The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-16
INTER- NATION ROAD
Spike Driving Function on the New
Line to Republic.
CoNNECTsWITH GRAND FORKS, BIC.
Ceremonies Witnessed by Five Hun
dreG Peonle-Nevv Track Across
the Boundary.
pec;al to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Republic, Wash, April 16.-By a pleas
ant fiction the last spike in the Republic
& Grand Forks railway was driven here
Saturday afternoon The ceremonies We're
witnessed by 500 people. OF these $50 came
from Spokane and Grand Forks. The
spike. gold plated and bearing the legand
that it was the last in the construction Of
this railroad, was taken from an appropri-,
ate case.
With true mountain hospitality the
whole souled people of Republic had pre-
pared for the guests who came in on the
first train into their camp. Steel was laid
only to a point six miles from town. Car
riages were sent out by the Republic
committee and the guests were conveyed
in by way of the Mountain Lion and the
various properties. in Eureka gulch. Ar
irving here, they were taken to the Ma
sonic hall, where dinner was served. The
spike was driven on the Cougar fraction
at the station site about half a mile from
the business center, where the little strip
OF road was. completed for the purpose.
The spike was driven by General Mana
ger Tracy w. Holland and Assistant Man.
ager w. c. Norris no.a - -
There Waszno, speechfnakng and nolforl.
nalities, as it was necessary for the ex-!
cursionists, to hasten away to- the train
before darkness fell. The prominent
buildings of the city were festooned with
bunting and flags. American and British
flags We're numerous and on the city hall
were also displayed the Hawaiian and
Irish flags. The excursionists were es-
corted along Clark avenue by the fire de-
partment in uniform.
HOW 1t Was Built.
The record of construction is regarded
| as noteworthy, considering that the first
SGD was not turned until June 5 last,
and that the entire work was not under
contract until August 1. This latest in
! ternational link, which will have great
| economic effect on the development of the
boundary country and the Colville Indian
reservation, situated in the state Of
| Washington, is 42.55 miles long.
The dominating spirit of this enterprise
is Tracy w. Holland, mayor of Grand
Forks. Mr.. Holland was the first to per-
ceive the commercial possibilities of a
| railway between the American camp and
the Canadian smelling center, and to it's
accomplishment he has devoted his time
and energies with rare sngleness of pur-
| pose. ->sN
To arrange the preliminaries was no
easy task. In August, 1900, he obtained
from the British Columbia legislature
after hard legislative fight and by a
majority Of one vote, charter authoriz-
ing the construction of railway from
Grand Forks to the international boun-
dary line. There was yet to be secured
the authority for building the American
section of the road between the frontier
and Republic AS the Colville Indian
reservation is administered by the United
States government. Mr. Holland found it
| necessary to pay half dozen visits to
| Washington. One by one objection aft er
| objection was overcome and finally the
order authorizing the building of the rail
| way was signed by q. A. Hitchcock. secre-
| tary of the interior
! After the organization of the Republic
& Grand Forks railway (now known as
the Kettle Valley lines) Mr.. Holland be-
came its general manager. The capital
required for building the road was raised
IN the east, the president of the enterprise
being j. K. Stratton, who holds the port
folio OF provincial secretary in the Ontario
cabinet
| Ore for Grandby Shelter.
The Kettle Valley lines have entered
| into contract with the mine owners of
Republic for the transporta ton of ore to
the CRANKY smelter in Grand Forks. Ac-
! cordlng to the cont ract, the freight and
+, treatment rate must not exceed $3.50 a
ton. At the outset a tonnage of 400 tons
/ c2ily is expected. This amount can be
easily absorbed at Grand Forks, as the
local smelter has daily capacity of 1 500
tons, and two additional furnaces are to
De installed at an early date. Moreover,
the ores of Republic, besides being
smelted in the furnaces, can be utilized as
converter Innings.
/ Within year the tonnage of Republic
it is believed. will reach 1000 tons daily
as the opening of the road is certain to
have stimulating effect