The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-07
Transcontinental Train Service Jan.
uary 20, Passenger i'm February.
Two Ohacials Hit the Iron Spike, the
WOrkmen Yell, and the Great High
way Is Open-Ouick Work nt Track
1aying-The First Train Now on the
Way to Seattle-,Jim HIPS Where
abouts Unknown Celebration to
Take Place When Passenger Trains
Begin.

AT THE LAST SPIKE. JAM Especial l. The
last spike OF the Great Northern tracklaying was
driven this evening, thirteen miles below me
summit of stevens pass, on the western slope of
the Cascades. TIE only officials present were
General Superintendent c. Shields and Superin-
tendent }. ID. Farrell. As the last rail was
brought forward by the workmen and laid IN
position, Mr.. shields aud MIR. Farrell took the
splke-rnauls from the spikers hands, and with
alternate blows drove home the last spike. 1t
was not golden, but only iron. so uupretea-
tiously was 1t done that the laborers ten rods
away were not aware OF it until
the little group the spot set up
wild hurrah. Foreman Benson relaxed
from his usual gravity, and grasping Superin-
tendent Shields ty the right hand, with his left
emptied into the air sixshooter The engi-
neers took the cue, and the hoarse whistles of
the great Moguls sounded and reverberated
through the canyon of the Skykomish, accom-
panied by such yelling only 200 emaneipated
men can make. This occasion was Thanks
giving, Christmas and Near Year 5 com biued. for
there has been no time for these festivities dur
ing the past six weeks. 1t has been steady
pushing TO the front, days and nights, through
rain and snow, with only an occasional CLEAN
OF sunshine.
The great enterprise of building the Pacific
extension was started Friday, October 20, 1890.
al Havre. and continued from Spokane July le,
1892, and is now completed on the same day of
the week, which caused Mr.. shields to say FRI
day is the Great Northern lucky day.
Where jim Hill was is unanswerable Mr..
Hill ana other officials from ST. Paul were ex-
pectad, and the date of completion was wired
several days ago, but as no announcement OF
their coming was made the work was pushed
forward and closed without any demonstration
or attempt at ceremony.
superintendent Shields has ordered his pri-
vate car from the siding few miles above, ana
Will proceed 70 Seattle, where he will organize
temporary train service over the Washington
division, of which Superintendent Farrell win
nave charge. Within two days the entire road
will be surfaced or baiiasted and in good condi-
ton for running trains. The finishing work
has been greatly facilitated by the mild, spring.
like weather of the past week The deep snow
OF five Feet to eight feet on the summit has
gradually disappeared as the tracklaying outfit
descended into the valley of the kykomish, un-
I'll today there was but half foot to be removed
Hbm the graie by the shovelers. The tracklay-
hg has consequently progressed at the rapid
rate OF from one and half TO two miles day
There are TWO tunnels uncompleted. The main
tunnel under stevens pass. at an elevation of
$3.50 feet, having length OF 1900 feet Will
Quite two years to finish. Meantime the elabo-
rate swtchback over the summit will be used
Every provision for sale and speedy trausporta-
ton over the mountain has been made. The
Martin creek tunnel, on the western slope, will
be completed in three weeks. This is circular
tunnel Ieugthwise of the mountain in the shape
OF sharp curve in the gulch. The two portals
are on the same side of the hill, loo feet apart
temporary hbacS on the opposite side of
Martin creek does good service for the present
On January % traascoutinental freight service
will be started, and through passenger trains
from CT. Paul will be put on a month later
superintendents Shields and Farrell show
signs OF overwork from an incessanr vigilance
of many weeks. When seated in his private
car after the final event, Mr. Shields remarked:
Mr.. Farrell. think We can say without boast
ing, that you aud | made better WORK of the
spike driving than the Canadian Pacific people
did. We hit the spike OH the head every ick.
This is my second experience i'll last spike
driving on Il t-aascon.ineutal road. | was pres
ent at the completion of the Canadian Pacific
in November 1885 IL took place west of Sell
kirk Sir Donald Smith came out 10 do the
grand act, and good many other officials were
with him. They All had To take a turn at trying
to hit The gold spike. 1t was pretty hard for ali
the people standing around were joking and
betting on IT. Iii bet two 10 one ne misses {"
some fellow would shout as tenderfoot official
raised his spike-maul. When the hammer
would come down with dull thud or hit tho
rail with a hard thud, some one would call out
mUcSingiy, Hit him again!' but they did
finally get the spike in.
Mr. Farrell expressed the opinion that ths
time for celebration would come when the road
was ready for operation, IN a few weeks lie
stated: ave hope TO make the Great Northern
Pacific extension famous not so much by great
ado about last spike driving by effective pas
senger and freight service TO the people of tho
Northwest, over the lowest grades. by the short
est route and through the most beautiful
scenery OF this region
AS the engineer pulled open the throttle and
whistIed the first special train down on tho
Great Northern toward Puget sound n new era
in the commercial development OF the North
west and in transcontiuentai railroading was
inaugurated. The eompauy's Official reports
show that ninety inches OF snow has fallen at
No. 50 siding, near the summit. aud seventy
inches along the mountains on this side. There
has been no snowfall for several days, and no
further difficulty has been ex periencei Ia keep
Ing the track elesr
steel and men are on the ground for the con.
struction of the great bridge over the Colunbia a
at Rock Island They are waiting for the COM
pletiOn OF the masonry. which Is well under
way