The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-01

sources OF our great West have designed and
struck most beautiful medal commemorative Of
the opening OF the great national highway, the
Pacific Railway The idea was first suggested in
May last, and William Barber, Esq., the engraver OF
the Mint, was at once instructed by Governor Pol
Jock as TO the plan AID general features OF the
medal. Work was Immediately commenced, and
tbout two weeks since the die was finished. Sluce
then number Of the medals have been struck in
silver and bronze, and one in gold. This one is en-
Cased In crimson velvet cover, and is intended as
testimonial from the officers OF the Mint to the Pre-
sdent OF the United States. The following descrF-
ton OF the medal including the devices thereon,
viii give the reader idea Of the exquisite skill
employed in getting the affair up.
The medal intended for General Grant measures
nearly two inches in diameter. on the diverse is
most artstically executed raised bust OF the Pres-
dent, and it is most excellent likeness. Forming
circle over the head of the President are the WORDS
PRESIDENCY OF U. 8. GRANT
Immediately beneath is the following
THE OCEANS UNITED
BY TIE PACIFIC RAILWAY,
May 10, 1869.
The reverse exhibits, in as great fulness OF detail
as the small space Of medal would permit the
most striking characteristic OF the road It's binding
together with iron bands the two great oceans OF
the world, the Pacific and Atlantic, on the right and
left OF the medal, and by few mastery touches
presenting the most noticeable features OF the great
internal plateau which the road traverses. This
great plateau elevated several thousand feet above
the sea-level is traversed 10y few mountain ranges,
presenting detached peaks rising many thousand feet
above the plateau, wholly different from the conf
paratively tame and evel-topped ranges OF the
Atlantic slopes. The peaks constitute the most
prominent feature in the medal, and on a nearer
foreground to the left is rough column Of rock, eX
hblting the characteristic horizontal strattncaton,
and remaining as a monument of the huge deposits
of rock which once covered the whole great interior
plain, but which the waters have gradually washed
away to lower level, leaving few casteatei
columns which resist decrepitation. The
train of cars passing around these
elevations, on the elevated plateau, occupies the
middle ground OF the medal, while the more imme-
date foreground presents well-executed represen-
aton OF the great canon system, series of troughs
often cut down thousands OF feet in depth, and with
vertical walls OF rock, at the bottom Of which the
streams flow. BY way Of remark may add that
the Great Canon of the Colorado rather the series
of canons is some nine hundred miles in length, and
is perhaps the most striking typographical feature
of the North American continent distinguishing it
from all the other continents OF the globe.
In a scroll over the picture we have described are
the words So
"EvERY MOUNTAIN SHALL BE MADELOw."
Underneath is the following:-
'AIedal Series of the .. s. Mint,
'JAMEs POLLOCK Director"
The silver and bronze copies OF this medal are now
being struck, and for sale at the Mint. The
bronze medal Will be sold at s1'25.
noteworthy fact in connection with this matter
is that eX-Gov. Pollock, when amember of Congress-
twenty-one years ago, gave the feasibility of rail-
road from ocean to ocean his official attention. and
was the chairman OF the first Congressional com mlt
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