The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-08-23


Opening of the Northern Pacific
It is expected that the tracks of
the Northern Pacific Railroad, ad-
vancing from the two slopes OF tile
continent, will meet near the western
portal of the Mullan Tunnel, on the
Main Divide of the Rocky Mount
aims, about the 10th of September.
The event will be worthily comment
Grated. An oration will be delivered
by Hon. VIM. NJ. Evarts, ex-Secre-
tary of State. Excursion parties will
60 from New York, and from Port
land Oregon, to witness the ceremon-
les. Many distinguished guests will
attend. The P resident of the United
States has signified his intention to
be present, if his engagements will
permit. Several members of the
Cabinet and other officials holding
high station under the Government
have accepted invitations, as we'll as
the Governors of the Northwestern
States and Territories, and the May
ors of the great cities. The party
will also include number Of the
foreign ministers resident in WASH
ington, many eminent guests from
Europe. and representatives of the
leading American, English and Ger
man newspapers.
r. :Fhe last spike will be driven by
Henry Willard, under whose able
management, as President OF the
Northern Pacific Company, the last
of the transcontinental roads project
ed by Congress in 1853, has been
completed. Although the last to be
built, the Northern Pacigc is the best
of all the roads to the Pacific Coast;
it opens more valuable country to
settlement than either Of the others ;
it's tributary territory is more exten-
sive, more productive, and of more
varied resources.
The completion of the Northern Pa
ciftc is an event of national interest.
1t links the Great Lakes with that
most capacious and beautiful Of the
worlds harbors, Puget Sound. It
joins together by the steel arteries Of
commerce the whole northern tier of
States and Territories, from Lake
Superior to the Pacific. It is build
ing up new communities, developing
new industries, and opening new
homes to hundreds OF thousands of
people. 1t shortens by six hundred
miles, the route from New York to
Japan and China. 1t furnishes a new
channel for the trade of nations.
A generation has passed away
since the idea of railroad along the
route followed by Lewis and Clark
first occupied the public mind. How
many courageous and devoted men
have labored for the realization of
this grand enterprise! Honor to the
memory of those who have passed
from the soene Of action-to Asa
Whitney and Josiah Perham, who
urged the project upon the attention
of Congress; to Edwin F. Johnson
and w. Minor Roberts, the great
engineers; to Governor Isaac I. Stew
ems, the pioneer explorer and sur
ueyor. and to many more! Honor,
too, to the living, to the whole line
of former Presidents Of the Com
pany-Smith, Cass, Wright, Billings
and Barney; to President Henry
Willard, whose genius for organiza-
ton and finance has provided the
means to complete the road, and
given it an extensive system OF feed
ers and bronches; to Jay Cooke, who,
in 1870 raised thirty million to begin
building the road; to the officers of
the Company. and particularly to
Thos. F. Cakes, the Vice President,
and Adna Anderson, the Chief En-
gineer, who have directed the con-
struction OF over 1000 miles of track
on the main line and branches, in
two years time; to General Sherman,
who gave to the enterprise the in
valuable support of the army, and to
his subordinate officers who swept
the savage Indians from the pathway
of the road! Honor to them all |!
May they stand on the grassy slope
of the Main Divide, on bright
SootonoIor r9ox, 1;oto,in<r tn tia olo.