This is a great day in Utah. Some Twelve or Fifteen thousand of the Inhabitants of the City of salt Lake & surrounding Country of Men women & children assembled around the Rail Road Depo to Celibrate the Building of the Utah Central Rail Road & to see the last rail laid & the last spike driven By President Brigham Young. This rail Road was Built By the Hard labouring Men of the Latter Day Saints from Ogden to Salt Lake City about 40 Miles distant. There were preset in the Assembly the Bands of Music from the City, Camp Duglass Band & many others. There were present on the Stand the first Presidency the Twelve Apostles, The officers of the Union & Central Pacific Rail Road & of the Utah Central Rail Road with Many invited guest including the officers of Camp Duglass.
The last spike was driven By President Young. A large steel Mallet was used on the occasion made By Mr James Lawson. It was Elegantly Cha[-]ed on the top. There was Engraved a Beehive surmounted By the inscription Holiness to the Lord. Underneath the Beehive were the letters U.C.R.R. ...
Just Before the Ceremony of laying the last rail Commenced, the sun, which during the whole day, had Been Completely Concealed By Clouds burst forth with unclouded Brilliancy as if determined to Enhance the general Joy By his genial rays. After the performance of the Ceremony which took place about 9 minuts past 2 oclok a salute of 37 guns /was given/ one for Each mile of the road when Capt Croxall's Brass Band burst forth with their Enlivening strains after which the following Prayer was offered By Elder Wilford Woodruff:
O, God ... We dedicate this Rail Road unto thee, the Lord our God. We pray that thy Blessings may rest upon it...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
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