Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-09-19

! from time to time engaged their inter-
est, till the dream. the prospect, the
project and the effort have ended in the
work here and now.
The prophecy and advocacy of a
railroad to our Pacific coast, possession,
to the Columbia River and to Puget's
Sound began as early as 1884. But
the acquisition of California, the dis
covery of its till then hidden gold, the
absorption of the people and govern
ment in the terrible struggles between
freedom and slavery for the occupation
of our new domain, and, finally, the
civil war, aroused new motives and
new arguments which urged irresistibly
the transcontinental connection, but
diverted the first compliance with the
political, military and popular exigen-
cies from the northern to the southern
and central routes Thus, once more
in human affairs, the last was made
first and the first last.
THE STORY OF THE ROAD.
Mr.. Evarts then gave brief history
of the construction of the road of the
difficulties, financial and otherwise,
which were encountered by its pro-
jectors and builders. 4 cannot discov-
err, said Mr.. Evarts, that there has
ever been engrafted upon this enter
prise any construction company to suck
the prosperity that belongs to the orig
inal growth | do not perceive that
excessive rates, either of interest for
money or of pay yment for labor or ma
terials for want of money, have impos-
ed upon the enterprise burdens dispro-
portionate to the values which its de-
bentures or its stock fairly represented.
/ do not find any just ground for COM
plant in political or popular estimate
that the United States has burdened
its revenues with subsidies which, for
the public interest, were unnecessary
or excessive, for from the beginning to
the end the enterprise has not received
a dollar from the public funds
Mr.. Evarts then referred to the rapid
growth of the country to which rail-
roads have contributed so much, and
concluding said -
AS our flying footsteps leave these
heights of moral and natural vision, |
am sure this company will feel this oc-
casion was not unworthy of an as
semblage which the Secretary of the
Interior honors with his attendance,
and the illustrious soldier, after follow
ing his own fame around the world,
finds attractive in it's interests; to
which the Ministers of the Powers of
Europe lend the favor of their counte-
nance, and which collects SO many en-
inent men of our own country and OF
the Old World to assist in this inter-
national celebration
The orator was very heartily ap-
plauded.
Music followed, after which Mr.. Vii
lard, in a few words, introduced Secre-
tary Teller, who spoke of the great
energy and capital required to complete
the various transcontinentai lines and
their practical benefit to the nation.
This enterprise of the Northern Pacific
company, along whose lines there
would be in few years nine millions
of people, could not be called local in
its character. 1t was more than
national, in concerned the welfare of
other people 1t now remains for the
managers to justify in the future the
wisdom of the government in what it
has done, and that they would do if the
policy announced by President Willard
is carried out.
Secretary Teller was followed by Ex-
President Billings, who spoke of the
difficulties encountered in building the
road and paid high tribute to those
through whose energy and capacity
they had been overcome.
Mr.. Willard said that as they had
present distinguished guests from En-
gland and Germany he would give those
present an opportunity to heas their
sentiments.
THE ENGLISH REPRESENTATIVE
Mr.. Willard then introduced Minister
Lionel Sackville West, of England,
who said that Sir James Hannen would
speak for the English guests.
Sir James said the English visitors
were filed with wonder and admira-
ton by the sights of this magnificent
country and its institutions. Mr.. Vii
lard was person about whom their
warmest sympathies and gratitude for
this splendid hospitality could well
cluster we have had the happiness,
he continued, of seeing what manner
of man he is. We have been able to
see in him the qualities which have
earned for him the confidence of those
who have been associated with him
throughout his life, and we shall now
carry back the recollection of having
known real man. 1t was happy
thought that the representatives of the
countries which have contributed the
population to the American nation
should be present on this most extra
ordinary occasion. 1t fills me with
wonder and awe to see the prosperity
which has advanced with such rapid
strides, and which has at once reached
the highest development Of civilization.
REMARKS OF THE GERMAN MINISTER.
The German Minister, Herr Won
Eisendecker, was then presented. He
expressed the hearty good wishes oI
his fellow countrymen for their enter
prise. He said We are sorry tC
have lost Mr. Willard, but as he has
con.e to country which has always
been closely allied to my own he may
remain
DR.. Kneiss, of the Berlin University
was then introduced and spoke a
length in behalf of the German visitors
and expressed " hope that the North
ern Pacific would be II new highway
and the main line Of all Northern col
onization of America and Europe
May it be forever he said "a monu
ment in honor of the brave son of Ger