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Show railroad wedding had been telegraphed all over the country, and everybody was on the qui vive over the event. At 8:15 a, m the whistle of the first train to arrive was heard over the Central Pacific, bringing a large number num-ber of passengers from the west. Two trains then arrived from the Union Pacific Pa-cific from the east At 10:45 the Chinese workmen commenced leveling level-ing the bed of the road, preparatory to placing the ties. At 11:45 Governor Stanford's train arrived from the west, gaily decorated with flags and ribbons. The last tie was put in place. It was eight feet lon?, eight Inches wide, and six inches thick. It was made of California Cali-fornia laurel, highly polished, ornamented orna-mented with a silver escutcheon, bearing bear-ing the following inscription: "The last tie is laid on the Pacific railroad. May 10, 1869 " The names of the directors and officials of the Central Cen-tral Pacific railroad, together with that of the presenter of the tie wcro engraved on it. The engine, Jupiter of the Central Pacfflc. and the engine 119 of the Union Pacific, moved up to within 30 feet of each other. Just before noon the announcement was sent to Washington Wash-ington that the driving of the last spike connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific would be communicated to all the telegraph ofllcea in the country coun-try the Instant the work was done. A large crowd gathered around the office of the Western Union office in the various cities to hear the new3. A large magnet ball was placed in position where all might witness the performance, and it was connected with the main lines, and notified tho offices of the country that all was ready. Boston, New Orleans and New York responded that they were ready In San Francisco the wires were connected con-nected with the fire alarm in the tower, tow-er, so that the heavy peal of the bell might spread tho news immediately over the city. At 2:27 the following message came from Promontory Point: "Almost ready. Hats oil. Prayer is being offered." of-fered." Silence ensued for prayer. At 2:40 p. m. the bell tapped again, jjn-1 Promontnrmy paid: "We have got done praying and the spike Is about to be presented." Chicago replied: "We understand. All are ready in the east." From Promontory: "All ready now, the spike will soon be driven." "The signal will be three dots for the commencement of the blows." Then silence for a moment followed, the magnate then tapped one, two, t,hrcc, which was the signal. Another pause of a few seconds, and the message mes-sage flashed oast to Washington, 2.400 miles, and the' blows of the hammer on the golden spike were repeated in telegraphic accents on the bell of tho capitoJ. At 2:47 p m., Tromontory gave the signal "done," and the continent con-tinent was spanned in bands of steel. Immediately the Associated Press sent out this dispatch: "Promontory Summit. Utah, May 10. 1S69 The last, rail is laid. The last spike is driven. The Pacific railroad is completed. The point of Junction Is 1.086 miles west of the Missouri river, and C90 miles east of Sacramento Sacramen-to city. Signed, Leland Stanford, Central Pacific railroad, and T. C. Durant Siduey Dillon, John Duff, Union Pacific railroad." FORTY YEARS AGO AT PROMONTORY. The driving of tho last spike on the transcontinental railroad, forty years ago yesterday, is thus retold In the Deseret News: Forty years ago, on Promontory point, 801 miles east of San Francisco, and 1,085.8 miles west of Omaha the last spike was driven in the union of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads. Two lengths of rail had been loft for completion on the memorable mem-orable day. The rival roads had approached ap-proached each other, each trying to make headway as rapidly as possible, to get as much mileage under the government gov-ernment subsidy acts as might be, and at Promontory they met The event was of national Importance. Information of the ceremonies of the |
