The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1883-09-14

More eloquent lips than mine will
describe to you the interesting pro-
cess of evolution, by which our enter
prise grew out OF the discoveries then
made. They will tell you how the
record of these discoveries first gave
rise to prophetic visions of . trans
continental railroad along Lewis aud
Clarke's route, and how. within ten
years after these visions were 6rst
embodied IN print, they moved one
man to 60 forth and spend the best
years Of his lite and all he possessed in
the propagation Of his faith. You will
learn how in the end he became .
very martyr to his belief, hut how !.
the project Of q railroad to the Pacific, |
despite the failure Of its first prophet,
made converts, until it finally be-
came leading public question and
object Of national legislation.
You will be shown how ths north
ern route, which ut first was the only
thought OF, gradually lest prestige
and other routes took prominence.
Then the brilliant episode in cur his
tory will pass before you, in which
q bold and resolute man was the con-
| tral figure, to whom, most Of all, the
company owes its practical existence.
You will be reminded how the bright
ness of that period was ecllpsed BY
the cataclysn Of 1873. Our fabric
seemed then to be lost in the bottom
less pit. Yet resurrection followed,
owing to the vitality Of the PROSTATE
body, and to the application ct the
: heroic remedies Of foreclosure and
, reorganization.
!, There was no Immediate restora-
! ton TO active life. Years Of slow re-
: cuperation followed, until the revival
! OF commerce and industry and rail
! road undertakings in the years 1879
> and 1850. The sagacious men who
then directed the Lompany's affairs
!, saw their patience rewarded and tn
. time ripe for the resumption Ut werl
e OH the road.
:, They began cautiously. seeking
;. . what was possible rather than wha'
:. was desirable. All ut "nce Fortuna
= smiled upon the company. 4 Imam
: ciall alliance with = great syndicat'
= was formed. which meant nothing
;. ). less than the assurance of all the cup
: ital required to complete the road
= and thereby the end of all uncertain
!. :, ty in the prospects Of the company
: leap, in short. into assured success.
- With u flood tide in the treasury .
- the company. there arose tue necessi
- ty Of pushing the construction of ON
- ;. transcontinenta line with the ut,nos
:. energy. | hope may Ds permitte
to say that we have striven to do ou
full duty, au,l accomplish the creates
= effort f which human brain An
:. =. muscles. simulated by nnlimite
-, ~ capital. are capable. in given tim
:, and in II stated direction. Work .
:" -, the main line was first resumed .
- - the west bank Of the Missouri rive
:" " in tue spring OF 1879, and NJ .he col
- t1uence Of tho Columbia and Snal
=: rivers in the fall of tbs same yea
4 The distance between the two star
ed ing points was l.22s miles. The q
a. miles from the Missouri to the fe
II. lowstone were completed ia Jun
ts 1881; the 30 miles from tie Columbl
y. to Lake Pend d'Oreille in Novsmbe
hs 1881. The completion Of the $40 mil,
". of the road in the Yellowstone Valle
.s. took seventeen months; the vi mill
he up the gorges Of Clark's Fork to Mi
70. soula, nineteen months: from Il
he head Of the Yellowstone Valley
al Helena, and thence to this .iunct:o
= niue months. Thus. the irst 4
,e. miles Of the total mileage to be con
on lleted--that Is the Missouri and Per
". d'Orellle divisions = were inished
up two years and eight months. viii
'p- the other 80 miles were completed
nd less than two years. lnthis time Il
II. great structure OF the RisMart
to bridge Was also erected. The contt
ds, ,lation Of the main line down the &c
es- umbia for = length Of 2lO miles
another company to Portland. aad
va. thousand additional miles OF lines
oh branch and allied companies. We
or. finished.
-, These ilgures are easily quoted, ~
"o apparently speak very SIMPLE u
.eo auage. But their true meaning 60
'ne ~ far beyond the mere space OF tin
."e and mileage Of completed road tn
ne indicate. They form . great sum
ETC human patience and perseversnt
Of energy and bravery, hardship a
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