Milford chronicle., 1883-06-01
THE BIG BRIDGE OPEN.
Two Cities Join in Making Mammoth
Holiday.

Ou MAY ZHlu Lllu s3ANttt HAttAc1N
Meeting New York and Brooklyn, that
has been building since 1870, was, fully
completed, thrown open to the public.
The occasion was one of much interest,
and New York and Brooklyn We'd with
each other in the celebration Of the oc-
casion. Both cities were filed with
spectators interested in the event. By
noon twas impossible to get within two
blocks of the bridge ON either side with
out fighting, and all the cars were stopped
before the bridge was reached.
One hundred policemen on horseback
wheeled into Madison square precisely
at 121 o'clock. They formed in double
ranks in front of the Fifth avenue hotel,
and stood motionless as the 7th regi-
ment. amid a burst Of hand-clapping and
hearty cheers, swept past the hotel en-
trance. Thirty drums rolled IN unison
and the band played the inevitable
g Hail to the Chief as the detachment
of $50 assigned as q guard to the Presi.
Dental party broke from the main line,
and, turning with the precision OF clock
work. swept into West Twenty-thlrd
street. Here the soldiery formed IN
double ranks, and as the carriages for
President Arthur's party drew into line
beside the hotel entrance dropped their
rifles to order arms with a sound like the
simultaneous firing OF a regiment OF
musketeers.
With the President were Secretaries
Frelinghuysen and Folger and Trustee
John T. Agnew, Secretary Chandler and
Postmaster-C General Gresham, Attorney
General Brewster and Trustee J. Adri-
ance Bush.
Then came in carriages Marshall
McMichael, Mr.. Allan Arthur, Mr. J.
A. Bush, Mr.. Miller, Mr.. Rollins, Mr..
Cooper Mr. Phillips, Governor Cleve-
land General Slocum, Mr.. A. S. Hewitt,
the orator of the day Comptroller
Campbell, Mr.. Macdonald, Governor
Ludlow, of New Jersey; Ex-Governor
Fairbanks. of Vermont General W. s.
Stryker, Mr.. jenkins Van Setback,
Governor Littlefeld, Of Rhode Island /;
Mr.. Henry Olausen, the members Of
/ Governor Cleveland's staff; Collector
Robertson, Mr.. Orlando B. Potter, Mr..
S. S. Cox, Warden J. Green, Mr. William
Window, Speaker Keifer, Mr.. William
A. Patton, Congressman Hill, OF New
Jersey, and State Engineer Seymour.
Leaving the hotel the procession
passed down Fifth avenue to Fourteenth
street. where it turned toward Union
Square. The streets we're lined with
people and every stoop and balcony WINS
filed with sight-seers. Reaching Union
Square the procession turned down
Broadway, and after passing Grace
Church the view down the great thor
oughfare was very fine.
It was Just 80 when the procession
reached the City Hall.
The plaza in front was perfectly clear,
and as the mounted police turned into
the open space the immense crowds
srged forward and backward and
there was any amount of struggling and
pushing to get a good view of the pro-
cession.
The Alderman and the city officials
marched to the plaza, headed by Presi-
dent Reilly. The Mayors marshal car
ried the flag bearing the city arms and
the Aldermen carried their slaves OF
office.
The only Alderman who refused to
take part in the exercises was Alderman
Edward I. Fitzpatrick, from the Fourth
Assembly District. He made speech
in the board at recent meeting assaling
the trustees for not having the opening Of
the bridge on some other day than the
birthday of Queen Victoria.
President Arthur was received with
cheers and he bowed his acknowledge
ments.
The procession, escorted by the 7th
regiment passed to the New York ap-
proach. At this point the batteries OF
The Navy Yard and Governors Island
opened and these were followed by the
guns of the fleet of naval vessels. AT
the Brooklyn approach the guests were
met by the 23d regiment, and the 7th
returned to its armory.
The guests were escorted to the bridge
building. Mr.. Stranahan called on Vice
President Kingsley to make the presen
tation address, and storm OF appiau.s'
arose. Mr.. Kingsley, as the oihcla
4 agent of the Board of Trustees Of tn
4 bridge. announced formally TO the Chic
/ Magistrates of the two cities that th'
bridge was ready to be opened for public
/ use. and subject in its control and man
agement only to such restrictions as th'
people, to whom it belongs, may choos'
to impose upon themselves. He spok'
of the work of the late John A. Roeblms
as engineer, and Of his son, Colonel w. A
Roeblng, the present engineer, to WHOM
he ascribed the credit for the great tn
umph of engineering skill. To the on'
who lost his life and the other who los
his health during the progress OF the
work, he said the people owed debt o
gratitude.
Mavor Low made the speech accept
ing the bridge on behalf Of Brooklyn
Science had said the work was possible
Courage had said, "It shall be, and to
day a city which had 100000 peopl
when the bridge began, but now ha'
800 900 population, welcomed with en-
thusiasm the wonderful creation
genius. Mr.. Low spoke Of the debt o
gratitude due to the workmen and thos
who had lost their lives in the progress
of the work.
He said it had seemed as if the popu
Iation of the two cities had been brough
down to the river bank each day to b
taught patience, and after these man.
years patience had had her perfect work
The Development of the bridge had no
belittleo but enlarged New York, an
Brooklyn viii not grow at New York
expense, but to her permanent advantage
''fhe Brooklyn Of 1900, he said, "ca
hardly be guessed at from the city 9
to-day"
Mayor Edison accepted the bridge fo
New York city, saying: "We beliey
that what has thus been joined togethe
shall never be put asunder. Conten
plating the possibilities Of the mex
twenty-five years, he asked: will Il
two cities be consolidated? VIII th
right of self government be conceded