Year: 1869

to unite her in close fellowship with her
sisters of the Atlantic. From her bosom


was taken the first rail. Let hers be the
last tie and the last spike. With them


accept the hopes and>wishes of her peo-


pie, and that the success of your enter


prise may not stop short of its brightest
premises"


President Stanford, of the Central


Pacific railroad, responded as follows:


Gentlemen: The Pacific Railroad
Company accept with pride and satis-
faction these golden and silver tokens
of your appreciation of the Importance
of our enterprise to the material interests
of the sections which you represent on
this occasion, and the material interests
of our whole country, east, west, north
and south. These gifts shall receive a
fitting place in the superstructure Of our
road. And before laying the ties and
driving the spikes in completion of the
Pacific railroad, allow me to express the
hope that the great Importance which
you are pleased to attach to our under
taking may be in all respects fully real
lied. The line Of roads connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific, and affording to
commerce new transit, will prove, we
trust, the speedy forerunner of increased
facilities. The Pacific railroad will, as
soon as commerce shall begin fully to
realize its advantages, demonstrate the
necessity of such improvements in rail-
roading as to render practicable the
transportation of freights at much less
rates than are possible under any system
which has thus far been anywhere
adopted. The day is not far distant
when three tracks will be found neces-
sary to accommodate the commerce
which will seek transit across the conti-
nent. Freights will then move only one
way on each track, and at rates of speed
that will answer the demand of cheap
ness and time. Cars and engines will be
light and heavy, according to speed re-
quired and weight to be transported. In
conclusion, / will add, we hope to do ul.
timately what is now impossible on long
lnes-transport ore and products for oil
distances at living rates to trade. Now,
gentlemen, with your assistance, we will
proceed to lay the last rail- the last tie,
and drive the last spike"


General Dodge, in behalf of the Union
Pacific railroad, responded as follows:


"Gentlemen: The great Benton proph-
esed that some day granite statue of
Columbus would be erected on the high.
est peak of the Rocky Mountains point
ing westward, denoting this as the great |
route across the continent. You have
made that prophesy this day. Accept |
this as the way to India"


f. A. Frittle, from the State OF Neva-
da, presented silver spike on behalf of
the citizens of Nevada, with the follow
ing remarks:


ITO the iron Of the East and the gold
of the West, Nevada adds her link of sill
yer to span the continent and wed the
irons"


Thereupon Superintendent Coe, in be-
half of the Pacific Union Express, pre-,
seuted the sledge with which to drive the
last spike. Governor Stanford and Vice
President Durant advanced, took in hand
the sledge, and drove the spike, while the |,
multitude stood silent. Edgar Miles, OF
Sacramento, who was chairman Of the
meeting, announced the great work done.
The silence of the multitude was broken
and great cheer went forth, which. while
it yet quivered on the glsddened air, was
caught up by the willing lightning and
borne to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Cheer followed cheer for the union of the
Atlantic and the Pacific, the two Pacific
railroad companies and their officers, and
the President of the United States All
was over. "Glory to God in the highest;
on earth peace and good will to men"