Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-05-20
The junction of the Oceans.

were the enthusiastic words ir
which great orator. Charles
James Fox, celebrated the news OF
a grand deed done by foreign
people. That deed was the destruc-
ton of the Bastile; and perhapse
when we contemplate the signifi-
canoe of the event, the conditions
under which it was accomplished
the past which it closed, the future
which it sought to open, we may
think it not overpraised by the ora
tor ''on whose burning tongue truth,
peace, and freedom hung" But
it is the work of one age to have to
celebrate as its crowning mercies
the success of deeds of destruction
it is the pride and happiness of a
more fortunate generation to b asst
especially of the triumphs of con-
struction. Peculiarly do the suc-
cesses of this nature belong to and
crown the life of the New World.
The past century, the Old World
destroy the Bastile, and with it the
feudal system; to-day, the New
World completes the Pacific Rail
way, joins the two great oceans,
and opens up to civilization and
progress region vast enough to be
tue home of the whole living human
race. Great peoples always force
an open way to the sea; they can
not develope and breathe freely un-
till all obstacles are removed that
keep them from the salt air of the
ocean. No race even had, by Med
iterranean or Atlantic, by Euxine
or Baltic shores, SO magnificent a
sea range as that which is given to
the American people, who to-day
have reunited the two oceans. We
celebrated, not long since, with an
enthusiasm which certainly was not
extravagant or exaggerated, the
completion of the Cable, which
brings in an instant the voice OF
Europe to the care Of America. Is
it a less momentous or less glorious
achievement which brings San Fran
cisco within six days journey OF
New York
On Monday the gap between the
Union Pacific and the Central Pa
ellie Railroads was closed. Tech
nically. therefore, the junction is
complete The last rail, of laurel
wood, tipped with Nevada silver,
was laid the last spike, of Califor-
MIA gold, was driven; and the event
was commemerated and celebrated
in every great city along the route,
from San Francisco to New York
One continuous line Of rail now con-
meets Omaha and Sacramento,
1,76S miles apart. The roads meet
at Promontory Point, at the north
| west corner Of the Great Salt Lake,
1,1OO miles west of the Missouri
River. Not less than 1850 miles
of the Omaha road and nearly soc
miles of the Sacramento road have
been built within the last three
yeares Such rapidity of construc-
ton, such bold and quick organiza
ton in the marshaliEg of men, the
bringing together of materials, are
entirely without precedent Or paral
lei in the history Of railway enter
prise. Of course, the Pacific liue
is far, indeed, from being yeta com
pleted railway; far. from reaching
the standard Of first class road
Much more remains to be done
but only time is needed to do it
/ The companies have to complete
the entire line of appurtenances o1
the road and the telegraph, to fiji
up the quota of equipment, to fin
ish the bridge across the Missouri
and to build the direct road from
Sacramento to San Francisco. AL
this will be done, and in no consid
cradle time. Let it be remembered
that the time fixed in the charter
for the completion Of the road wa:
the first of July, 1876; and tha
therefore, the companies are sever
yeares in advance of the limit pre-
scribed for them. So lately as two
years ago the principal minds en-
gagged in the enterprise had bu
little hope of completing the worl
within less than twelve-m month
from the present time. OF course
the enterprise has an importan
financial as well as political ant
/ geographical history, and in all it.
aspects will have to stand the ties
of public criticism. No one cal
doubt that, if the difficulties sur
mounted have been v.st, if the tina
success has been splendid, the re
sources placed under the control 0
the company have been unpresiden
ted.-N. Y. Independent.