Mormons from Utah were there in force. The Government was
represented by officers and soldiers in uniform; and these, with
their military band, lent the familiar martial air to the last scene
of the great enterprise. Here mingled the Irish and Negro laborers
from the east with the Chinese and Mexican from the west. Then the
eastern paddies laid the last rails on one end, while the western
coolies laid those on the other. The rails joined. Spikes were
driven, until the last one remained.
The Territory of Arizona had presented a spike of gold, silver, and
iron; Nevada had given one of silver, and a railroad tie of laurel
wood; and the last spike of all--of solid gold--was presented by
California.
The driving of the last spike was to be heard all over the United
States. Omaha was the telegraphic center. The operator here had
informed all inquirers, "When the last spike is driven at Promontory
Point we will say, 'Done!'"
The magic of the wire was to carry that single message abroad over
the face of the land.
The President of the United States was to be congratulated, as were
the officers of the army, and the engineers of the work. San
Francisco had arranged a monster celebration marked by the booming
of cannon and enthusiastic parades. Free railroad tickets into
Sacramento were to fill that city with jubilant crowds.
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