The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1872-04-25

mouth shall last when the Pyramids OF
Epvpt shall have sunk beneath the sands on
uhich they stand. The bridging Of the
Missouri, like the spanning Of the continent by
he Pacific Railway, and The tearing out OF
he yery vitals Of Mount Ceais Is one Of the
results Of the all prevsding spirit Of enter
prise hat in history will mark the Nine.
ieenth Century - an epoch in material pro-
press. for gigantic and successful attempts to
snnihilate time and pacs. Natural barriers
that have been boundaries Of nations are but
myths Of the past, and this enterprise de-
mons.raies the fact that skill, science and
courage will triumph even over nature itself.
We naturally feel proud Of this structure,
proud Of the efforts that have carried it to q
successful completion, and, With pleasure, We
place on record our appreciation OF the skill,
science and integrity Of its builders and
the unequalled professional acquire
ments of the accomplished engineer whose
genius conceived the plan, and whose ability
and sleepless care have carried It to final
and perfect success.
The structure is before you; the East and
the West are united; the traveller from New
Zealand need not longer linGer on London
Bridge to sketch the ruins of st. Paufs, but
may pass in palace chambers over river,
mountain and plain, his rest undisturbed,
from the parl0rs Of the Fifth Avenue till his
eyes are gladdened BY the gorgeous sun that
glitters upon the Bay of San Francisco. New
York, Leavenworth and San Francisco the
terminal and central points on the continent.
So it is written in the Eook Of Fate. Again,
friends from the East, the West, the North
and the South, We bid you welcome, and
trust that our friendship shall be a constant
as the flow Of the dark waters that are span
ned by our great bridge.
The Mayor then introduced to the assem-
blage An old citizen of Leavenworth, IN able
and true man, the honored and accomplished
presiding officer of the popular branch Of the
Missouri Legislature, the Hon. X. P. c. Will
con. Mr.. w. came forward and said:
FELLOW CITIZENS: In behalf of tie large
number of Mimourians here present, a. well
as for myself, acknowledge the graceful
compliment yon have extended Us in the in
vitation to participate in the celebration Of
this magnificent structure. ! congratulate
YOU upon this auspiciout occasion. ! rejoice
with you in this new evidence Of your new
enterprise and prosperity, for have not for
gotten that I was once 4 citizen Of Kansas,
and the recipient Of 4 proud public trust al
the hands of the people Of Leavenwortk.
More than two years ago, in the white dawn
of the early morning Of the life OF your State
aided in clothing her in the habliaments Of
sovereignty and in starting her in the race
for empires.
The completion Of this great work not only
rears another imperisbable monument 70
.cience, and binds with fresh filltts Of victo-
~ the brow Of the engineer in his struggle
with obstacles thrown in the pathway Of
mans progress by the hand Of nature, but It
proclaims to the world that from this day
until the knell of time this wild food Of
waters shall cease 10 divide Missouri and
Kansas, in its mad course from the Sierras to
the sea; that they are now and will be for all
coming time linked together by triple
chains of iron aud steel.
Whlle TO all present no doubt this event il
full of Significance, yet TO those who, like
myself, have spent the larger portion Of their
lives in this great valley, and along this
great river, almost in sight of where We now
stand, il is especially interesting, and evokea
the Iiveliest "reminiscences. There are per-
sons here to-day who have stood upon the
heights that overlook US, and have
wandered along theseshores, before the wand
of civilization had been waved over them,
transforming these lowlands IS II " magic
from primeval forests to rich fields Of waving
grain, and the rugged sleeps to beautiful EN-:
inences crowned With pslatial residences and
displaying all the evidences Of culture and
the most refined civilization. They have
seen the day when no craft ever vexed these
waters, save the batieaux Of the voyaseul
and the trapper, as for more than thousand
miles il iioated upon the water to the old
French village Of St. Louis.
They have seon the day when the dug.
ont wa the only means Of transfer from
shore to shore, and when God Almighty s
own hishway-the frozen bosom ofthis rivtl
in winter. was the only bridge thought
possible to be erected ovar il. And tbsa
came the ancient 6at.bottom scow, heraldine
the advance Of civilization, and quick upon
that the "horse boat" eHecting, as the set.
tlers of the Platte Purchase then thought, q
wonderful rsyolutiou in the means Of transit
from the Missouri shore to that of the Indian
Territory. and a9ordin( additional facilities
in their trsds With he Fort. And then, q
If in rude mocking Of the quiet old days, The
whistle Of the steam ferry broke upon the
ears Of these old settlers, and q its shriu
scream reyerberated through dell and bake,
and from hill to hill, its echoes proclaimed
the dawn Of new civilization on the frontier,
and aroused us all along the banks Of the
Missouri 70 realisation OF The fact that the
''old things had given away 70 the new"
and that the couFse Of empire IN its hrele1.
unceasing tramp, had At last reached where
We Stand today. Even II that period, though
comparatively recent, The great state OF An.
souri hesself had Scarcely . loot Of iron ran
within her vast domain, and gave bat Little
promise Of that renarkahle Development
which has since m.de her the WONDER OF NE
nation and the pelde Of her own people; out
like a huge unwieldy giant, seemed IN the
embrace Oh vakeaeD rSPos
She vas still upon the frontier, and The
Delaware, AickaRoo snd NOVA indians'
But this ss.fe OF snairs was OF Dol snost co-
ration. The spirit OF American enterprise
became resties. on beng connnsd to u. zen
bank OF the Missouri hver, ana coveted In
dian Territory, it, magnificent sweep OF VIZ
gin soil, it pure an, ns clear waiesA' ana re.
solved to posses mem. WIN me genius Of
this people, to resolve y 70 scco@Pihn.
In the terrio'e tafoe, OF 'esest'ne stri!e'
Aansas was oofn; Ana t1o9en I9t yesn sce
seemed to have oeen Gssdseo eeoef : oeleiul
sky, and 70 oe tne cnl'a o. mle,ossnne 70 tne
whole isno, yes nov, .no = s:e1e 70 oeoy
that IN toe I.ce 10 e@PuN, " ~ AIoos
me Ioseeoa. ~ - ~ ~ PPs 2.
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