Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-05-13


erci>es Attends. the Laying OF th-,
Rail.
\ despatch from Promoutory Point
gives graphic account OF the laying
last rall OF the great Pacific Road.
In presenting the silver spike 70 Dr. ID
Hon. 7. A. Tnttle, OF Nevada, offered n.
lowing sentiment -" To the IRON OF ths
and the gold OF the West Nevada adds her itr
OF silver 10 span the continent and wed the
oceans"
Hon. A. h. Saford, Governor OF ArizJua. o.
fered a spike OF iron, silver ana gold as an Of
fenng from Arizona. with the folio wing SEM
ment -" Ribbed with iron, clad in silver ana
crowned with gold. Arizona presents her Offer
ing TO the enterprise that has bar ded the conti-
neIf ossrnr Sna o,csea , sne pathway 70 commerce
81 has line OF rails connecting the Atlantic and
Pacific, and anordipg TO commerce a new
transit transit VIII prove, We trust, the speedy fore
raliroed Will as soon commerce shall beriE
FULLY 10 realize lts advantages. demonstrafe th..
necessity Of such improvements In railroadinr
as 10 render practicable the transportation OF
freiehts at much less retes than are possibl.,
under any system which mas been tn me far auy-
where adopted. The day 10 not far distant
when three tracks will be found necessary 10
accommodate the commerce and travel vhich
seek q transit across this continent Freights
VIII then move only one wsy on each track
and al rates OF speed that will answer the
demands OF cheapness: and ume-cars and en-
gines VIII be light or heavy, according 20 the
speed required and the weight TO be trans
ported In CONCLUSION, Will add that we hope
TO DO ultimately what is now impossible ON
long linee: transport coarse. heavy. and cheap
prod ducts for all distances at living rates TO
trade. Now. gentlemen, with your assistance,
we wall p,oceed to lay the last tie and rail ana
General q. M. Dodge, chief engineer OF he
Union Pacific Railroad, In responding for
California, Nevada, and Arizona, sad: arhe
great Benton prophecied that some day a gran
ite statue would be erected on the highest peak
OF the Rocky Mountains, pointing westward.
denoting the great route across the continent
fon have made the prophecy to-day q fact"
The superintendents of construction-S r.
Reed, of the Union Pacific Railroad, ana = w
Suawbridge, Of the Central lPacIfic-placed the
last tie beneath the rails. The tie was of (,aI
ire silver plate bearing the foil owing iuscrip-
uon The last tie laid on the com pletlon OF the
facinc Railroad, May 10Th, 1s69,'' with the
names OF the directors and officers of the Cen
url Pacific Company. The Union Express
Company presented a silver hammer for the
purpose OF driving the spikes.
All being prepared, Gov. Stanford stood ON
tne south rail- DIR. Durant on the north rail,
and on the signal OF "O X from the telegraph
omces- 10Th gentlemen struck the spikes. ana
tne work was done. The vast mulutude
cheered lusuly, and DIR. Durant and Governor
sanford cordially greeted each other. and
shook hands The Doctor proposed IN res.
cheers for the Central Pacific Company, which
was followed by the Governors proposing
lnree cheers for the Union Pacinc Company.
Ine utmost eordIalIty reigned, Dpralt ex-
claiming: "There is henceforth but one Pacif.
railroad Icheerel OF the United States" Cheers
1ouowed Tor the engineers. contractors and
the laborers " no have done the work