The daily enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1884, 1883-09-11
Celebration Notes.

the ENTERPRISE being for reasons
therein stated somewhat meagre. some
references to other features of the last
spike celebration may be Of interest to
our readers. The place selected for
the celebration was point fifty five
miles west OF Helena and, us Il sign
board beside the track directly opposite
the point where the Espike was dri\ en-
indicated. 1893 miles from Lake Su-
perior and o47 miles from Puget Sound.
No more beautiful spot could have
been found in Western Montana. The
| building in which the c, LIBERATION took
place stands in the center of lovely
green valley set like IN emerald in the
midst Of u circle of rugg 81 barren hills
Through it's midst Independence creek
| flows between wooded Lanks, the nat.
ural beauty of its waters muldied by
| mining operations further up the
stream. 4 detachment OF soldiers,
several pieces of artillery and the Fort
Keogh band, said to be the best for
| the number of instruments in the
United States, lent Il sort of military
tone 80 the scene. Iron Bull Chief of
the Crow nation was present bedecked
in the gorgeous and truly picturesque
array beftting his rank. and attended
| by IL few bucks of his tribe and al in
erpreta' was present byVillard' S spec
| ial invitation. When the time arriv-
ed for driving the last spike it was
handed to the president Of the North
ern Pacific by Iron Bull and the form.
| er in his few remarks while he held
| the spike in his hand mentioned the
chief us the head of IN Indian tribe
| that had never killed u white man and
that he handed over the spike which
completed the Northern Pacific as Il
token of t:.e.ed maj. s S, r.: n e. of this
country to his pale face brethern. Two
gangs Of tracklayers were employed
in laying the iron on the 1900 feet Of
gratle that was completed in view OF
the assembly; ore advanced from the
east and the other from the west and
in the strife between the two parties
that from the east won. The horse
that hauled the iron car for the win
ming side was the famous Old Mig. fat
and sleek and gaily decorated for the
occasion. He has pulled the rails for
the Northern Pacific from Mandan
to the last spike a distance of over
725 miles. and if ever horse has
| earned distinction and honor in the arts
Of peace it is Old Mig. He should be
| placed on the Northern Paciiic's re-
tired list for the remainder of his
days.
The assembly which attended the
great railroad celebration could not
fail to strike the thoughtful observer
as one of the most significant incidents
in connection with American life, and
us strong Indication Of the tendency
of international life in til, Sc modern
days. There were gathered eminent
representatives, from the highest
walks in life, of the three greatest
l,atlons of the earth. Great states.
men. gre: political rulers, great ex.
ecutive officers, great military leaders,
great intellectual gxniuses. great capi-
talists. great men from every depart
ment of honor in America, England or
Germany, were gathered there be-
meath the Rocky mountains, far away
from their homes and the scenes to
which they were accustomed. They
came to celebrate an event in the his
tory Of America. the youngest I'D the
family of nations-an event which
marked no military achievement; bnt
indicated her development and advance
in the ways Of peace. The compile
ton Of Il great transcOntinental high
way is but the vel ling Of Il link in the
chain which binds the nations to-
gether. and hastens the day when the
sword shall be changed into a pruning
hook and there shall be no more war.
Who that saw that international as
semblage enter joyfully and with one
accord into the ceremonies attendant
upon the completion of an American
railway could fail to recognize the
fact that IN these days the arts of
peace are more powerful than militia