The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-09-13
DRIVING THE GOLDEN SPIKE,
Speeches by President Willard, VIM
M. Evarts, Ex-President billings,
and Others,

and Others.
At about 6:15 p. NJ, on the sth inst, the
ceremonies of driving the last spike on the
Northern Pacific Railroad, connecting St.
Paul and Duluth at the eastern terminus
with Portla Id, the western terminus, were
held at plac. called Gold Spike fity-fve
miles west of Helena, Montana. The &C.
casion was regarded as remarkable one,
and as presaging prosperous future. All
present were impressed st what they beheld.
Instead of the wilderness of the Rocky
mountains, they beheld man.
moth pavilion capable of seat
ing more than thousand people,
over which floated the nauonal colors OF
American, German ard British nations. In
tensive promenade, skirted By platform
with comfortable seats. To the right was 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
Keogh. But even stronger than this evi.
dence of civilization were the scores of We
hicles and the hundreds of hardy noun
taineers gathered to welcome Henry Viii
lard. AS soon9 as 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 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
trancontinentalt nroughfsre. He cone uded
his remarks amid tremendous applause, and
then introduced the Hon. VIM. NJ. Evarts,
the orator of the occasion. Mr.. Evarts
paid glowing tribute to the founders of
the great work: he said lin all the long
route from st. Paul, to Portland and Puget
will speak thu praises of its conception,
its protection, its completion, in more I'M
pressive tones, and with q 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 eDerey 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 he in a few
years 1000, 900 people, could not called To-
ca. in its Character. L. 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
in what it 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 I'm versity, the governors OF
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Montana,
Oregon and Washington territory.
At the conclusion three cheers were Civ
en-. The foreign guests we're thea given
no >lok{0 hxyf ho
tos were taken of them, Willard and family
and the most distinguished Americans. Al.
ter that q horse that had helped to build
the road from Its inception was brought
upon the platform Then there was wit
messed q most extraordinary spectacle.
Three hundred men with brawny arms
quickly laid thereon and drove the spikes on
the thousand feet ot uncompleted track ex-
cept the last spike. During thesprogress OF
the work, which was witnessed by the for
eigners with anazement, the band PLAYED
and the people shouted. When nearly
completed cannon salute was fred by
the detachment of the fifth infantry present.
The last spike was finally driven home by
H. 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, variously estimated at
from 5000 to 5000, was indescrihable. The
high reverberation, the mingled sounds of
cannon and shouts of men. Thus was
brought to happy conclusion a very re-
markable event in American history. The
trains were reformed and guests departed,
the English and apart of the Americans.
including George Nj. Pullman and Vice
President Haines, to the east the rest west
ward to Puget sound.
At St. Paul Private George Cady, of the
Emmet battery, with q brass field piece,
was on hand at Smith park by q 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 tn.
road. An unbroken circuit was completed
between Golden Spike, sixty miles vest OF
Helena, Montana. an New York,
total distance OF 2, sos miles. The wire was
cut at the scene of the days festivities,
1,2l5 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, and the blow
"tlcked" instantaneously in Portland, St.
Paul, Chicago, Boston, Buffalo, and New
York.
1t was expected that the last spike would
be driven between the hours OF 10 and ~ a,
a., bat the watchers at the instrument in
The Northern Pacific Offices in St. Paul.
and at the cannon in Smith Park stood at
their posts until 6:18 p. m. railway ii ne.
when the first tick" was
heard on the instrument vh;ch
was switched into Connection With the can.
non. La less than two seconds! Boom! went
the g"D in Smith park, joyfully pealed the
bells, and shrill and 1ssp blew the whiss
Ties in the city Of St. Paul. The last spike
vas d!iven: The Northern Pacific railroad.
nineteen years ago, vas corr
pieted. The great work had co,Ae to a snc.
'essiul completion. :" ''.'
1t is reported from Paris that the Amer.
can government will be asked to arbitr.te
n the Tonquin troubles. Earl Granville
vas a ,catlng British arbitration, but it is
uggeeted that the moment has now ar.
lived to assert the commercial influence of
America in Chinese waters.