Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-06-01
The GOLDEN SPIKE DRIVEN.
Track-Laying on the Fort Dodge and
Omaha Railway,

Track-Laying on the Fort Dodge and
Omaha Railway,
The commencement of the laying OF
steel upon the main track of the Fort
Dodge & Omaha railroad was inaugu-
rated last week in Council Bluffs by
the driving of the first spike. In
honor of the suspicious occasion the
spike provided was gold plated one,
and Mrs. G. X. Dixon, wife of the
superintendent of the Cherokee divi-
sion of the Illinois Central railway,
was the person chosen TO WELD the
hammer that drove the golden spike
home through the section OF the eighty
fve-pound steel rail into the tie. A
few minutes later a large number of
men were at work spiking the rails
which had been previously laid for
several blocks and the work of laying
the main track of the Fort Dodge &
Omaha branch of the Illinois Central
road was begun in real earnest.
The place chosen for the ceremony
of driving the golden spike was at a
point on the main track directly oppo-
site the roundhouse of the Northwest
ern road. Promptly at o'clock were
gathered the members of the corps OF
engineers in charge of the cOnstruc-
ton of the road, large number of the
laborers, representatives of the press,
several citizens and Mrs. Dixon, who
was accompanied by her little son,
Beals, destined to become a railroad
man.
The officials present were: G. E..
Grafton, engineer in charge of the
construction of the road; E. B. Hitch
cock, engineer in charge of track; D..
B. Scott, division engineer; A. T.
Bailey, superintendent of material;
Morris X. Trumbull, assistant engineer
on tack laying: George Bick, foreman
of track laying: J. d. Barber, material
| clerk; B. G. Leake, inspector of bridg-
ing; S. M. Bate, draughtsman, and T.
NJ. Orr, right-of-way man.
Before driving the spike Mrs. Dixon
made a short address, in which she
| said:
This is an occasion of more impor-
! lance to me than perhaps you realize
when you so kindly invited me here.
OF great Importance on account Of my
many years connection with the old
reliable Illinois Central railroad. My
childhood, girlhood, young womanhood
and all my married life | have been
associated with this company. Per-
| haps, to make a long story short, |
may say nearly forty years. Do you
| wonder, then, | consider it an honor
| to do an act of actual service for a
railroad l have for so many years been
| identified with? | have had the pleas
ure of knowing many of its general
officers in the past. as well as present,
and can truthfully, as we'll as loyalty,
say the officers and employees are as
one family, working in harmony; their
interests are the same, only in differ
ent lines of labor.
II thank you, gentlemen, for so kind
! ly remembering me and bestoT ing
upon me this high honor Of driving
the spike that adds one more link and
section to the already gigantic rail-
| road. If there are any skeptic minds
| thinking a road cannot be a success
if started by a woman, let me relieve
your minds by asking the question,
What would be the success of the rail-
roads without the women? | don't
mean the women in actual employment
| by railroads, but the women in the
| homes. After hard days work the
railroad man is revived and renewed
| by the association with loved ones at
| home. The success of many man is
| due to his mother and the helpfulness
| of a good wife.
This new extension connects one
more state with the eleven already
traversed by the Illinois Central. Ne
braska we gladly welcome, and its
products we will take into the eastern
markets quicker than they have ever
been taken before. It's citizens shall
ride in cars luxuriant and beautiful
with ease and safety. To Omaha, its
metropolis, we extend a cordial hand.
Your influence will add to our success.
| Council Bluffs, you are already ours,
for you are in Iowa.
You ask the land love the best,
Iowa, It's Iowa.
The fairest land of all the west,
Iowa, Oh, Iowa.
From yonder Mississippi stream
To where Missouri waters CLEAN,
Oh, fair it is as poets dream,
Iowa, in Iowa.
| Ihanklng you Tor the honor you
have done me, as drive this spike, let
us have a prayer in our hearts for the
success and prosperity Of all connected
with our beloved Illinois Central rail-
way"
When Mrs. Dixon finished speaking
three cheers were given for the Illinois
Central. Chief Engineer Grafton then
placed the golden spike in position
and held it while with a few we'll di-
rected blows Mrs. Dixon drove it home
Another cheer was given for the Hi.
nois Central, in which everyone Joined
and the ceremony was at an end.