The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-05-31
Opening the Great Brooklyn Bridge

Opening the Great brooklyn DrluSo.
New York dispatches have copious details
of the ceremonies and display attending the
formal opening of the great bridge spanning
the eat river between New York and
Brooklyn. From tie towers OF the great
bridge national flags waved: and the span
across the river was dotted with flags from
one end to the other. From early morning
crowds began to gather at the end where the
speechmaking was to take place. In
ping. The war vessels Tennessee,
Vandalia, Kearsarge and Yantic lay in
row off Governors island, flying the nation
al colors. The navy yards and all ships
al ing the New York and Brooklyn water
front were decked wi bunting. In New
York business was suspended. Most ofthe
exchanges closed at noon and many bust
ness places suspended work for the after
noon. Flags flew from the municipal aud
other buildings in the City Hall park, from
business places along Broadway and other
streets, and from many private residences.
Houses along the route of the procession
were decked with colors
The Seventh regiment, N. q. s. N. Y,
Col. Emmons Clark commanding. detailed
as military escort for the occasion, as.
sembled at the armory in full uniform. A
guard of twenty was detailed to march on
either side of the presidents carriage. The
command marched down Park and Fifth
Avenues to the Fifth Avenue hotel, the
presidents quarters; where it was drawn up.
The sidewalks along the 70 lite were lined
timated TO- 600 people were gathered.
The president and guests occupied car
riages which were drawn no in line on the
south side of the hotel. In the first carriage
sat President Arthur and Mayor Edison, and
in the other carriages; Secretaries Freling--
huysen and Fo]ger, Postmaster General
Gresham, Secretary Chandler, Attorney
General Brewster, etc. The procession
marched down Fifth Avenue to the City
Hail park. where members of the common
council received the president and cabinet.
The entire line of the procession to the city
hall was continuous ovation to President
A thur and the distinguish men in his train.
Continuing in their route to the bridge two
by two, preceded by the military, the dis
tinguished party moved slowly over the
Bird ge, Maj. Jewell seeing that they did not
keep step.
On account of the great crowd, much
difficulty was experienced by the mayors
aud officials in obtaining passage way to
the platform. At the conclusion of pray
er by Bishop Littlejohn, J. S. F. Stranahan,
who presided, successfully introduced the
acting presidents of the board of trustees;
who formally presented the bridge to the
people of New York and Brooklyn, through
their respective mayors, and each made a
speech Of acceptance. Congressman Hewitt
also made an address and Rev. DR.. Storrs
delivered an Grafton. Levy gave, on his
cornet, The Star Spangled Banner, Hail
Columbia and Yankee Doodle. After the
closing exercises on the bridge the presi.
dent and party drove to the house Of Chief
Engineer Roebling in Brooklyn and paid
their respects to the great. but enfeebled en-
gineer. !:
After dinner the president, governors and
mayors were driven to the river, aud step
ping aboard boat in waiting, steamed out
into midstream, whence they obtained de-
lightful view of the bridge and the towers,
illuminated by the tall lamps of the United
States Electric Light company. The spec
tacle attracted seemingly even more atten-
ton than the day display. The exhibition
of fireworks from to O'Clock was fine.
During the period of the illumination OF
the bridge East river was crowded with
every species of craft, making necessary the
stoppage- of ferry boats and making terri
BILE crush of people when traffic and travel
was resumed. The people of both cities,
with tens of thousands from abroad made a
hollidayf the affair aud seemed to enjoy
it very much.