Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-20
Inauguration of the Port
Huron Tunnel.
An Underground Link Between
America and Canada.
A Triumph of Modern Engineering
Skill Completed.
Strand Trunk Trains Passing Under the
st. Clair River-Tbe Event Marked
by an International Gel
ebratiOn.
Assooiatsd Press Dispatches.

PoRT Huron, Mich, Sept. 19.-All
trains arriving at Port Huron and Sarnia
today had distinguished guests, who
came TO take the first official ride through
the great tunnel at Port Edward. The
inaugural train started at 1890. 1t
pulled directly to the Sarnia depot,
where a number of invited guests and
citizens of Sarnia were taken aboard.
Then the train steamed out to the edge
of town to reach the approach to the
tunnel. Here triumphal arch had
been erected.
Mayor Watson and the officials of Sar-
MIA met the president of the Grand
Trunk railway, and the mayor read an
address. President Tyler made brief
speech of acceptance. The train then
proceed on the trip through the tunnel.
When it arrived on the other side it
passed through another triumphal arch,
where Mayor McIlwain and the Port
Huron officials were waiting on plat
form to receive them. A large assem-
blage of citizens was also present.
As soon as the railway officials stepped
from the cars, the mayor read an ad-
dress, at the conclusion of which he
presented Sir Henry Tyler an engrossed
copy of the address, and Sir Henry re-
Eponded with neat speech of thanks.
The people cheered and waved their
handkerchieis, and the train pulled out
to the Chicago and Grand Trunk passen-
ger station, where all got off and en-
barked on the steamer Omer d. Conger
tor Sarnia.
The guests arrived at the freight sheds,
which had been turned into a banquet
1rall, shortly before 2 O'Clock. The ex
terror was almost covered with green fir
boughs and the interior festooned with
flags and bunting. On the east side were
three long tables running with the build
ing, the guests facing the river. At the
other side were eighteen short tables set
crosswise. At the center of the middle
long table sat Sir Henry Tyler. To his
xight was Sir John Ross, commander
in-chief of the troops in Omaha.
To his left sat Governor Winans.
Others on the left were Senator
Smith, one of the directors of the Grand
Trunk; United States Consul General
Knapp, of Montreal D. Mcintyre;
Congressman j. Logan, Chapman; SEN
ator Boulton, of Ottawa; Adjutant-
General Farrady; Hon. Mr.. Ross, of
Ontario; j. Laster, M. p. from Lamp
ton county; Senator Vidal, of Sarnia.
To the right, after passing John Ross.
were Sir Gzowski; l.. j. Sergeant, gen.
eral manager of the Grand Trunk sys-
tenn; Richard R. Harcourt, of the
Ontario cabinet; Erastus W. Wiman,
John Bell, counsel of the Grand
Trunk; Hon. Mr.. Gibson, of the Ontario
cabinet; George NJ. Pullman; Charles
Mckenzie, M. p, and at the end was
Joseph Hobson. who built the tunnel.
PosTPRANDIAL WORK.
The postprandial work began with
toast to the queen, offered by Sir Henry
Tyler. He spoke as follows: 81 arise,
gentlemen, to propose to you the health
of herlmajesty, queen victoria, queen OF
the United Kingdom, empress of India
and sovereign of the British empire. 1t
is matter of common knowledge that
her majesty has reigned fifty-four years.
A far longer time than any
previous sovereign of England, but
there are considerations connected with
her reign for more important and of
much higher interest than mere length
of days. During the lifetime of her ma
jesty there have occurred events which
have transformed the earth. 1t is dur
ing the lifetime of her majesty that rail-
ways have for the first time been con-
Htructed; ocean steamships been en-
ployed; telegraph communication by
land and sea been brought into use, and
most remarkable discoveries have been
made in chemistry, astronomy and other
sciences. In drinking to the health of
her majesty, we may proftably remem-
ber how much has occurred in her life
time, and should now be grateful that
while she has reigned so long she has,
what is more important, reigned so
worthily and gained our affections by
the example she has set as a wife, as a
widow, as mother and as queen"
The queens health was solemnly
drunk, and Sir Henry again came in
with few words for the president of
the United States. Parts of his speech
were as follows: 81 am confident you
will receive the next toast with equal
heartiness. his excellency the president
of the United States, the elected repre-
sentative of 65,000,000 of people. The
president occupies, during his term of
Office, a unique Office among the nations.
He presides over a country containing
within itself the products of all climes,
from Alaska's ice to the orange groves
of Florida. 1t will be a bad time for
Great Britain when the United States
ceases to levy protective duties, and
competes with us more actively in the
markets of the world"
Consul-General Knapp responded to
this toast.
Among the other toasts were: The
Governor-Generalo of Canada, responded
to by Sir John Ross The Governor OF
the State of Michigan, responded to by
Governor Winans; The Success of the
Grand Trunk and st. Clair Tunnel Com
panies and Sir Henry Tyler, responded
to by Sir Henry Tyler; The Engineer of
the Tunnel, responded to by Joseph
Hobson; Trade and Commerce, re-
sponded to by ]. W. Palmer and Erastus
Wiman.
MR.. wIMAN's SPEECH.
Erastus Wiman in the course of his
speech said: SIN the great tunnel
which is today opened for the first time
for traffic, is found fitting compliment
of the magnificent achievements of Ca
madam railway systems, but while Brit
ish capital, within British territory, has
done so much toward the development
of the most important portion of the
United States, how strange is it that re-
lative progress has not been made with
IN canada ffaalf II ie an inforoctiuy