The Iron Horse Reaches the Chehalis
After years of reliance on slow water routes, the residents of Montesano welcome the Northern Pacific Railroad, signaling a new era of connectivity for Grays Harbor.
Montesano, Jan. 16.—The event of the year occurred today. A Northern Pacific locomotive, with Engineer Huson's special car attached, rolled into this city at 4:40 p.m., and was welcomed by the Vidette band and citizens, who turned out en masse to welcome the first Northern Pacific car. Among those arrived were H. S. Huson, principal assistant engineer of the Northern Pacific company; J. M. Ashton, counsel for the road on its western division; Colonel C. W. Griggs and Major F. D. Heustis, contractors constructing the line; and C. B. Morrison, general manager of the Olympic Land and Improvement Company. After the band played and the crowd gave three cheers for the railroad, the officials made speeches acknowledging the reception. They stated that it would be three weeks or thirty days before the line would be completed for regular traffic, and when that arrives, Montesano would have regular through connection with all of Uncle Sam's domain. The party proceeded down the line to Ocosta.
“Montesano would have regular through connection with all of Uncle Sam's domain.”
This 1891 celebration of the railroad arrival mirrors the massive civic efforts today to expand light rail and infrastructure, demonstrating how Seattle's economic growth has always been tied to the physical reach of its transit networks.
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