The record-union., 1896-11-23

Baker, Dexter. Dodge, Atkings, Brooks,
and others, who built the Union Pacific.
performed services no less distinguis ed
and no less valuable to the whole coun-
try. The leading Generals Of the civil
war are also deserving of no small share
of credit for the success Of this great
undertaking; for it was largely through
the council Of Generals Grant, Sherman,
Thomas, Crook and Pope that Congress
voted assistance. without which the
construction Of the road would have
been absolutely impossible.
The building Of a railroad across the
continent to-day attracts but little at
ten!tfon. and its completion would not
call for more than half a column in the
daily newspapers. Why? Because It
Is now only question of money-a
question Of cents, as compared to dol
lars in the sixties. The pioneers have
blazed the way: aye, more: have cleared
the road Of all it's almost insurmounta-
BILE barriers. In the sixties it was a
question of invasion, Of conquest, of life,
Of engineering skill in ascending and
descending an elevation of 5000 feet.
When 1t was projected, 1t was declared
impossible. When it was completed the
world stood aghast, and almost doubt
ed the truth of a demonstrated fact.
When after four long years of contin-
uous toll, anxiety and prtvatton, the
Central" building eastward, and the
Union" building westward, finally met
at Promontory Point, north Of the Great
Salt Lake. and the last tte-a highly
polished piece Of California laurel, with
a silver plate bearing the date, May
lO, 1859, and the names Of the officers
OF the roads-was laid in tts place. and
the last four spikes-two of gold and
two OF fsilver-furnished by the now four
States of California, Nevada, Montana
and Idaho. were driven home by the
silver hammer, and, by tho connection
OF the telegraph wire-each blow was
heard in every city Of the Union, and
each tick OF the telegraphio instrument
was lost amid the deafening cheers of
the rejoicing multitude. who then rea-
l1zed the successful completion Of the
most stupendous enterprise ever un-
dertaken by any nation on earth, the
whole world wondered.
1t cost many lives. In lands. and
bonds, and interest it has cost the Ma
tion millions of dollars. Has It paid? :?
Aye. yes. hundred fold. The desert
plains and untrodden mountains of Ne
braska, Colorado. the Dakotas. Wyom-
Ing, Montana, Utah and Nevada were
awakened from their ages Of slumber by
the whistle Of the locomotive, and IT.
their INFANCY 5oyfully graSped the arts
OF civilization The savage Indian fled
before the advance Of intelligence: the
smoke Of the wigwam paled before the
dense cloud of the furnace, and the trail
OF the buffalo was buried forever be-
meath the curling mould that falls from
the plowshare. On the flag Of our Ma
ton eight bright news stars shine with
Respondent glory on its field Of blue,
representing eight sovereign States add
ed to the sisterhood by the sagacity.
by the courage, by the indomitable will
OF the projectors and builders of that
grand enterprise-the first transconti-
mental railroad
California, Oregon and Washington
have also reaped q benefit incalculable
in value. and since the linking together
OF the Atlantic and Pacific by a band
OF steel, the growth OF these States has
challenged the wonder OF the world.
The immense travel between the great
central city OF the Middle West and the
Pacific Coast has received the fullest
consideration from the Pacific roads and
their principal connection, the North
western, and the latest designs of pal
ace, draw1ng-room and dining cars are
run through from San Francisco to
chicago without change; while the
grandeur and diversity OF the scenery
oan be surpassed by mona