The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-26

The Chinese Ia bOrers on the western I
line, having with picks and shOvels [
leyeled the rOadbed, preparatory 20 put /
tins in place the last ties and rails. the
final work was now performed all but /
the laying of one rail- after which the
L. p. engine No. 119-each company
had four locomotives on the scene
and the c. L. engine. Jupiter moved
up TO within thirty feet of each other,
and all was ready for the closing scene
Of this memorable act in the great
drama Of modern events.
The people were now requested to
stand back in order that all might see.
Edgar Mills. Esq. of Sacramento, then
read the programme of ceremonies,
which was carried out in the follow
ing order.
Massachusetts, Mans Prayer.
Silence being enjoined and heads rev
erently uncovered. Rev. DR.. Todd OF
Massachusetts offered the dedicatory
our Father and God. and our fathers
God, God of creation and God % Provi-
denCe. thou has created the heavens ana
art also the God Of all mercles and bless
ings. We rejoice that thou has created
the human mind, with us power OF ln5
ventlOn, its capacity OF expansion anu
its guerdon Of success. We have assem-
bled here today upon the height ot the
/ continent from varied sections Of our
country. to do homage TO thy wonderful
name, in that thou hast brought TINS
mighty enterprise. combining the COM
merce Of the east with the goo OF ny
now we ask thee that this great work
so auspiciOusly begun and so magnlLl-
Gently completed, may remain monG-
mcnt Of our faith and of our good works.
| We here cCnSecrate this great highway
{ for the good of thy people q Coo, We
( implOre thy blessings upon u, ana upon
those who may direct its operation. q
( Father. God of our fathers, we desire 20
acknowledge thy handlWork IN TINS sIeat
I work and ask thy blessing upon us mere
/ assem bled, upon the rulers OF our gov
eminent and upon thy people every
s MsIg gentle 14 Steam and that this mighty
enterprise may be unto us as the Az
/ lantic OF thy strength and the Pacific OF
thy love, through Jesus the feoeeHleI'
Spike Of Pure Gold.
Z Then came the presentation of spikes.
/ DR.. Hardness of Sacramento presented
/ Governor Stanford with a spike of pure
gold. and said:
! Gentlemen of the Pacific Railroad;--
/ The last rail needed to complete the
+ greatest railroad enterprise OF the world
4 Ia about To- be laid The last spike
/ needed 10 unite the Atlantic and the
Pacific by a new line Of trade and COM
merce is about to be driven to It's place.
To perform these acts the east ard the
west have come together. Never since
1 history commenced. her record OF hu-
man events has man been called upon
to meet the completion Of a work so
magnificent in contemplation and so
marvellous in execution California,
/ within whose borders and by whose cit
/ liens the Pacific railroad was inaugu-
rated desires to express her apprecia
ton of the vast Importance 10 her ard
her sister states Of the great enterprise
which by your joint action is about to
l. Of
gold she has forged a spike, from her
laurel woods she has hewn tie and
by the hands of her citizens she offers
them to become a part of the great
( highway which is about to unite her
/ in closer fellowship with her sisters Of
the Atlantic. From her bosom was
taken the first soil. Jet hers be the last
tie and the last spike and with them
accept the hope and wishes of her peo-
pie that the success Of your enterprise
may not stop short of its brightest
promise
The Last Spike.
The gold spike thus presented was
about seven inches long and a little
thicker than the ordinary railroad
spike. It was made from twenty-three
$40 gold pieces and was worth $3.50. on
the head Of il were engraved the words.
The last spike and the sides bore
this inscription: The Pacific railway.
first ground broke Jan. s. 1853; and
completed May 10, 1869. May God con-
llnue the unity of our country as this
railroad unites the two great oceans of
the world Presented by David Nerves.
San Francisco"
A silver spike similar in size. was
presented to DR.. Durant by +. A Fryth
OF Nevada, who uttered the following
sentiment: To the iron of the east
nn col Of h Il
her link Of silver to span the continent
and weld the oceans.
/ Governor Stafford of Arizona offered
a spike composed of iron. silver and
gold, and said Ribbed with iron. clad
in silver and crowned with gold. Ari-
iona presents her offering to the en-
teTprise that has banded the cortinent
and erected the pathway to commerce.
Governor Stanford's Speech.
Governor Stanford. in behalf of the
Central Pacific railroad. made the fol-
lowing response: "Gentlemen-The Pa
cIhc Railroad companies accept with
PRIDE and satisfaction these COLDER. ana
SILVER tokens Of your appreciation of
the Importance of our enterprise TO the
material interests Of the whole country.
east and west north and south. These
Bllts Snall receive a fitting place in the
Superstructure Of our road and before
AelS ing the Tie and driving the SDikp in
the superstructure of our road. and be-
fore laying the tie and driving the spike
, IN completion of the Pacific railway
allow me to express the hope that the
3 great Importance that YOU are pleased
20 attach to our undertaking may be
IN all respects fully realized. This line
OF rails, connecting the Atlantic and
Pacific, and affording to commerce a
new transit viii prove. we trust. tbs
speedy forerunuer IF increased facfli-
ties The Pacific railroad will, as soon
as commerce shall begin fully to realize
Its advantages, demonstrate the neces-
sity Of rich improvements on railroad
; ing as to render practicable the trans
lportatlon of freights at much less rates
tran are possible under any system
} which has been thus far anywhere
: adopted. The day is not far distant
, Wher three tracks viii be found neces
sary to accommodate the commerce .anC
! travel which viii seek a transit acres,
{ this continent. Freight viii then move
I only one way on each track and al
rates Of speed that win answer the de
mands of cheapness and time. Cars and
engines viii be light or heavy accord.
ing to the speed required, and tn,
weight TO be transported. In conclu.
sion. viii add that we hope to do. ul
/ umately, what is now impossible OF
: long lines-transpoTt coarse, heavy ant
\ cheap products. for all distances at liv
ing rates for the trade Now gentle
+ men. with your assistance we VIII pro
? coed to lay the last tie and last raj
q and drive the last spike"
General Dodge's Reply.