Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-09-19
A NOTABLE EVENT.
Ceremonies on the Completion Of
the Northern Pacific Railroad:

A dispatch from between Garrison
and Gold Creek, on the Northern
Pacific r. r., dated on the Sth inst,
gave tie following account of the com
pletion of the road on that day:
at is eight miles from Helena to the
point where the steep grade of the
Rocky Mountains begins and twelve
miles from there to the mouth of the
Mullen tunnel. As the tunnel is not
completed Mullen Pass is crossed by
running in curves at a distance Of about
four miles. The grade is the same as
at Bozeman. The sections of the train
bearing the Willard party were safely
lifted over the height and descent
was made to this point, where the
ceremony of driving the last spike in
the Northern Pacific Railroad has just
been concluded The contrast between
the rugged heights of the east side and
tie long meadow-like slopes of the west
side is very striking. The distance
from this point to Helena is ffty-five
miles. In making the descent of the
Mullen Pass the British Minister'S car
became disabled and the occupants had
to be transferred to another car. No
body was hurt or Inconvenience. The
train arrived at this point a little be-
hind time, but in good shape. From
Portland there came somewhat earlier
a splendid train bearing prominent citi-
2ens of that section to participate in
the ceremonies. There were hearty
greetings between the American guests
of the East and West, and the occasion
was regarded as remarkable one and
as presaging a prosperous future. All
were surprised at what they beheld.
Instead of the wilderness of the Rocky
Mountains there appeared before them
a magnificent pavilion capable of seat
ing more than one thousand people,
over which aoated the national colors
of the American, German and British
nations. In front and reaching to the
road-bed was an extensive promenade
skirted by platform with comfortable
seats. To the right was band stand,
and on it were seated the Fifth United
States Infantry band, who were to en-
tertain the spectators and who had
come all the way from Fort Keogh.
MR.. vILLARD's ADDRESS.
AS soon as the last of the guests ar
rived the ceremonies were opened by
President Willard, who divided the at
tention of the enthusiastic multitude
with General Grant, who was seated on
the platform.
Advancing to the front Of the plat
form Mr.. Willard said 1t is my
agreeable duty and very great pleasure
to offer hearty welcome to this dis
tinguished assemblage on this memora-
bic occasion and in these remarkable
surroundings. TO you, the representa-
tivcs of foreign nations, the members
ofthe executive, legislative and Judicial
branches of the United States Govern
ment, to Governors Of States and Ter
ritories, the representatives OF the
European and American press and our
guests from abroad and at home gener-
alIy-to you, one and all, | beg to
offer, in the name Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, profound
thanks for your kind presence aud par
ticpation in this the most important
event Of our corporate existence. Our
work means the conquest of new helds
for general commerce and industry. 1t
creates anew highway between Europe,
America and Asia.
TO TIE OLD AND NEW WORLDS.
"The population OF the States and
Territories traversed by our road is
LARGELY made up from the European
nationaIties represented here. We
deemed it fit and proper, therefore, to
bid so to speak, both the Old and New
w orld to this celebration, or, in other
words, to arrange a sort ofinternational
festival. Many Of you have crossed
the ocean, and all haye travelled great
distances in order to be with us to-day.
BE pleased to accept my assurance that
we gratefully appreciate your sacrlhce
of time and comfort. In return we
earnestly wish to do our guests all
possible honor and to give them all
possible pleasure, and we trust that
this transcontinental journey has been
and will be an unalloyed enjoyment to
them. We hope, moreover, that as IN
this hour a new and indissolube bond
will be formed between the countries to
the east and to the west Of the Rocky
Mountains, this gathering may also
strengthen the ties of good will and
friendship between the Republic oI
North America and the parent countries
of Europe
Mr.. Willard then told in general terms
the story of the construction Of the
road, and in concluding introduced Mr.
Evarts, the orator of the occasion.
MIR. EvARTs' ADDRESS.
Prophecy, faith and works. saic
Mr.. Evarts, have been contributing tc
the success of this enterprise. For
tunately for us, neither English mol
Spanish explorers Of the west coast haC
discovered the mouth of the Columbia
River before our independence was es
tabllshed. Fortunately, also, after tha
event, though both the English and th'
Spaniards continued their exploration!
on that coast. it was u New England
trading captain, Robert Gray, Of The
ship Columbia, who first penetrated
the mouth Of this river, to which h
gGvc its name, and verified and record
ed it as "a discovery which, under th
rules then prevailing, carried to hi
country the sovereignty Of the rcgi0I
drained by the river and its tributaries
, Until the acquisition Of California, II
the result Of the Mexican war, this re
J gion was our sole footing upon tn
Pacific Ocean, and this excited the in
terest and ambition of the nation for a
: overland communication with this rC
mote and unpeopled possession.
1T 1903, through the energy an
forecast Of Jefferson, n project for th