The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-01-26


=, - osa Concluded from Yesterday
80 A Cheat Day for Minnesota.
Opening OF the Wire Suspension Bridge
Across the Mississippi.
We conclude to-day the report of the
proceedings. After the speech of Cover
nor GohMAS, the following toasts were Of
fered and responses made:
T. The Army and Navy-Tbe past has clothed them
with nperishab honors May their future be gori-
and efficient as their past
Captain SIMPSON most ably answered this
toast, and dweIt with great effect upon the
history of the Army and Navy struggles
during the Revolution.
S. The Governor of Minnesota.
Owing to the absence of j. TRAVIS Ros-
SER, Esq, who was expected to respond, but
was not present, there was no response to
this toast l.H- s.-
g. Our Delegate in Congrcss-May the highest interests
of hfs constituents always control his actions
w. P. MURRAY, Esq, made a very able
speech in response.
= The Future State of Observation-Disclosures to be the
Norta Star in the Constellation of Liberty.
One of the best speeches of the evening
was elected by this toast, from o. F. PER-
K1Ns, Esq. 1t was tribute to Minnesota,
both eloquent and true, and did honor to the
speaker yssaoWtfe
s. s. NJ Grifith-To his skill and energy, as the archi
teet and engineer Mississippi River Wire Suspension
Bridge indebted for the proud conquest achieved
BY our local capital in the beautiful structure which
unites for the first time the east and west banks OF
the Father of Waters" May the bridge which shall af
ford him pathway that other river at the end Of
es journey be facie of passage and may the Great
Architect welcome him to that home On the other side
which is free from all shade of sorrow and unbroken By
single care. ,-.... --1 Or. ~ f.
Captain SIMPSON responded
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen The
sentiment which has just been read, meets the
appreciation of my heart, as it does of my un-
Outstanding. An engineer myself, l feel that
a peculiar tribute of respect and of admira-
ton is due to the gentleman, whose name has
been mentioned in connection with that senti-
ment. Having had occasion, from the require
ments of my position, to look into and study
the principles which govern structures of
bridge character, cannot but regard with adj
miration and esteem, the professional brother,
who has had the patience, the perseverng In
dustry and the close acquaintanceship with
the principles of mechanical philosophy which
Mr.. Griffith must have possessed to have elab-
grated, 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. 'slsA i4.-
But in this, as in other matters of sensibii-
Ia
and a strunger does not intermeddle with its
ioys' MIR. Griffith, no doubt, as he should, en-
rtertains proud satisfaction in the conscious
ness Ct having presented to the public gaze,
specimen of science and of art, which COM
11ands the admiration and praise of his fellow
men but, doubt not, the chefest JOY of his
heart lies concealed from the public gaze, and
canaot be intermeddled with by others. 10
know Nature in her secret processes; to pos
sess the wand of wisdom and of science, by
which the forces of nature are so combined,
proportioned and marshalled, as to produce In
the concrete fabric which the whole world
are constrained to acknowledge as the prOduc-
ton of one who is her intimate friend and CON-
paniOn; this is the heritage of the devOut at
.tendant upon her shrine and this has been
at once the heritage, as we'll as the reward of
our respected friend and professional brother.
But there are other, and yet higher relations
in which this beautiful structure can be regar
ded. In it we perceive, indeed, the man of
science, Of enterprise and of practical acquain-
tanceship with the appliances which have been
made use of in the erection of this superb struc-
'ture; but we also perceive in it the man OF
enlarged views, of practical beneficence, and
as such we not only regard him with the con-
.slderatlon which the intellect challenges, but
we also bestow upon him the warm affection
which the heart alone can give. This feeling
is allied to that of the wonder and admiration
!. with which we behold the works of the Great
est Of All Architects, "The Creator of the
Heavens and of the Earth" And, as in these
works we very plainly witness His goodness
4 to the children of men, so, in the structure
which we have this day been admiring, we be-
hold, on human scale, the benefccnce and
worth of him who has presented this tribute
of humanity to the wants and necessities of
his race. t5s-.
The Bridge, the opening of which we are
on this occasion commemorating, is wire sus-
J pension bridge Of 62O feet span, has a road
waypfl7 feet, and has been completed for the
moderate sum of 1886, 900. 1t stretches from
the west bank of the Mississippi river to Mic
ollet island. and although it. cannot be said
to span the whole expanse of the waters, it
does extend over the only formidable portion
Of theeiver. GsSHere itihas beenserected under
the patronage of city but seven years old