Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-09-14
DRIVING THE GOLDEN SPIKE.
Speeches by President Willard, VIM

DRIVING THE GOLDEN Spike,
Speeches by President Willard, VIM.
NJ. Eyarts, Ex-President Killings,
and Others, 81 ~ II !
At about 6:15 p: M, on the 9th inst,, the
ceremonies of driving the last spike on the
Northern Pacific Railroad, connecting st..
Paul and Duluth at the eastern terminus
with Portla I'd, the western terminus, were
held at a place called Gold Spike, fity-five
miles west of Helena, Montana. The oc-
casion was regarded as remarkable one,
and as presaging Il prosperous future. All
present were impressed ct what they beheld.
Instead Of The wilderness of the Rocky
m mouatAins 1av teay e esn15a of sea
ing more than a thousand people,
over which foated the national colors OF
American, German ar British nations. In
front, reaching to the roadbed was a. ex-
tensive promenade, skirted by platform
with comfortable seats. To the right was
a band stand and on it were 8 ated the
Fifth infantry band, who were to entertain
them, and who came all the way from Fort
Keogh. But even stronger. than this evil
dence of civilization were the scores Of We
hicles and the hundreds of hardy noun
taineers gathered to welcome Henry Viii
lard. AS soonlas the last + the guests ar
rived and his party. the ceremonies were
opened by President Willard, who divided
the attention Of the enthusiastic multitude
with Gen. Grant, seated on the platform.
Mr.. Willard spoke for half
an hour giving 8 brief
history of the Northern Pacific rail-
road from its incipancy to its completion,
and making HONORABLE mention OF all who
had been Instrumental in building this great
trancontine throughfare. He concluded
his remarks amid tremendous applause, and
then introduced the Hon. VIM NJ. Evarts,
the orator of the occasion. Mr.. Evsrts
paid glowing tribute to the founders OF
the great work. BE said: Sin all the long
route from st. Paul, to Portland and Puget
Sound the work has spoken and
it's projection, its completion, in more inn
preSsive tones, and with juster emphasis,
than words can express" His address was
long and eloquent, and was well received
and heartily applauded. Mr.. Evarts was
followed bv Secretary Teller, who spoke of
the great energy and capital required to
complete the various transcontinental lines,
and the prospective benefits to the nation
this enterprise of the Northern Pacific, along
whose line OF road there would be in few
years 6, 600, 900 people, could notibe called To-
Ca in its character. T. was more than nation
al 1t concerned the welfare of other people.
It now remains for the managers to Justify
in the future the vision of the government
policy announced by President Willard is
carried out. Secretary Teller was followed
by ex-President Billings, Gen. Grant, Sir
James Harmon, Won Eisendesker, DR.. Kniss
Of the Berlin I'm ve-sity, the governors OF
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Montana,
Oregon and Washington territory.
At the conclusion three cheers were 2 iv-
en-. The foreign guests were thea given
seats on the platform by the railway, pho
tos were taken Of them, Willard and family
and the NEST distinguished Americans. Al.
ter that a horse that had helped to build
the road from It's inception was brought
messed a most extraordinary Spectacle,
Three hundred men with brawny arms
quickly laid thereon and drove the spikes on
the thousand feet Of uncompleted track ex-
cept the last spike. During thegprogress OF
the work, which was witnessed by the for.
eigners with auaZement, the band PLAYED
and the people shouted. When hearty
completed q cannon salute was fred by
the detachment of the fifth infantry present.
The last spike was finally driven home by
H. @. Davis, assistant general passenger
agent OF the road, who drove the first spike
on the opening of the road, and this spike
end was reached as the sun was setting
behind the mountains. The entbusi-
asm Of the people. variously estimated at
from 5000 to 5000, was ind-scribable. The
high rcverberation, the mingled sounds of
cannon aud shouts of men. Thus was
brought to happy conclusion very re-
markable event in American history. The
trains were reformed and guests departed,
the English and apart of the Americans,
including George M. Pullman and Vice
President Haines, to the east, the rest west
ward to Puget sound.
At St. Paul Private George Cady, of the
Emmett battery, with BRASS field piece,
was on hand at Smith park by 2 O'Clock,
his gun charged with five pound blank
cartridge. At later hour an electric wire
was inserted into the vent and this wire
connected with dynamo machine in the
telegraph office of the Northern Pacific rail.
road. An unbroken circuit was completed
between Golden Spike, sixty miles west OF
Helena, Montana, an! New York, g
total distance OF 2, sos miles. TIE wire was
cut at the scene of the days feativities,
1,2l5 miles west of st. Paul. One end OF
The wire was affixed to the silver sledge
hammer, the other to the golden spike. and
when the first blow was struck, circuit
would be completed, and the blow
tucked" instantaneously in Portland, St.
Paul, Chicago, Boston, Buffalo, and New
York.
It was expected that the last spike would
be driven between the hours of 10 and IL g..
M, bat the watchers at the instrument in
the Northern Pacific Offices in St. Paul,
and at the cannon in South Park stood at
their posts until 618 p. ILL.,, railway ii ne,
when the first ''tick" was
heard on the instrument which
was switched into connection with the can
non. IA less than two secondsl Boom! went
the gnD in Smith park, joyfully pealed the
bells, and shrill and deep blew the whis-
ties in the city Of St. Paul. The last spike
was driven. The Northern Pacific railroad,
conceived nineteen years ago, was CON-
pleted. The great work had collie to sue
cesstul completion.