over the entire building and construction of the portage railway to Mr. Teal, who built it in the time specified within the amount fixed.
Nearly all the right of way was contributed without cost. Most of the lower portion was given by F. A. Seufert and T. J. Seufert, the O. R. & N. Co. and I. N. Taffe.
Under the auspices of the Open River Association, the portage railway was finished and opened June 3, 1905.
It was a day of celebration.
The Mountain Gem, under command of Captain W. P. Gray, brought a steamboat load of rejoicing people from Lewiston, Idaho, arriving at 10 o'clock in the morning. A trainload arrived from The Dalles an hour later. Spokane, Walla Walla and other towns were represented. A special train came from Portland, arriving just before noon.
Governor George E. Chamberlain (now United States Senator) took the first three blows at the last spike. Governor Mead of Washington struck five; Governor Gooding of Idaho, three; J. N. Teal, three; William D. Wheelwright, then president of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, nine; Senator Clark of Oregon, three; W. J. Mariner, secretary of the Open River Transportation company, four. It was a spike well driven with 30 dignified blows. Immediately afterwards a train carrying 250 people passed over the road. The first portage locomotive, was called the C. H. Lewis in honor of the father of L. A. Lewis.
The speakers were: W. D. Wheelwright, who presided; Governor Chamberlain, Governor Mead, Senator Heyburn, Senator Fulton, Dr. N. G. Blalock of Walla Walla, President G. B. Dennis of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, Joseph N. Teal. Some of those who came from the interior were Dr. J. B. Morris, Colonel Judson Spafford, T. C. Elliott of Walla Walla, E. H. Libby of Lewiston. From Portland came S. M. Mears, Henry Hahn, S. Frank, L. A. Lewis, W. J. Burns, Joseph Morris, T. B. Wilcox, Tom Richardson, Mark Langfitt, F. I. Dunbar, secretary of state; Charles S. Moore,
