The Mineral argus., 1883-09-20
DRIVING THE GOLDEN SPIKE.

ans OAhCNHs |
At about 6:l5 p. m, on the 9Th inst, the
ceremonies Of driving the last spike on the
Northern Pacific Railroad, connecting st.
Paul and Duluth at the eastern terminus
with Portla I'd, the western terminus, were
held at a plscs called Gold Spike, htty-ive
miles west of Helena, Montana. The oc-
casion was regarded as a remarkable one,
and as presaging n prosperous futrre. All
present were impressed st b they behelo.
Instead of he wilderness Of the Rocky
moth mOI pavilion capable of seat
ing more than q thousand people,
over which hoated the national colors OF
American, German ard British nations. In
front, reaching to the roadbed was a. ex-
tensive promenade, skirted by q platform
with comfortable seats. To the right was a
a band stand and on 1t were s ated the
Fifth infantry bsad, who were to entertain
them, and who came all the way from Fort
Keogh. But even stronger than this evil
dence of civilization were the scores OF We
hicles and the hundreds of hardy noun
taineers gathered to welcome Henry Vii
lard. As soonsss the last 1.-THE guests ar
opened by President Willard, who divided
the attention of the enthusiastic multitude
with Gen. Grant, seated on the platform.
Mr.. Willard spoke for hall
an hour giving brief
history Of the Northern Pacific rail-
road from its incipancy 10 its completion,
and making honorable mention OF all who
had been instrumental in building this great
trancontinental throughfare. He concluded
his remarks amid tremendous applause, and
then introduced the Hon. VIM. M. Evarts,
the orator OF the occasion. Mr.. Evarts
paid a glowing tribute to the founder of
the great work. BE said: ''in all the long
- "a Dov,I e. DArk1anA anA Duwof
Sound the work has spoken and
will speak ths praises of its conception,
its projection, its completion, in more im-
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
complete the various tran~scontinental lines,
and the prospective benefits to the nation
this enterprise of the Northern Pacific, along
whose line OF road there would be in a few
yeas 9,OO0,0 900 people, could not.te called To-
ca in its character. II was more than nation
al. 1t concerned the welfare Of other people.
II now remains for the managers to justify
in the future the vision of the government
in what II has don't and that will be IL the
policy announced by President Willard is
carried out. Secretary Teller was followed
by ex-President Billings, Gen. Grant Sir
James Harmon, Won ~Eisendesker, DIR. Kniss
of the Berlin IN versity, the governors Of
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Montana,
Oregon and Washington territory.
AT the conclusio- three cheers were Civ
en-. The foreign guests were thee given
seats on the platform by the railway, pho
tos were taken Of them, Willard and family
and the NEST distinguished Americans. At
ter that a horse that had helped to build
tile road from Its inception was brought
nRnp the p1atforn Then thero WAS Wit
messed a most extraordinary spectacle.
Three hundred men with brawny arms
quickly laid thereon and drove the spikes on
the thousand feet oiuncOmpleted track ex-
cept the last spike. During theiprogrsss oil
the work, which was witnessed by the for
eigners with a~nazement, the band played
and the people shouted. When nearly
completed u cannon salute was fred by
the detachment of the fifth infantry present.
The last spike was finally driven hone by
H. @. Davis, assistant general passenger
agent OF the road, who drove the first spike
on the openi=s IF 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 indsscrihable. The
high r'verberation, the mingled sounds OF
cannon and shouts of men. Thus was
brought to a happy conclusion q very re-
| mATkhult event III hulcIACuu nA5NOTls Anc
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
Emmett battery, with q brass field piece,
was on hand at Smith park by 3 O'Clock,
his gun charged with a five pound blank
cartridge. At a later hour an electric wire
was inserted into the vent, and this wirt
connected with a dynamo machine in thu
telegraph office of the Northern Pacific rail
road. An unbroken circuit was completed
/ between Golden Spike, sixty miles nest o
, Helena, Montana, and New York Z
total distance OF 2, sos miles. The wire was
cut at the scene Of the days feativities,
1875 miles west OF st. Paul. One end oil
The wire was affixed to the silver sledg'
hammer, the other TO the golden spike, and
; when the first blow was struck, a circuit
would be completed, and the blow
tucked" instantaneously in Portland, 81
Paul, Chicago, Boston, Buffalo, and Ne"
York.
It was expected that the las. spike woulC
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,
and at the cannon in Smith Park stood al
their posts until 6:ls p. H., railway Il ue'
when the first tick was
I was switched into connection with the can.
! non. In less than two seconds Booml wen
/ the guD in Smith park, joyfully pealed tbs
, bells, and shrill and deep blew the whis
! ties in the city Of 81. Paul. The last spike
! was driven. The Northern Pacific railroad
conceived nineteen years ago, was oon'
pleted. The great work had cohle to q sue
oessiul completion.
4 The Denver a. Rio Grande Pre-
s gramme.