Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-07
4 NGAT SPRGCu.

Judge Deadly, at the driving OF the
lsst spike near Portland, the other day,
made the following very pretty speech:
"Priends, fellow citizens and officers
Ut the Oregon Railway Il Navigation
Company: We are met hero to witness
the completion Of this great Oregon en-
terpriss. which ia 10 put US in railway
communication With the east and tho
north and the SOuth-which is to lift US
out OF our long continued isolation and
place NJ IN the front rank OF the people
Of the world.
Il is difficult for me to convey to you
the impression which this scene makes
emotions which nov cluster around my
heart.
Thivty-thres years sgo I hOated down
this lonely bat lordly river ia an Indian
canoe on my way to Oregon. / vas then
youth to fortune and to fame un-
known, bat not without hoce aud cour-
Age FOR the future. At that time the
iron horse had not climbed the Ale
9henies on his westward way, and you
may imagine how little l thought or
dreamed Of helping to drive the last
spike in its track On the far Oh Colum-
bia.
Indeed, it is not ono hundred years
since the grand river on whose shores
ws now stand WAS disoOvered-since
Captain Gray stumbled in over the bar
and thereby fastened upon it forever tho
name OF his lucky bark-the Columbia.
Only three quarters of century ago
the Government Of the United States
6rst put forth its comparatively feeble
hand to claim this unknown shore. The
spike which eventually fastened it to the
Union, and which will never be With
drawn, was tho expedition Of Lewis and
Clarke. which seventy -seven years a. o
doated down tho river in sight of this
spot whore We nov stand, and bore the
stars ane stripes from the Missouri to
tbs Pacific. Then those rock piled hills
6rst echoed the Welcome sounds Of the
now universal English tongue.
A quarter Of century later that gal
liant American soldier of French birth.
Col. Benjamin Bonneville, explored the
country, and soon after Washington Irv-
ing caught the ear of the public with
the charming narrative Of his rom .ntic
adventure. With peetio justice the
managers Of this enterprise have per
potuated his memory by naming the
principal place On the road in this vicin-
ity Bonneville. Following him forty
years ago, came the American trapper
and pioneer.
Twenty years ago the Oregon Steam
Navigation Company spranR into exist
ence and the tide Of traffic and travel
turned up the stream. From Astoria
to Lewiston the river WAS plowed with
the strong stern wheels under the enter
prisinQ direction Of Ainsworth, TLomp.
son and Ladd.
But all this has passed away and the
river gives place to the rail, and the
sternWheel to the locomotive.
Finally, We congratulate the managers
OF this new enterprise. Their names
Willard, Dolph, Prescott, Thielsen and
Auir-will not only be remembered in
our cups but emblazoned on our towns,
boats. palace cars and other monu-
ments Of art and utility. And we trust
that they will be wise and moderate in
management Of tho great power and re-
sponsibility and aim to make the public
good and their own identical. Lot them
foster the country which fosters them.
and putting aside all other purposes, be
content 10 act only a. the bensficent
agents between the producer and con-
sumner, and NO ono will ever have ocoa-
sion TO regret this day"