Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-14

Northern I.L.uc all.Uss On the fingers OF
your two hands, and now / behold the
triumph Ct their faith. Now every
body can come and sec this is the best line
across this Continent, uncqualed In its
variety OF resources. with magnificent wheat
fields, with cattle on thousand hills, with
mines in its mountains aud ravints, with IN
astonishing wealth OF timber, as you will
see la timer on, on which in lime this whole
county will have to depend, who can
doubt the future? Everything in these
respects is yet in the very in
fancy OF development, Tim, as to scenery,
you have had taste of it. BE prepared tor
still greater things Us you approach The Pacif.
&c coast. And as for climate, bear in mind
1t is in the regions where you have ice and
snug Winters you will find the toughest mus
cles, the most vigorous brains, aud the most
earnest homes. SO, putting all things to-
gethcr, who can fail 10 sec that this great
new highway is to be marked all along with
prosperous communities, with schools and
churches and high civilization? Who can
fail to see that 1t brings permanent peace
with the Indians that NJ more Clusters arc
to be killed, no more regiments to lie wiped
out that new States are to c lule here, new
power aud new wealth, and new bond OF
unity To be added to our Government, and
a new route opened to the worlds COM
merCu ?
Things at the start are always, of course, II
little crude, but all is coming that has been
prophesied. And l wish all the friends OF
the enterprise at the beginning, and all who
stood by it iu the darkest days. and all VINO
have helped it on in tue later years, could
be here to see the great contamination. How
that railroad st. John, who so early cried in
the wilderness, Prepare yc the way Asa
! Whitney, would have rejoiced! How, too,
Governor Stevens, killed IN the war, who
surveyed this route Tor the government in
1884 and 1855, and on al. occrsions and
everywhere was its champion! How, too,
, the first president, Josiah Perham, who la
bored hard and died without the sight OF
, even the first spikcl How, too, the first en-
queer Elwin +. johnson, and the second en-
ginecr w. Minor Roberts, both men Of the
! very highest ability, and whose devotion tt
the cntt rpiise knew no bounds Blu, cal
not 20 through the roll. From frat TO last
whether here or absent, whether living 81
S dead all should be gratefully rtmcm0tted
b who, as officers or privatcs, have been in th'
4 long fight which sees clmpleti victory to-day
1t is "A roll Of honor, and ! can not fUruea
saving that at the head Of it shOnid stand TIN
c name of Thomas Jefferson, who, in 1854
. sought to have the Columbia and its source
I. explored by the traveller Ledyard, and n
. President Of the United States, al the Dcglu
L ming Of the century, ORGANIZED the world re
y nowntd expedition Of Lewis aud Clarke
V names never to be forgotten h the pun
:, pose Of opening by the Missouri aud Colun
u bia ii,ers North American route TO India
Is But dctain you too long If, in conclu
r. sion | may be allowed to allude to myself, t
N whom this enterprise was SO for many year
- my work by day and my dream by night, AN
had aud always will have, MY falth ar
. love, beg to say that am profoundly an
:. dcvoully thankful that my life has bee
10 spared 10 this great occasion. So grateft
: am l. 50 grateful do believe we all are +,
IN what it is, for the past ms. history, and for til
b, future as prophecy, that wish great mu
ia titude of those to whom the completion
=, this Northern Pacific is benedcion cOul
III be here to-day, and that we all could lift IL
nc our voices with one accord and make thei
s. mountains echo back to us, Praise Goo
\, from whom ali blessings ilow.'