presented silver spike on be.
half of the citizens of Nevada, with the
following remarks
TO the iron Of the East and the gold
of the West, Nevada adds her link of
silver to span the continent and we'd the
irons"
THE LAST RAIL.
The magnificent tie of laurel, on which
was commemo. alive plate of silver,
was brought forward, put in place, and
Dr. Hardness, in behalf Of the State of
California. presented Governor Stanford
the gold spike, with the following ad
dress :
REMARKS OF DR.. II. w. HARNESS., OF
SACRAMENTO.
The last rail needed to complete the
greatest enterprise Of the world, is about
to be laid. The last spike needed to
unite the Atlantic and Pacific ty new
line of commerce and travel is about to
be driven to its place. To perform these
acts the East and Wet have como TO
gether. Never since history commenced
her record of human events, has she
been called upon to note the completion of
a work so magnificent in conception. so
marvellous in execution. w hen Venice
was mistress Of the seas, and her argo-
sizes let 90 their anchors IN every part, it
was the custom of her days to propiti
ate the GENT of the Seas by wedding
the Adriatic with costly jewel. More
Proudly than Venice can America boast
Of her power and progress, Of her wealth
and commerce. Not the sea only, but
the continent is made thus pathway
Unlike the Doges of Venice we have no
Genii Of the Seas to arepitiate, but in
emulation of their example we may fifty
ornament and decorate with gold and
silver these iron rails on which to large
degree the trade and travel of cont
nent is about to roll, and it is in this
mode that California, within whose bor-
doris and by whose citizens the Pacific
Railroad was inaugurated, desires to ex-
press her appreciation of the vast impor-
lance to her and her sister States of the
great enterprise which. by your joint
action, is about to be consummaied.-
From her mines of gold she has forged
spike; from her laurel woods she has
hewn tie, and BY the hands of her cit
liens she Offers them to become part of
the great highway which is about to un to
her in close fellowship with her sisters Of
the Atlantic. From her bosom was Ia
ken the first rail. Let hers be the last
tie and the last spike. With t. EN- &C
cept the hopes and wishes OF her people,
that the success of your enterprise may
not stop short OF its brightest promises.
REMARKS OF GENERAL DODGE.
General Dodge, in behalf of the IN
ion Pacific then responded as follows
GENTMEMEN The great Benton
prophesied that some day granite stat :
us of Columbus would be erected on
the highest peak Of the Rocky Noun
taius pointing Westward denoting this
as the great route across the continent
You have made that prophesy this day.
Accept this as the way to India "
Thereupon Supt Coe, in behalf of the
Pacific Union Expr IS, presented the
sedge with which to drive the last spike.
PRESIDENT sTANFoRD's REMARKS.
Hon Leland Stanford responded as
follows:
GESTLEMEN:-The Pacific Railroad
Companies accept with pride and sails
faction these golden and silver tokens Of
your appreciation of the Importance Of
our enterprise to the material interests Of
the sections which you represent on this
occasion, and to the ma erial interests of
our whole country east and west, north
and South, these gifts shall receive a
fitting place in the superstructure of our
road And before laying the ties and
driving the spikes in completion of the
Pacific Railroad, allow me to express the
hope that the great Importance which
you are pleased to attach to our under
taking may be IN all respects fully real
lied. This line of rails connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific, and affording to
commerce a new transit, will prove We
trust, the speedy forerunner of increas
ING facilities. The Pacific Railroad will,
as soon as commerce shall begin to fully
realize its advantages, demonstrate the
necessity of such improvements in rail
reading as to render practicable the
transportation of freights at much less
rates than are possible under any system
which has thus far been anywhere adopt
ed. The day is not far distant when
three tracks will be found necessary to
accommodate the commerce which will
seek a transit across this continent. -
Freights will then move only one way on
each track, and rates of speed which will
answer the demand of cheapne s and