River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-09-13
DRIVING THE GOLDEN SPIKE,
Speeches by President Willard, WIN.
NJ. Eyarts, Ex-President billings
ana Others

at about 6;15 p. m, on the 9Th insk, the
ceremonies of driving the last spike on the
Northern Pacific Railroad, connecting st.
Paul and Duluth at the eastern terminus
with PortIa Id, the western terminus, were
held at a placs called Gold Spike, iitty-fye
miles west of Helena, Montana The &C.
casion was regarded as q remarkable one,
aud as presaging u prosperous future. Al
present were impressed ct what they Dehela.
Instead of he wilderness of the Rocky
mountains. they beheld mann
moth pavilion capable of seat
ise more than q thousand peopIe,
over which Il lated the national colors OF
American German ar q British nations. In
front, reaching to the roadbed was a eX-
tensive promenade, skiried by q platform
with comfortable seats. To the right WAS a
a band stand and on it were ated the
Fifth infantry band who were to entertain
them, and who came all the way from Fort
KeoEh. But even stronger than this evil
dence of civilization were the scores OF We
hjcIes and the hundreds of hardy noun
taineers gathered to welcome Henry VII
lard. As soon2as the last the guests ar
rived and his party, the ceremonies were
opened by President Willard, who divided
the attention of the enthusiastic multitude
7ith Gen. Grant, seated on the Platform.
Mr.. Willard spoke for half
an hour giving q brief
history of the Northern Pacific rail-
road from lis ineipancy to its completion,
and making honorable mention OF all who
had been instrumental in building this great
trancontinental tnroug hfare. He concluded
his remarks amid tremendous applause and
then introduced the Hon. VIM. NJ. Evaris,
the orator of the occasion. Mr.. Evarts
paid glowing tribute to the founders OF
the great work. He said: Sin all the long
route from St. Paul, to Portland and Puget
will speak the praises of lis conception,
its projection, its completion, in more inn
pressiye tones, and with juster emphasis,
than words can express" His address was
long and eloquent, and was well received
ana heartily applauded. Mr.. Eyarts was
followed bv Secretary Teller, who spoke of
the great eAergy and capital required to
complete the various transcontlnental lines,
and the prospective benefits to the nation
this enterprise of the Northern Pacific, along
whose line OF road there would be in few
Yeas 000, GOO people, could not re called To-
CA i'll its character. L. was more than nation
al Ii concerned the welfare OF other people.
1t now remains for the managers to justify
in the future the vision of the government
in what ii has done and that will be If the
policy announced by President Willard is
carried out Secretary Teller was follow ed
by ex-President Billings, Gen. Grant, Sir
James Harmon, Won Eisendesker, DR.. Kniss
OF the Berlin un versity, the governors OF
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Montana,
Oregon and Washington territory.
At the conclusion three cheers were w.
en- The foreign guests were then given
seats on the platform by the railway, pho
tos were taken of them, Willard aud family
and the N sst distinguished Americans. At
ter that q horse that had helped to build
the road from its inception was brought
upon the platform Then there was wit
messed a most extraordinary spectacle.
Three hundred men with brawny arms
quickly laid thereon and drove the spikes on
the thousand feet OfuncOmpleted track ex-
cept the last spike. During theFprogress OF
the work, which was Witnessed by the for
eigners with amaZement, the band played
and the people shouted. When nearly
completed cannon salute was fired by
the detachment OF the fifth infantry present.
The last spike was finally driven hoAe by
II. G. DAVIS, assistant general passenger
agent OF the road, who drove the first spike
on the opening of the road, and this spike
was the same one first driven by him. The
end was reached as the sun was setting
behind the mountains. The enthusi-
asm OF the people, variousiy estimated at
from 900 to 5000 was indsscribable. The
high reverberaton, the mingled sounds of
cannon aHd shouts of men. Thus was
brought to q happy conclusion very re-
markable event in American history. The
trains we're reformed and guests departed,
the English and part of the Americans.
including George NJ. Pullman and Vice
President Haines to the east, the rest west
ward to Puget sound.
Al 81. Paul Private George Cady, of the
Emmett battery, with a brass field piece,
was on hand at Smith park by 8 o'clock,
his gun charged with a 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 North IN Pacific rail,
road. An uubrokeD circuit was completed
between Golden Spike, sixty miles vest oil
Helena, Montana. AM New York, q
total distance oil 3 595 miles. Toe wire was
cut at the scene of the days feativities,
1,2i5 miles west OF st. Paul. One end OF
he 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, aud the bloI
tucked" instantaneously in Portland, ST
Paul, Chicago Boston, Buffalo, aud New
York.
It was expected that the last spike would
be driven between the hours of 10 and II a..
m. bat the watchers at the instrument in
the Northern Pacific offices in st. Paul,
aud at the cannon in Saith Park stood at
their posts until 618 p. H., railway ii ue,
when tire first tick" was
heard en- the instrument which
was switched into connection with the can
non. Ia less than two seconds Boom! went
the g1D 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 COM
pletei. The great work had cohie to sue
cesstul completion.