Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-25
1910.

The people Of the cities Of New York and
Brooklyn yesterday opened the great bridge
that spans the East river with ceremonies
worthy the occasion. The President and his
Cabinet, the governor of the State and those
of all the adjoining States, and many other
public dignitaries, were present, and the
streets leading to the bridge on both sides
were crowded with the fairest and bravest of
the country, the river itself being alive with
all sorts Of craft filed with eager spectators.
All the leading thoroueh hfAres Of both Brook
lyn and New York were gay with bunting,
flowers and evergreeps, and the rejoicing Of
the populacs took on every form conceiy-
able. There was much oratory, Of course,
aud firing Of cannon, and at night
= banquet was given, at Whlcn
many of the first and foremost men Of the
country we're present. Tne bridge was begun
in 1870, and has cost upwards OF 100000,
but it is expected that by jUdicious system
, of tolls it will in few years more than pay
for itself. 1t is sn imposing and magnificent
structure, and occupying the position it does
can be seen 10 advantage frcm almost all
possible points Of view. Il takes rank with
the.-most solid and grsndest structures Of
ancient or modern timer, snd its erection
emphasizes the progress made in great public
works in the United States, snd the advance
10 dariog engineering projects. Elsewhere
we publish a very full report Of the proceed
ings had yesterday, and history of the bridge
from its inception, together with some valuable
comparative statistics. From these last our
readers will be able TO learn how formidable
the undertaking was at frat, and to appre-
ciAte the Conservative feeling that held it in
allegiance for so many years. By many in
telligeut men il was held to be chimerical,
and by some of the ssnguine sort TO be
hazardous enterprise beyond accomplish
ment even by the enterprising people OF New
York and Brooklyn. But the more daring
pushed it forward, pressing upon the stten-
tion of the Legislature and public such great
works as the Montreal, st. Louis and
Louisville bridges, all three of them
gigantic structures, constructed in the
face of many engineering difficulties. Mr..
Roebling, the first engineer, the man to
whose br ain and skill the conception is due,
lost his life by 1t, and his son, who succeeded
him, aud vino f. famous MS father, has
been bed-ridden for three ysars tho resnlt
of disease brought on by exposure in the
caissons while the foundations of the i'm
mense towers were being laid. In the ac-
complishment of this undertaking the
metropolis has taken a step forward ia the
direction where the commerce Of the whole
country is pushing her, but she has other
works to follow OF even greater magnitude, the
tunnel under the Hudson river, connecting
New York with New Jersey, among Them.
Confined to narrow limits and surrounded by
water, these artificial highways are essential
to her growth in population and trade, and
we should not be surprised to learn that
within the next few years she had two tun.
nels under the North and two, or even three
bridges over the East river. They are es-
sential to her expansion and TO enable her
successfully to compete with more favorably
situated and neighboring cities.