Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-08-22
When the EnqinesMet

NItCIl Liz LIN 1HlNol'lCl
the western frontier and as his begrapher states,
mo single factor was more vital In the construc-
tion OF the Union Pacific than the campaign that
General Dodge made against the Indians In 1865
&C., Grant had selected Dodge the man he
thought best qualified TO meet them in their own
kind OF warfare and the result justified his choice
Before he could complete the Job, however, the
Union Pacific claimed him as chief engineer for
the railroad which 1t was beginning to build lie
assumed this post on May |, 1896, and the grent
adventure OF spanning the continent with steel
began.
From the west coast the Central Pacific Railway
company. California organization was building
east on the same terms granted the Union Pacific
by the bill OF 1862 Each railroad WIS to go as
far and as fast 1t could until 1t met the other
and every extra mile meant fortune In gov
eminent bonds. Thus was the stage set for the
greatest race in history The Central Pacific had
to climb the Sierras more than 1000 feet high,
but without waiting for the completion OF the
tunnels its builders dragged material over the
peaks and laid tracks beyond. Its iron and steel
1t had to bring around Cape Horn or across Pam
anna. The Union Pacific was compelled to carry
It's rails and even the ties on fiat boats on the
Missouri or haul them over the praries from Iowa.
II was constantly harassed by hostile Indian at
tacks I'VE marched to work to the tap of the
drum with our ,alen armed writes General Dodge
Every construction train moving arsenal
and every track layer worked with firearms near
at hand.
The dramatic scenes which took place at the
close of the race IS described by Dodge's biog-
rapher follows:
On the first day or April (fS69) the two roads
nearly eauidlstant from Promontory Point,
the Central Pacific icing 81 miles to the west and
the Union Pacific 81 miles to the east. The con
structon crews. numerically were about the same
strength, not 10000 to side, as has often been
said for vast an army would have impeded
rather than accelerated. track laying. In the final
contest there about $500 each side.
The Central Pacific had used Cinnamon. who
were adepNenough at pick and shovel but when II
came to traAk laying the Irish OF the Union Pacific
proved superior, 80 the former road now perfected
its system by\empoying fifty OF the ablest Irish
track layers In the country and It Is said that
Thomas Durant Most $4,000 In wager that this
Central Pacific gang could not lay ten miles OF
track in day.
April, 1869, was the month that witnessed the
fastest track laying In the history OF rallroading
and each road went forward average OF Ave
miles day. Materials were now plentiful, for in
anticipation OF the BATTLE the Central Pacihc
months before, had started great ships around the
Horn with iron from the East. while the Union Pa
cihc linked up the Northwestern at Council Blufs
and kept q steady stream OF fiat cars laden with
materials coming up to the front. And the eyes OF
the nation II not OF the world conferred the
contest On May s. the rival came
within sight OF each other and the rails of both
roads extended down into little valley on Prom
ontory Point. When the went down that day
the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific were just
100 feet apart The crowds cheered each other and
did not fight That night they slept but a few
yards apart but when the morning OF May 10
dawned there was the greatest OF activity. for II
the day appointed when the last rail would be
laid that linked the two oceans for the first time
In their history with great transportation system
The engines OF the rival roads brought up
the ends OF their respective tracks and between
them there crowded the most notable group OF
railroad builders in the world and In an
ever widening circle all the others that had
made the transcontinenta possible; soldiers from
Fort Douglas, Mormon bishops and elders from
Salt Lake. Chinese from San Francisco, Irish from
Boston. Mexcans from the Rio Grande, negroes
from Dixie, Indians from the deserts and the noun
ta!ns and the omnpresent Jewish traders from
many lands, good humored and thrifty. but wide
eyed and wondering at the genius Of Nordic race
Cen Jack Easement. whose genius for railroad
construction pushed the Union Pacific from Mis-
souri, to Salt Lake. seven years earlier than the
government expected mounted the pilot OF one OF
the engines and called the assembly to ORDER Ed
gar Mills. POSTMASTER or the Last Spike program
asked Rev Mr.. Todd of Massachusetts, to offer
prayer. and men OF all creeds and OF none. stood
silent and respectful while clergyman from the
old Puritan town OF Pittsfield prayed.
A at the preachers left. Doctor Hardness oil
Sacramento cleared his throat and said Gentle
OF the Pacific railroad. the last rail needed e
complete the greatest railroad enterprise IN the
world is about to be laid; the last spike needed tc
unite the Atlantic and the Pacific is about to bs
driven"
He turned. handed golden spike to President
Stanford OF the Central Pacific while Governor
Trittle OF Nevada held out syer spike to Thomas
Durant. vice president OF the Union Pacific TIL,
Nevada executive said ITO the Iron OF the East
and the gold of the West. Nevada adds her link o.
silver to span the continent and wed the oceans
Voc. OF the Pacific Union Express company, CAV,
Stanford silver sledge; Reed superintendent Of
construction for the Union Pacific. ard Strowbridge
Of the Central Pacific, showed the last tie to POSI-
tion-one OF California laurel finely polished and
bearing a silver plate with the inscription "Ths
last tie laid In the completion of the Pacific rail-
road, May TO- 1s69..
IL wire attached to the gold spike and wher
Stanford struck X an electric spark signalled this
natien that the hrst transcontinenta railroad wal
. completed