The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-25
THROWN OPEN.
The Great Bridge Across East
River Formally Opened.
An Immense Throng Co Witness the
Wedding of Two Cities
IsescrspfEom Of the Posderous bat
graceful steel web that spans .
the water.


gala day in Brooklyn Throughout the city
there appeared to. be general surrender of
business tosight-seeing and celebra ting. The
main business avenues. the heights and many
streets clear ont into the suburbs, were decked
most gayly With flags and bunting and flowers
for the tridal with The city over the river
Public buildings, private houses. and the
street cars and trucks fly the colors of all
nations, Iii honor of the opening of the Sbig
bridge"
On every hand preparations are being made
for the illumination night Great satlsfac
ton is expressed among tbs people of Brook
lyn at the completion of the work of which so
much is expected for their city Vendors of
souvenirs We're. aboutiin hundreds, and found
ready sale for their wares -
Fulton street, from the farthest end TO the
river front is gay with eolors.
The decoration of the Academy of Music
occupies small army of men. and is being
prepared for the reception tonight
Throughout the length of Columbia Heights,
and the atreets opening into that fashionable
neighborhood, the decoration was very general,
and the effect handsome. The houses of Col.
Roebling, chief engineer OF the bridge, and of
Mayor Low, of Brooklyn were deeked with
flowers and bunting, and the coats farms OF
New York and Brooklyn. The invalid engineer
will receive the president and mayor, and, in
the evening, for brief hour the public. Col
Roebling is feeling better to-day, but is too
weak to leave his house and share III the cere-
monies at the bridge.
From the towers of the great bridge the
national flag waves, and the span across the
river is dotted with flags from one end to the
other
From early morning, crowds began to gather
at the end where the speech-making will take
place In the harbor flags are flying from all
the shipping
The war vessels Tennessee, Vandalia, Rear
sarge and Yantic lie in row off Governors
island, flying the national colors The navy
yard and all the ships along New York and
Brooklyn water front are deeked with bunting
In New York business is partly suspended.
and most of the exchanges were closed at noon.
Many of the business places suspended work
for the afternoon.
Flags are flying from the municipal and
other buildings in the city hall park, from the
business placea along Broadway and other
streets, and FROM many private residences
The day is all that could be desired for the
occasion. The Houses along the route OF thu
procession from the Fifth Avenue hotel Il
the city hall, are deeked with oolers. At tho
New York end of the bridge, workmen have
been busy all the morning putting the finish.
ing touches 10 the decorations.
The picket fence IN front of the bridge has
been removed, and strong force of police is
guarding the approach- The crowds began to
gather early, and waited with great patience
the arrival of the procession and the beginning
Of the ceremonies Nearly all vehicles except
street-cars were prevented from passing below
the streets near the bridge from an early hour
Nkan str
were stopped
The seventh Regiment N. c., state of New
York, Col Emmons Clark commanding, de-
Ia led as the militay escort for the occasion,
assembled st the armory this morning in full
uniform. A guard of twenty were detailed &c
march on either sidel OF the presidents car
riage The command marched down Park and
Fifth avenues, to the Fifth Avenue hotel the
presidents quarters, where il was drawn up
The sidewalks along the route were lined
mated that 10. GOO people were gathered
THE PRESIDENT
and invited guests occupied carriages which
were drawn up in line on the south side of the
hotel In the first carriage sat President
Arthur and Mayor Edison In the other car
riages were Secretaries Frelinghuysen and
Folger, Postmaster General Gresham, Seere-
tary Chandler, Attorney General Brew
ster, Marshal McMichael, of the District of
Columbia; Allen Arthur, T. j. Phillips, Sur
rogaie Rollins, Governor Cleveland, Governor
Ludlow. of New Jersey; Governor Fairbanks.
of Vermont; Generals Stryker and Siocum;
Governor Littlefield, of Rhode island, and
staff General Carr and staf Collector Rob-
ertson, Congressman Cox, Hon. William Win
dom and Speaker keifeF; state senators and
the Peruvian minister.
The committee representing the Brooklyn
bridge trustees escorted the president and
cabinet 10 their carriages. other guests falling
into line and taking the carriages assigned
them. When the carriages passed the Seventh
regiment the command presented arms. The
military then broke into column and marched
down Fifth avenue and Broadway TO the city
hall park, where the members OF tho common
council received the president aud cabinet
The procession having formed and marched
to the bridge the programme heretofore ar
ranged was carried out, and amid the piaudlts
Of the gathered thousands, holdings great
work, uniting the two cities, was declared open
for all the people.
HISTORY OF THE STRUCTURE.
The winter of 1861 was particularly So
we're in tito vicinity of New York city and
Brooklyn. The latter city contains the homes
of q great part of the business men of New
York. and, during the winter they frequently
found themselves, after an hours cruising ON
the East river ferry boats, in the vicinity OF
HeIigate The river was SO cheked with ice
as 10 De lnl pa55aDte TOT Gays, ana Do3tH, DeaA-
ing in the strong current against iee-cakes,
were frequently driven around Governors |
island, and then to Staten island Out of the
Inconvenience and Sae heavy losses then sus-
tanned, grew the popular demand for bridge
connecting Brooklyn with New York The
necessity for such a structure had been APP
parent years before to leading minds In both |
cities, and as far back as 1856, William C.
Kingsey who, with Henry C. Murphy may be |
called the father of the present bridge, had |
matured bridge project In his mind, settled |
it's ferTnini hired an engineer to draw q plan |
and make estimates, and then called has many
friends about him. In consequence of the /
agitation for a structure as easned upon the /
winter of 1867 a charter was granted by the
legislature, with flexible capital of %, coo, II
D00 81, tat, 00J of which was TO be subscribed |
by Brook lsT, st. $40 0ee ny Now York, and |
$500. iOa ny private parties Among the |
private sseflbers were Messrs. Kingsley |
Murphy Isaac Van Andsu, John T. Hot
Booth, Henry g. Stebbins. Martin KaIkfieiSL I
s l. Hustled, Andrew r. Green. and Jol.n Il, |
Prentice. Tweed and several members OF hls I
gang were also prominent in advocating aaC
supporting the enterprise with money, but |
subsequently withdrew when they fed from /
the country All the capital was subscribed
scz aud the subscribers or the Ssk0, 600 elected
trustees who served until 1S75, when tire |
bridge was made public work and their money 1
Was paid back. The mayors of the two eifias I
were thus made trustees, and have 30 acted I
ever since
"A