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The transcontinental railroad is completed...



Item # 677185

May 12, 1869

SPRINGFIELD DAILY REPUBLICAN, Massachusetts, May 12, 1869  

* Completing the Transcontinental railroad
* Last spike driven at Promontory Point


Page 5 has: "The Pacific Railroad" reporting on the completion of the historic, transcontinental railroad. Subheads note: "The Ceremonies at the Completion--How They Waited for the News in Washington--Enthusiasm in California, Etc."
This is a nice article on the joining of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads, the report reads, in part: "Promontory Summit in Utah is henceforth a historic point. It was there that the act of marking the completion of that great inter-oceanic work, the Pacific railroad, was on Monday afternoon accomplished, amid the huzzas of thousands. The exercises were commenced with an appropriate and impressive prayer....Then the two rails were laid opposite each other, one for the Union Pacific and the other for the Central Pacific road. A presentation of spikes to the two companies followed ....The four spikes were then driven in succession, and the blows of the last one were instantly recorded by the telegraph across the continent. A telegram announcing the grand consummation was sent at once to President Grant..." and more, plus an account about the scene at the telegraph office in Washington as a crowd anxiously awaited the announcement of the last spike being driven, marking the completion of the railroad.
Eight pages, slightly irregular at the blank spine, very nice condition.

Category: Post-Civil War