The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-03-16
OUR JUBILEE DAY
NEAR AT HAND
The Railroad kill Iie Finished With
10 Two Weeks.
FORMAL OPENING ANNOUNCED
first TfAin From rorilind Viii Bhug the
Delegates to First Rspub isau
C0nIrntlon In Astoria.

The day 10 In sight
Anlorla'a dcllycfhncr from the back
woods ~ fronllcrism ls ~ hand
The driving ~ the golden spike which
will link the greatest natural hnrbpr on
the paclnc coast with the rest Ut clyiliEt-
ton viii take place within Two weeks.
The day 20 which AHiofians have booked
forward Tor half century iH nt hand.
Trhught with immensurrablc results for
good ~ cyll Is the announcement made
yesterday by tho Officers ~ the Astoria
and columbia River Railroad company
that the road will b, completed within a
fortnight Speaking ~ the situation sup
rrintehdcnt Mcclure said last evening
that the last rnil would b, laid about the
ist ~ April only eleven miles now re-
main 90 bc covered and by Saturday
night II win be- reduced to i've miles
1T IN my intention 10 drive the last spike
In plenty OF time pa that We can form
ally open the road for trnfiic by bringing
into Astoria on the hrst excursion train
tho delegates 60 the state republican con
yrniion which n 60 meet here April ~
Aftcr the rails nre laid want some tlmo
TO nut the road-b,d IN proper condition,
THIS magnificent weather has aided us
wonderfully and there II now M doubt
but what the road Will be- nnirhcd M
time We fully realize that the opening
of the road h AN important epoch Ia tho
history of Astoria and Tint the holding
here Of the nrst state republican conycn-
ton 10 " almost equal significance"
General Land Agent Gosslin said yes
,crday that after much hard work the
company could now sec iis way clear to
running excursion trains for the republic.
an state convention next month. Hc also
stated that the road would probably run
an excursion 10 Portland from Astoria TO
accommodate those who may desire Ia
meet and escort 10 this city the delegates
to the convention.
4, is learned that by the latter part OF
this week an additional locomotive and
work train will be placed In service on the
east end Of the line. Il II semi-oirclally
snnounccd that the honor Of driving the
las, spike viii be- delegated to Mr.. Fore
man Dillon. the man who throughout all
the hariships and yicissiludcs of the past
winter. stuck faithfully To his work ami
believed that he could see success in th'
future. Courageous himself he infused
the men about him with confidence and
against tremendous odds they pushed for.
ward the Astoria railroad through a
slough of dcspond. of such stun are gen
erals made.
There was some little talk on the streets
last night of the steps to be taken by As
torIans 10 properly celebrate this great
event Among other things suggested
was q banquc, to the leading republicans
and railroad officials, Others thought II
would be- a nttlng occasion to burn red
hrc and paint the town. but the moro
conservative element favored a cclchrl-
tlon which should rNcmplify AstorlU's
prospects and aims commerce good cheer
and open hospitality to all those who
wish TO pitch their tents here and share
In the benefits to be derived from the up
bulldln. of the second New York which
figured SO largely In the dreams OF John
Jacob Astor