Morris tribune., 1883-09-15
DRIVING THE GOLDEN SPIKE,

DRIVING THE GOLDEN SPIKE,
Speeches by President Willard, VIM.
M. Evarts, Ex-President billings,
and Others.
AT about 6:15 p. m, 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 I'd, the western terminus, were
held at a place called Gold Spike, tity-tive
miles west of Helena, Montana. The oc-
cason was regarded as remarkable one,
and as presaging u prosperous futcre. All
present were impressed st what they bsheid.
Instead of The wilderness of the Rocky
mountains, they they tashSa nenTla q If maa saat.
lag more than a thousand people,
over which floated the national colors OF
American, German ar British nations. In
front, reaching to the roadbed was a, ex-
tensive promenade skirted By platform
with com tortable 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 evil
dence of civilization were the scores OF We
hicles and the hundreds of hardy noun
taineers gathered to welcome Henry Vii
lard. AS soonaas the last the guests ar
rived and his party, the ceremonies were
opened by President Willard, who divided
the attention of the enthusiastic multitude
gith Gen. Grant, seated on the platform.
Mr.. Willard spoke for half
an hour giving a brief
history of the Northern Pacific rail-
road from lis incipancy to its completion,
and making honorable mention OF all who
had been Instrumental in building this great
trancontinental tnroughfare. He concluded
his remarks amid tremendous applause, and
then introduced the Hon. VIM. M. Eyarts,
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
Sound the work has spoken and
will speak tn. plaises of its conception,
its projection, its completion, in more i'm
pressive tones, and with 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, VINO spoke of
the great e..ergy 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 be in few
Yeas 1000, 900 people, could nothe called To-
ca! in its character. Il 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 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 un versity, the governors OF
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Montana,
Oregon and Washington territory.
at the conclusion thrse cheers were Civ
en-. The foreign guests were then given
seats on the platform by the railway, pho
tos were taken of them, Willard and family
and the m.st distinguished Americans. At
ter that a horse that had helped to build
the road from It's inception was brought
messed 8 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 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 home 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 kim. The
end was reached as the sun was setting
behind the mountains. The enthusi-
asm of the people, variously estimated at
from 8. 600 to 5000, was ind.scribable The
high rcver beration, the mingled sounds of
cannon aAd shouts of men. Thus was
brought to happy conclusion 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 Csdy, of the
Emmet battery, with brass field piece,
was on hand at Smith park by 9 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 the
telegraph office of the Northern Pacific rail-
road. An unbroken circuit was completed
between Golden Spike, sixty miles vest of
Helena, Montana, AMI New York, a
total distance of g 2595 miles. The wire was
cut at the scene of the days teativities,
1,215 miles west of st. Paul. One end of
he wire was athXed to the silver sledge
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, St.
Paul, Chicago, Boston, Buffalo, and New
York.
1t was expected that the last spike would
be driven between the hours of 10 and IL a.
NJ, but 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. H., railway ii ne.
when the first stick" was
heard on the instrument which
was switched into connection with the can
non. ia less than two seconds! Boom! went
the gnD in Smith park, joyfully pealed the
bells, aud 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 CON-
pleted. The great work had coIe to sue
cesstul completion.