The Forrest City times., 1909-01-08
final blow was struck, the day mRds

final blow was struck, the day mRde historic.
 Early in the morning magnificent officials and dignitaries Following them thronged the sightseers. Esther and Alfred were there, standing near the Central Pacific of icers, both radiant. unmasked of re- serve. young beautiful with happiness. Close at hand were Uncle Billy, the fIarmons. and Amabel Hamilton, deli cate, fowerlike bravely carrying a heartaohe that Alfred least of all sus- pccted
 And Sally B. No pen could paint the Nividness of her cardinal plush gown, the sweep of the forty-dollar plume above her red Gainsborough hat the gleam of her jewels, or tho pride in the uplift of her dark head Regal, brilliant, as glad of the great | triumph as if it were her own, she drew every eye, dominated the scene, elamoeously red against the surround ing gray.
 
 markable assemblage was George Gregory. Erect as he had not been for months. well groomed and hand some in his faultless clothes. jubilant, he was yet restless from the very lifting of his burden, and tackled front | shore tc shore in the human sea. com sng te anchor at intervals beside his wife
 But the eye of the vast throng, shift ing from notable to notable. came oftenest to rest upon the Valiant Four a quartette of keen, comple menting minds, the power that had driven to completion the most difficult enterprise of the era.
 Mark Hopkins, the treasurer. looked small beside the others; yet his body was vigorous, his eye vigilant his lip firm. A fine, penetrating exactness, q l:gid carefulness. enveloped him as a garment stern man, just. em ployees ana foster-children yet testi- fed to bis Kindness, his consideration
 Bluff. hearty Charles Crocke9. the superintendent. ss+Sscible, obstinate, yet reasonable, was also the daring, the generous, the pioneer!
 Next stood Collis P. Huntington, the vice president, tall, stately, elegant, the keen financier, the astute business man, the subtle politician, the keeper of secrets; a tireless worker, a courtly gentleman.
 Leland Stanford, the president, ex governor of California, beloved by the people, this man was the exposure; imperial head powerfully set on a mas sive body; eyes of the seer, brows of the conqueror; mind of steel and heart Of gold; brother of men and respecter of man; orator, friend. patriot.
 Talleyrand once declared to the Elm peror Napoleon, The great republic is giant without bones" These four men had put into the giant a spine of iron
 Under the desert sky the spreading multitude was called to order. There followed solemn prayer of hanks giving. The laurel tie was placed, amidst ringing cheers. The golden spike was set The trans-Americaa telegraph wire was adjusted Amid breathless silence the silver hammer was lifted, poised. dropped, giving the gentle tap that ticked the news to all the world! Then. blow on blow. Gov ernor Stanford sent the spike to place,
 A storm of wild huzzas burst forth: desert rock and sand, plain and noun. tain, echoed the conquest of thei, terrors. The two engines moved up, touched noses," and each in turn crossed the magic tie
 America was belted, The great Iron Way was finished.
 THE END.