McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-09-13
THE LAST SPIKE.
CompIetion Of Track Laying ON the North.
ern Pacific.


HELENA, M. T., September st is
eight miles from Helepa to the point where
the steep grade of the Rocky Mountains be-
gins, and twelve from there to the mouth of
Mullen tunnel. AS the tunnel Is not COM
pleted, Mullen pass Is crossed by running
In curves at q distance Of about four miles.
The grade Is the same as ut BOzemap. The
sections were safely lifted over the height
and the descent made to this point, where
the ceremony of driving the last spike has
just been concluded. The distance from
this point to Helena is fifty-ive miles.
The train arrived In good shape. From
Portland there came a splendid train, bear
ing prominent citizens TO participate in the
ceremonies.
The occasion was regarded as a remarkable
one, and as promising prosperous future.
All were surprised at what they beheld.
Instead of u wilderness there was magnifi-
cent pavilion capable of seating more than
one thousand people. In front there was
an extensive promenade. The Fifth U. s.
infantry band entertained the company with
music. Hundreds of hardy mountaineers
had gathered to welcome the party. The
ceremonies were opened by President VIII
lard, who divided the attention of the
enthusiastic multitude with Gen, Grant,
seated on the platform. Willard concluded
amid tremendous applause. He then intro
duced the orator of the OCCASION, Hon. VIM.
NJ Evarts.
The orator was very heartily applauded.
After music Willard introduced 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 railway, along whose
lines there would be in few years nine
million people, could not be called local in
character. 1t was more than national. 1t
concerned the welfare of other peoples. 1t
now remains for the managers to justify in
the future the wisdom of the government in
what 1t had done and that they will if the
policy announced by Willard is carried out.
Secretary Teller was followed by EXPIRES
ident Billings.
Willard then introduced Minister Sackville
West, of England, who in turn introduced
Sir James Hennen as the English represen-
tative for the occasion. Sir James said the
English guests were filled with wonder at
the magnificent country. The German min
lister, Won Eisendecker, was then presented
and expressed the hearty good wishes of his
countrymen for this enterprise. DR.. Kreip,
of Berlin university, then spoke at length in
behalf of the German visitors. DR.. Hof-
mann, the greatest microscopic of the age,
said the construction Of the Northern Paci-
fic was a modern miracle, and unlike recent
miracles was performed in compliance with
the laws of nature. The governors of Wis
consin, Minnesota, Dakota, Montana, Ore
gon and Washington Territory were sever
ally introduced and made. appropriate re-
marks.
There were loud cries for Gen. Grant,
and as the general came forward the air was
rent with cheers. He made q few remarks
suitable to the occasion. He said he was
reminded by the speeches to which he lis
tened of the fact that he had had something
to do with the great Northern Pacific enter
prise. When Gov. Stevens, thirty years
ago, organized his surveying party, he was
lieutenant acting as quartermaster on the
Columbia, and he issued the supplies for
the expedition. p Was he not, then, entitled
to some credit which Billings had appor-
toned out ito others? 1t was true, while
Billings had contributed of his own money,
he paid out Uncle Sans.
The many veterans present became per-
fectly wild when he said that these inter-
colonial railroads would have amounted to
but little hut for the men who after the war
sought the territ )ries as fields of enterprise.
At the conclusion three cheers were given.
photograph was then taken of the foreign
guests and Willard family. After that horse
that had helped build the road from its in
ception was brought upon the platform.
Then 800 men quickly laid the iron and
drove the spikes on the thousand feet Of
uncompleted track, except the last spike.
During the progress of the work, which
amazed the foreigners, the band played
and the peop'e shouted. When nearly
completed cannon salute was fired. The
last spike was finally driven home by II. C.
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. The enthu-
siasm of the five thousand people was Ipde-
scribable. This brought to a happy termi-
nus one of the greatest events of Anne, lean
history. The trains reformed and the guests