Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-30

"A'""o'o'" 'lo '"lue Shc HIS aircaoy acquired ana
to see her rejoice ultimately in the homage, that
ispaid to the North Star, in the Constellation of
Liberty. loud arpausc-music.
g.. 7: NJ GriGM.-To his skill and energy, as
the Architect and Engineer of the Mississippi River
p oud conquest achieved by her local capital in
the beautiful structure which unites, now for the
first time the East and West Banks of the sFath; I
of Waters" May the bridge which shall afford
him pathway across that other river at the end
Of lfes journey, be as facile of passage, and may
the Great Architect welcome him to that homo
on the other sidc-which is free from all shade OF
sorrow and unbroken By single care. ssD
To the above toast, Capt. j. II. Simpson, Of
the corps of U. S. Typographical Engineers, res
ponded as follows 80 ''1''~
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen -.
The sentiment which has just been read, meets
the appreciation of my heart, as it does Of my
understanding. An Engineer myself, l feel that
peculiar tribute of respect and of admiration
is due to the gentleman whose name has been
mentioned in connection with that sentiment.
Having hid occasion from the requirements Of
my position to look into, and study, the princ-
Piles which govern structures of Bridge charac-
ter, cannot but regard with admiration and cs-
TEEN, the professional brother, who has had the
patience, the persevering industry, and the close
acluaintanceship with the principles of mechan-
ical philosophy, which Mr.. Griffith must have pos
scssed to have elaborated, first, in his own mind,
and then present as material fabric to be gazed
upon by all men, the beautiful structure which we
have this afternoon been regarding with so much
delight.
But in this as in other matters of sensibility,
"The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and
stranger doth not intermeddle with its joys.''
Mr.. Griffith, no doubt as he should, enter:ains Q
proud satisfaction in the consciousness Of having
presented to the public gaze, specimen of science
and of art, which commands the admiration and
praise of his fellow men but, doubt not, the
chiefest Joy of his heart lies concealed from pub
lie gaze, and cannot be ntermeddled with by 9TH
ers. 10 know nature in her secret processes to
possess the wand of wisdom and of science, by
which the forces of nature are so combined, pro-
portioned and marshalled, as to produce in tho
concrete fabric, which the whole world are con-
strained to acknowledge as the production of one
who is her intimate friend and companions this
is the heritage of the devout attendant upon her
shrine; and this has been at once the heritage
professional brother.
But there other and yet higher relations
in which this beautiful structure can be regarded.
In it we perceive indeed the man of science, of
enterprise and of practical acquaintanceship with
the appliances which have been made use of in
the erection of this superb structure; bur we also
perceive in it the man of enlarged views, of prac-
tical bene6cence, and as such we not only regard
him with the consideration which the intellect
challenges but we also bestow upon him the aff-
ections, which the heart alone can give. This
feeling is allied to that of the wonder and admil
ration with which we behold the works of the
greatest of all architects, "the Creator of the
Heavens and of the Earth - and as in these works
wc very plainly witness His goodness to the chill
dren of men; so in the structure which we have
this day been admiring, we behold on a human
scale, the beni6cencc and worth of him who has
presented this tribute of humanity to the wants
and necessities of his race. ,ool1
The Bridge, the opening of which We are
on this occasion commemoratins, is Wire Sus-
pension Bridge of 62O feet span has a roadway
of IL feet; and ha, been completed for the mod
erato sum of thirty six thousand dollars. It
stretches from the West bank of the Mississippi
river to Nicollet Island; and, although it cannot
be said to span the whole expansc of the waters,
it does extend over the only formidable portion
of the river. Here it has been erected under the
patronage of city, but seven years cd, amidst
the roar of cataract which will ever command
the admiration of the travelling world and has
the proud character of being the First Bridge
structure Of any kind which has been flung across
"The Father Of Waters" Surely structure Of
so beautiful and useful character, nurtured As
it has been entirely under the smiles and contri.
buttons of stockholders who with but single
exception are citizens of the Territory and resi-
dents, Of this City, Of Minneapolis, and yicin-
age of seven miles; and now brought out to TIE
full gaze of the beholdcr, as one streaching over
the mighticst Of Rivers, and in immediate prox-
unity to the beautiful fall of waters, Of which il
forms graceful accessory and counterpart cam
not fail to challenge the admiration of our fellow
cit'zcns throughout tho country, and extort from
them the need of praise which SO justly belongs
to enterprises of gigantic and successful char
acter. And not only so. 10 its engineer and
architect, r. NJ. Griffith, Esq will they assign
proud place among the Master Spirits Of our
Country, who have done so much towards eleva.
ing our reputation in those branches of Science
anl Of Mechanics, which reflect ustre upon US as
a nation abroad, and contribute so much to our
comfort and happiness as people at home: re-
fer now to such eminent men as Col. Long, Major
Whistler, Major Brown, Mr.. Elc:, Mr.. RocbIing,
Col. Turnbull, Mr.. Adams, Mr.. Haupt and MrMc-
Callum.
But, Mr.. President, there are other persons to
speak on this occasion and although know I
should be pardoned in prolonging SO prolific and
interesting theme; yet the winged hours are
fas. flying apacc and am admonished to bring
my remarks to close. | cannot do this, however,
without responding to the last clause Of the toast
that has been read. This portion of the complex
sentiment of the toast, has, the other portions
have had, my hearty concurrence. All of life, -
may be said, is the time given in which to con-
struct that bridge, which is to carry safely over
the bilious of lifc. Each one knows for himself,
how intimately be is applying his mind and his
heart to this chief business of raising structure
Of character for himself; which, while it meets
the secret appreciation Of his Chef thu Great Ar
chitcct Of the world in the processes of its erec-
t,on, will ensure for him passage to that other