Bismarck tribune., 1883-07-20
Dbl. .gi8,,1ar1k dributte.

: OONCN vINSvvSvSsN - $s
" GREAT EVENT.
A special telegram from New York to
the Minneapolis Tribune Of Sunday con-
tains the following detailed programme
to be followed upon the completion OF
the North Pacific road:
Mr.. Henry Willard, president of the North
Pacific Railroad company. has issued the invi-
tations for the great transcontinental excursion
which is to celebrate the opening of the main
line of that road about the first of September
next. The invitations constitute > beautiful
specimen of the engraver's art, and the whole
expedition is evidently gotten up regardless of
expense and on q scale of magni6cence never
before approached anywhere in the world in
connection with commercial enterprise. The
central event Of the trip is to be the diving of
the golden spike which will unite the western
and eastern divisions of the road at point
near the western opening of the Mullen tunnel,
which pierces the main range of the Rocky
Mountains about 80 miles west of Helena, Mont
The majority of the guests will come from the
Atlantic states. and are expected to concentrate
ut New York city about the 9th of August
Private Pullman cars will be attached to the ex-
press trains on the New York Central, the Erie
and the Pennsylvania railroads leaving New
York at that time. Invited guests who live at
more western points will join the excursion at
such places ss may be most convenient to them.
Chicago will be the first grand rendezvous for
the expedition west of New York, while st. Paul
and Minneapolis will constitute the actual start
ing point of the excursion, as finally completed
and made up. One special ca. starts from Bos-
ton and another from Philadelphia for the &C.
oommodation of guests invited from those cities.
Ample provision is made in advance by the
raikoad company for the free entertainment Of
it's guests, in New York at the Windsor. the
Hoff man, the Brunswick and the Buckingham
cago at the Palmer and Grand Pacific. At st.
Paul special trains consisting of these private
cars, Pullman sleepers and dining cars will be
made up and run through to the Pacific coast
and return, thus no dependence will be placed
upon hotels or eating stations at any point be-
will live on board the trains. and every conven-
fence. comfort and luxury will be provided for
the entire trip. The company take the pains to
say that the guests will be at no personal ex-
pense during the entire journey, which will cover
a period of thirty days.
svr "a; RI; ;pfi finn1Sohn6 aolec
tion Of capitalists, railway magnates, journalists
and men in public life. These, including the
5board of directors and other stockholders will
probably constitute party Of rot less than 800
persons. Brief halts will be made at various
peints across the continent to give the excursion
lists an opportunity to see all the sights worth
seeing along the new road. It has not been
finally decided whether depression will be
made to visit Yellowstone Park or not, but if
the invited guests are consulted there is no
doubt as to what their answer will be- After the
main celebration at the uniting of the rails on
the summit of theRocky mountains the party will
pr.,ceed down the Pacific slope, and on reaching
Wallula, near the head of navigation on the
Columbia river, the excursionists will have their
choice, whether to proceed by rail down the
river bank road down to Portland Or change to
'steamers on the river In either case the scenery
to be enjoyed down the Columbia valley is
among the most magnificent on the continent,
From Portland the party will proceed over the
Pacific division of the North Pacific road north
ward to its Pacific tide water terminus at New
Tacoma, on Puget Sound, there they will be
transferred to steamers and enabled to visit all
parts of the sound, including days sojourn at
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. The
editorial members of the fraternity who are in
vited will be specially locked after by Mr.. E. V.
Sm.lley, of the New York Tribune staff
Among other pleasant features of the occasion
it is understood Mr. Jay Cooke, the practical
and Grst promoter of the great enterprise, has
consented TO join the perty and make his first
trip across the continent over the ire Of rail-
way to whose construction he gave so many
years of arduous work, aud in which he wrecked
an imnense fortune. MIR. Cooke has now fully
recovered his financial star ding AID is in condi-
,tion to thoroughly enjoy the approaching
event.
Quite number Of invited guests who have
never been west of Buffa.o are deairous that the
give the party leisure to fully inspect Minneap-
oils and St. Paul, the growth and the glories of
which they have heard much about during the
last three years.