The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-06-06
THE LINK is FORGED
THE PORTAGE ROAD AT CELLO
is COMPLETE.
People Come Hundreds of Miles to
Attend Ceremonies Which Took
Place Saturday.

Cello, June 3.-The dream of the
people of the Inland Empire, for
continuous route on the Columbia
river came true today at noon, when
the state portage road was formally
dedicated to the service of the people,
aud the first train to be officially oper-
ated on the road was run from Cello
to Big Eddy, the full length of the
line, distance of about eight and
half miles.
People came hundreds of miles to
attend the ceremonies. Large delega-
tons came from Lewiston and the
Clearwater country, Riparia, Wallula,
from Umatilla, Morrow, Sherman and
Gillian counties on the Oregon side,
and from away up the Columbia as
far as Wenatchee on the Washington
side of the river. Steamboats, were
chartered to bring the crowds from
various points, and o. R. s. N. trains
brought many from railway towns
along the rivers. Spokane sent 10
members OF her chamber of commerce
and the commercial clubs at Lewis
ton, Arlington, Pendleton, Walla
Walla and other points were well
represented.
The Portland delegation came in
special train rendered by the O. r. a..
N. Co. officials. There were full $50
people on the train, about 200 from
Portland and the rest from neighbor-
ing states. Governor Chamberlain
and his 200 were reinforced by Cover
nor Meade and 30 Washington people
who attended the opening of the Lewis
and Clark fair; Governor Gooding Of
Idaho with a delegation of 80, and
governor Pardee of California with 80
more. At the last moment two more
coaches had to be added to the special
train to accommodate the crowd. The
train consisted of the two private
cars of General Manager O'Brien and
General Superintendent Buckley, four
coaches and q baggage car, the latter
containing great store of eatables.
The Chamber OF Commerce officials
foreseeing that the excursionists would
have appetites sharpened by the fresh
breeze from the Columbia had arrang-
ed a picnic dinner, and appointed
Stewart John A. Lehner, of the Arl-
ington club to provision the Car for
400 men. The luncheon was spread
under convenient trees at the conclus-
ion of the speeches and the driving of
the last spike.
Early morning, which had promised
rain, was changed to glorious sunshine
at noon. Under clear skies 1000 peo-
pie heard eloquent speeches and wit
messed the driving of the last spike.
The steamer Mountain Gem from
Lewiston withl150 people aboard was
the first TO arrive.
A special train of five coaches came
from The Dalles. The Portland train
arrived on time at 1880. The exer-
cises were held under green bower
draped with American flags on the
platform Of the Cello cannery along
side the portage road track. The
speakers were received with great en-
thusiasm.
Wheelwright opened the program.
Ee was followed by short addresses
by Governor Chamberlain, Of Oregon,
Meade of Washington, Gooding of
Idaho, and Senators Hepburn of Idaho
and Fulton of Oregon.
Dir. Blalock Of Walla Walla and q.
d. Dennis president Of the Spokane
chamber of commerce, also spoke.
At the conclusion of the program
there were calls for j. N. Teal. He
was in the audience, and was lifted to
the platform aud made brief adj
DRESS
Two spikes on the track in front of
the platform were driven home with
much difficulty by Governors Cham
berlain, Mead and Gooding, Senator
Clark ,Ipresident Wheelwright Of the
Portland chamber of commerce, J. N.
Teal and Mr.. Mariner.