The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-04-06
the impossibilities by giving US the tele-

phone.
"When the Gulf and interstate Railway
company was organized and proposed the
Inauguration of new system Of building
and operation of railways, the same old
spirit of you can't do it came rushing to
the front, and its promoters were only
spared free berth among the non compOS
mentis crowd by the lack of power in the
anti-progress committee. Today we stand
on the spot to be made great by the success
of these enthusiasts. Today will inaugu
rate the work that IS to end in the most
complete triumph of rOgress and the peO-
pie. Today we witness the first active
movement of mighty public sentiment in
favor of cheaper transportation by railroads
of, by and for the people.
"We have been told that our project is
visionary and impossible; that the capital
lists and great fnanciers are against us,
and that without them we must fall. Moth
ing of the kind was ever done before, hence
it cannot be done now. But the Gulf and
Interstate Railway company is the product
of necessity, fathered by thu patriotism
and earnestness of the common masses.
The power of one man thoroughly cOnSe-
Grated to the case of right is Unreasonable
and the power of the concentrated millions
is irresistible. This movement to build
this great north and south road is patriot
ism in motion, and all the powers of the
world the flesh and the devil, including the
conservative crOaker, cannot stop it. 1t
has the spirit, enthusiasm and example of
Columbus, Fulton, Morse and Edison all
combined, with mighty people of a
mighty nation to propel it to ultimate
triumph. With that triumph must come a
new era, when this gulf is covered with ex
ports from the Mississippi valley and the
entire west and north, which now must go
by way of New York, reign of prosperity
will sweep over the state of Texas, such as
will astonish the most sanguine. New
cities, towns and villages will be seen on
every hand; and the barren lands will bios
som with the richness of well-tilled
gardens. When the great states traversed
by our lines join hands with the south and
see the spot where we stand today as the
outlet for their surplus products, which
make up two-thirds of the nations COM
merce, undevelcped as they are, that beau
t'ful Galveston island will soon be popalat-
ed with a million of people, while this
WOnuGTlul Will ntbYO us uuuuIGU
of thousands of the overflow population.
The times, places and opportunities were
never more prOpitiOus than now to trans
form the queen city of the gulf into the
magic city of the nation, and a barren but
beautiful peninsula into marvellous and
more beautiful city. Complete this railway
and the transformation is assured, and the
sooner the completion the sooner the trans
formation. This is a great undertaking,
and today is an epoch in the history not
only of Galveston, but of the nation, and
the same force that inaugurates this work
will push it to a successful end. If you
who are here today want to see the driving
of the first and last spikes on this road to
unite the gulf with Manitoba at an early
date. put your shoulder to the wheel and
help to give it push; if there are any here
who CAN never go forward, turn yourselves
around and back up father than be left in
the rear of the procession, pulling in the
wrong direction. Every man, and woman,
too, can help little; the men can work
and the women can talk. Many an inn
portant victory has been won by the time
ly and friendly words of the ladies. You
may help the road and at the same time in
crease your own fortunes. You can aid
with your means, your good will and good
words; will you do it? May we, one and
all, from the north and south put on the
full armor of faith, and with renewed en-
ergy join hands as wide awake, progress
sive, patriotic citizens, determined upon
long pull, a strong pull, and pull all to-
gether for the speedy completion of the
work inaugurated today.
Judge George E. Mann, vice president Of
the chamber of commerce, was the next
speaker. He told of the first survey run
from Bolivar Point to Alexandria some 20
wears ago, and said that although no de-
finite move had been made until today, all
GalveStOnians had ever been convinced
that the road of all roads to the east would
be built along Bolivar peninsula. Further,
he said that Horace Greeley's remark,
"When you have thing to do, do it, ap-
piled to this railroad, and he was heartily
in favor of ''doing it, with the least pos
sible delay.
Mr.. W. C. Teeter of the Port Bolivar
syndicate made very clear headed, prac-
teal talk on Gslveston's commercial posi-
tion and the results to be brought about
through the building of this road Mr.
Teeter went into figures on this matter,
and his talk created decided impression.
Mr.. q. N. Kimpton, the Texas director
for the Gulf and Interstate, said that as it
was raw day, he suggested that the
speechifying be cut short and that PFesi-
dent Stoddard be compelled to take the
shovel and throw some dirt in order that
the people might know that he mea Mt bust
ness. Dir. Kimpton's suggestion was ap-
plauded, and ATr. Stoddard soon dug up
several yards Of earth, much of which was
eagerly scrambled for to Us preserved as
souvenirs.