The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-09-07
The Minnesota Celebration.

AT nlinneapolls. MIMI, last Tues
day. Willard and party were given q
reception. The city was decorated in
honor of the day and great process
sion paraded. The procession was
four hours in passing a given point.
The first wagon contained reminders
of the early days Of Minnesota, and
Indians in all their simplicity, some
seated in birch bark canoes. Besides
these were log cabins and thirty-day
stage coaches, and the inevitable
prairie schooner" containing an EN-
igrant and his family and his posses
sionE. Then came q wagon filed
with baggage, representing the early
days express business, followed by a
wagon on which ? car was placed
minneapolis to Portland, via the
Northern Pacific Railway" After
these came magnificent models, COM
plete to the ninutest detail of the i'm
mense Washburn and Pittsburg mills,
and Immediately following were wa
gons containing machinery from the
mills, contrasting the earlier days of
milling with the present. and showing
the improvements which had taken
place. The lumber interest was duly
represented in a series of wagons,
the first containing a large log un-
hewn and ending with house in pro-
cess of erection. In many of the We
hicles the machinery was arranged
with leather bands attached to the
hubs of the wheels, so that the ma
chinery was kept running during the
entire parade, and wheat was thrash
ed and ground, and lumber sawed
and planed along the whole route. 1t
required nearly four hours for the
procession to pass a given point. In
the line were fourteen bands. fifteen
companies. of military, 134 men on
horseback, $50 wagons, 2213 horses,
and thousands of men engaged in var
ious -four and lumber nails of the
city. Such vast industrial process
sion has probably never been seen in
this country, and in it was represent
ed every vocation in life. Not the
least attractive object was a wagon
containing band of Indians, lIsten-
ing intcntly to Father Hennepin, the
first missionary in Minnesota.
The president of the United States,
General Grant, General Sheridan,
Secretary Lincoln, II. Willard,
and a large party of notables
reviewed the procession. Con-
siderable was done in the way of
speeches, and the entire party of
visitors went to st. Paul where sub
gantially the same scenes were en-
acted. AT the latter city President
Arthur said: 81 am glad to take part
in the festivities. The great accomp-
lishments which they commemorate
may well be celebrated, and the
mayor, as well as the residents of your
city, which stands at the gateway of
that highway stretching far out in the
western sea, congratulate themselves,
as they are about to enter upon a
career Of renewed prosperity. Com
ing to you from that wonderland Of
America. | have travelled thousands of
miles over the Northern Pacific rail-
way. Nothing | have read, nothing i
have ever heard, has equaled that
space seen, which has convinced me
of the importance of this great enter
prise, and that it has not been over
estimated by IFS most sanguine friends.
All honor, then, TO the zeal and
energy which has given to their enter
prise such tremendous success"
The presidential party returned to
Washington, the railroad visitors took
the train for the scene of the lastl
spike festivities.
Fargo, Dakots, was reached last
Thursday. Bands of music were out,
and several thousand people filed the
platform steps aud the park, $50
school children being on the ground
in the park. Speeches were made by
dozen or more of the excursionists.
General Grant said: al came out
here to be imposed on, but | see
greater evidenc- of enterprise in your
city property and in your country
than l anticipated, and all promises
are great for the future. Although l
have crossed the United States much,
and visited nearly every territory, as
well as state, it is the first time 1 have
ever set foot in Dakota, and | am
glad to be on 50 solid and substantial
foundation. The party left Fargo
for the west, Thursday night.
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Fine Books nt Auction.
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