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"For many years we have not witnessed so imposing a pageant and never
one more interesting. A Federal Salute was fired by Capt. Hunt's
Artillery at sunrise and seven guns when the first stone sill was laid,
indicating the seven sections of the road under contract. The procession
first moved in a circle around the lawn where it was formed at which
time the bells in the various churches in town commenced a merry peal
which continued until the procession reached the place where the
ceremony was performed. The Military Escort then formed a hollow square
within which the whole civic procession was enclosed. Thousands of
delighted and anxious spectators were on the outside, among whom we were
gratified to see a large concourse of ladies for whose accommodation the
Marshal had directed the adjacent Market House to be appropriated.
A blessing on the stupendous undertaking was then invoked by the
officiating clergyman, after which E. I. Winter, Esq., President of the
Company, handed a hammer to the Governor of the State, who drove the
nail attaching the first iron rail to the beginning stone sill. The
music struck up "Hail Columbia" and afterwards "Yankee Doodle," which
was played until the Artillery ceased firing.
Prof. Caldwell then delivered a highly interesting and appropriate
address. The procession then returned to the University lawn after which
the Military marched to the Arsenal and were dismissed, having received
the thanks of the Directors and President of the Rail Road and the
compliments of the Marshal for their excellent marching and exemplary
good order on the occasion.
The arrangements for this interesting ceremony were hurried perhaps by
the zeal of those immediately concerned and a desire to proceed without
further delay with the work. A little more time and a little more
preparation would have been better but the whole proceeding was
conducted very handsomely. The procession was very numerous. The streets
through which the long line marched were crowded with spectators and
every window and every balcony were filled with ladies. The Military
looked uncommonly well. The pupils of the various institutions wore
appropriate badges. The ceremonies at the place of laying the corner
stone were not tedious. The omission to prepare a rostrum for the
Orator was a grievous oversight--thousands were unable to hear the
speech, but those who were more fortunate pronounced it appropriate
and eloquent and considering the very short notice upon which it was
prepared, the effort was worthy of the distinguished orator, which
alone, is saying enough in praise.
The prayer of the Rev. Mr. Hall, by which the occasion was preceded,
awakened the best feelings of the human heart. The Governor and the
President of the Company quickly dispatched the duty assigned them and
the procession moved from the ground in good order, nothing having
occurred in the slightest degree unpleasant. All were happy that the
good work was now in progress and delighted at the bright prospects
now dawning upon the towns and country through which the road is to
pass. Owing to the short notice the expected guests from Maysville and
Louisville did not attend but the Company was honored with the presence
of the Governor and several distinguished members of Congress and two
of the Judges of the Court of Appeals. These with other notable guests
dined with the President, Directors and Stockholders at Postlewaite's
Inn and during the even the Governor visited the Theater where he was
received with many rounds of applause."
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Down in our hearts we are truly thankful for the present century and all
its benefits and we would rather be plain Kentucky people living today
than any royalty in history. And yet when we read a great thrilling tale
like this we cannot overcome a strange sense of loss, a feeling of
regret that we too, could not have been there to see that wonderful
pageant pass by. The Military with its pomp and music; the professors
and their students; the officials and the rank and file; the lawyers,
and the doctors and the ministers; the contractors and "Pioneers and
their implements of Labor"; the old, the young, the great, the
small--all banded together in one great masterly pull for Lexington!
What a picture! What a privilege! What an inspiration! What would we not
give to have seen it with our own eyes, to have applauded it with our
own hands.
And yet, perhaps that is what we are doing now, applauding and giving
praise and credit to those splendid citizens whose generosity,
foresight, energy and progressive public spirit made Lexington a leading
city of its day!
But to return to our subject, the newspapers kept the people advised as
to the progress of the work and the Observer of February 3rd, 1832,
says:
"Those who feel an interest in this great work will be pleased to learn
that the grading of the first six miles put under contract last fall is
already in a state of much forwardness. The stones for the Rail Sills
are excavated from a quarry a short distance below the city. The ease
with which they are split out and fashioned into sills is truly
surprising. They are about twelve inches wide and many of them are
twenty or twenty-five feet in length."
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