The Portland daily press., 1877-07-19
r. IL o. RAILROAD.
Celebration of the Completion of fIie
Vermont Division.

very readable account of the celebration of
the completion of the Vermont Division Of the
Portland & Ogdensburg Line. 1t is as follows:
This has been great day for ST. JohIsbury
and the whole region traversed by the Vermont
division of the Portland and Ogdensburg Rail-
road. 1t signalized the completion of the line
from Swanton, on Lake Champlaip, to the
Connecticut river, where the road connects
with the Portland division, also completed,
with the exception of a gap of eighteen miles
between Dalton, N. H., and Fabyan's, at the
base of the White Mountains. The Vermont
division is 100 miles in length and the Portl and
division about Ito, making the entire length of
the line to Portland 23O miles. The supplying
of the last link by the completion of the Yer
mont division was the croWnipg triumph of
eight years constant struggle amid the most
d,scouraging circumstances, and it was effected
to-day at the little town of Fletcher, Vt, by
the laying of the last rail and the driving home
of the last spike. The event was one of great
importance, and much interest was excited at
either end of the line, and all along the route.
At st. Johnsbury formal preparations were
made for a fitting observance of the event. A
special train was arranged, which was filled
with the officers of the road and those inter
ested in its furtherance, with invited guests.
The train, which consisted of an observation
Car and two passenger cars, left st. Johnsbury-
about nine o'clock, in charge of s. w. Park
hurst, conductor, and Alanson Burt engineer.
Among the distinguished persons on board
were Governor Horace Fairbanks of st.
Johnsbury, the president of the road; Col A.
Ii. Jewett OF SwantoD, superintendent OF the
Won't txrtCs aE and
superintendent of the Maine division; Charles
A. Stevens, general passeDge agent; A. w.
Hastings, treasurer; j. w. Hartshorn of Lu-
nenburg, the Hon. Luke p. Poland, Judge
Ross of ST. JohnsbqIy, and many others. AT
Morrisville, Waldo Brigham, the president of
the Lamoile Valley Railroad, and the Hon.
G. w. Hendee, member of Congress for the
third Vermont district, joined the party. The
train arrived in Fletcher without special Incl.
dent, and its advent was hailed by tho waving
of handkerchiefs and the shouts of large num-
bers who had assem- bled to witness the inter-
esting event. After the company had left the
cars, Supernte ndent Jewett directed the work
men to lay the last rails, and when all but the
last spike was driven addressed Governor
Fairbanks, the president of the road, as fol-
lows:
Governor FAIRBANKS Chairman of the EIecu-
the Committee of The Portland and OgdenSborg
RdiTodd:-As superintendent, it becomes my
pleasing duty to iRform you on behalf OF the
directors that the last rail is laid on our road,
and the State of Vermont is bound together by
another railway from the Connecticut river to
Lake Champlain; that is, another route is open
from the seaboard to the great West. None
know better than you of our trials and ankle
ties, nor of the patience and energy displayed
by all, andT need not tell you of our joy in the
realization of our fond hopes One spike is
vet to be driven. This [ now with pleasure
deliver to yon, with the request of the board
that you drive it,
Gov. Fairbanks received the silver spike aud
responded as follows:
Ladies and Gentlenen-It was said of Abra-
ham Lincoln few weeks previous to bis in
auguration as President of the United States
that he made call on his tailor to be measured
for suit of clothes-his Inauguration suit.
The tailor was bus,ly engaged with his work
men, and no word passed between them for
considerable time, when Mr.. Lincoln, looking
into the face of the tailor thoughtfully said,
Measures, not men. Mr.. Hindhaugh; meas
ures, not men," In accordance with this SEN
timent, would say on this occasion, "Deeds,
not words" do not propose to make
Speech but will oDly say it gives me great
pleasure to announce on behalf of the mana
gers of the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad
Vermont division, the substantial completion
of the road, connecting by rail the great lakes
with the sea. The driving of the silver spike
is the GROWING work of the enterprise.
Lilo silver SPIKE Was bnen driven home by
the governor, the audience singing. PRAISE
God, from whom all blessings fow," Judge
Poland then made short address, saying that
seemed to HIM that the people had waited
almost as long for the railroad as the children
of Israel did for their delverance from bond
age; but they had one advantage over the
Israeltes, they had saved their Moses and
Aaron He then called for three cheers for
Gov. Fairbanks and Col. Jewett. Speeches
were then made by ). B. Brown of Portland
and the Hon. G. w. Hendee, after which the
exercises terminated and the party entered the
cars for trip to SwantoD, where they arrived
at quarter past o'clock, intending to return
to 81. Johnsbury, Vt, the same night. OMAR
irving at Swanton the train was received with.
lively demonstrations of joy by the citizens.
The Swanton brass band was at the station
and escorted the passengers to tho Central
House, where an excellent dinner was prepar-
ed, and salute was fred from the square.
The enterprisipg citizens of Swanton, who
made this demonstration, are entitled to great
credit for their public spirit. Late in the aft
ernoon the train started on its return to st.
Johnsbury