The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-06-01

TALON of United States marines then took up
it's position on the platform, while the United
States infantry proceeded TO the New York
tower and took up a similar position on the
platform there, facing south. The arrival OF
the distinguished guests from New York was
then awaited.
As o as the president reacfsl the New
York tower n national salute was fired from
Fort Columbus, on Governors Island, and
from the war vessels Tennessee, Vandalia,
Kearsarge and Yantic, which lie in
the East river. The guests were re-
ceived at the tower by the trustees of the
bridge. The procession then marched across
the bridge. On the arrival of the President
at the Brooklyn tower a national salute was
fired from Fort Greene. Here he was re-
ceived by the battalion of marines and was
then escorted by the Twenty-third regiment
to the Brooklyn station, where the principal
ceremonies took place. The following was
the programmes:
/. MusIc-Twenty-third Regiment band.
9. Prayer-Right Rev. Bishop Littlejohn.
3. Presentation address, on behalf of trus-
tees-William G.. Kingsley, vice-presioent:
4. Acceptance address, on behalf of the
city of Brooklyn-Seth Low, mayor.
s. Acceptance address, on behalf of the
city of New York-Franklin Edison, mayor.
6. Cornet solo-Mr. j. Levy.
Z. Oration-Mr. Abram s. Hewitt.
8. Oration-The Rev. Richard S. Storrs,
o. Music-Seventh regiment band.
The audience was divided in sections as
SECTION D-The President and cabinet,
governor and staff, United States Senators,
members of Congress, governors OF other
States.
common councils of New York and Brooklyn.
city and county officials of New York and
Brooklyn.
Section H-Army and navy, National
guard.
Section J-Press.
Section Especially invited guests.
Section M-Exclusively reserved for en-
ployes. "
Trustee J. S. T. Stranahan, who presided,
made q few appropriate remarks, welcoming
the President and all those who had been
invited to join with them IN this memorable
celebration. Prayer was tn n offered b. the
Right Rev. Bishop Littlejohn as follows:
almighty God Yield The g our unfeigned
thank, and praise for all Thy public mercies,
and especially for the signal manifestation
of Thy Providence, which we commemorate
this day. Enable us to see in the strength
and or nleur of this structure the evident
tokens OF Thy power, bring ng migh'ythings
to pass through the week.-mrs., of Thy. crea-
lures. Give Us grace and wisdom to discern
in all this work the nobler uses 1t was or
Gained by ! hee to subserve. Teach us to
know that all this mighty fabric is but vanity
save as t shall promo5e Tny sovereign pur-
pose toward the sons of men,"
William c.. Kingsley, acting president of
the board of trustees, formally presented the
bridge to the two cities in an address. Mr..
Kingsley said in substance: In the presence
of this great ~assemblage the pleasing duty
devolves on me to formally announce to the
chief magistrates of these two municipali-
ties that this bridge is now ready to be
nnpnpI for nnhic uGp. and lS subject IN ITS
control and management only to such re-
strictions as the people to whom 1t belongs
may choose to inn o sc upon themselves. The
trustees are content to let this great struc-
ture speak for them, and to speak more hit
tingly and eloquently yet for the >skillful,
faithful, daring men who have given SO many
Q IRIS of their lives, and, in several instances,
even their lives to the work. With one name
this bridge will always be associated-that of
Roebling. AS is well known, the man that
designed this bridge lost his life in its
service. The main designs were, however,
completed by the elder Roebling before his
death. In the prosecution of the work twenty
men lost their lives. Peace has its victories,
and it has its victims and its martyrs too. OF
the seven consulting engineers to whom the
matured plans of the elder Roebling were
submitted, three have passed away. In con-
clusion, it remains for me to add that the
two cities rose at all times to the level of the
Iil Vi Oul tlliO Haio N
citizens staked millions on what seemed to
many 10 be an experiment. How solid it is,
how far removed it is from all sense OF ap-
prehension how severely practical it Is In
all its relations, and how great a factor in the
corporate lives of these cities it is destined
to be, we all now realize. This bridge has
cost many millions of dollars, and has taken
many years to build. l may say on this
occasion tat the people who have con-
tributed to its erection would not part with
the bridge to-day for even twice or thrice
its cost.
Mayor Low, in accepting the completed
bridge ON behalf of the city of Brooklyn, de-
livered an address. A city of 100000 inhabi-
tants, he said, welcomed with enthusiasm the
wonderful creation of genius, completed after
fourteen years labor and at the sacrifice of
many lives. Let us, he said, give our need
of praise to the humblest workman who did
his duty as well as to the great engineer who
told him what to do. The Importance of the
bridge in its far-leaching effect batiled the
imagination. Brooklyn becomes available
henceforth as a place of residence to
thousands who would otherwise be prevented
from availing of its accom- da-
tons. What the Erie canal had proved to
would the great bridge prove to
rapid transit between the sister cities. AS
the development of the great West had not
belittled but enlarged New York, so would
Brooklyn grow by reason of the bridge-not,
however, at the expense OF New fork, but To
the permanent advantage of the latter city.
Courage, enterprise, skill, faith and endur
ance, said the mayor, in conclusion, are the
qualities which have made the great bridge,
and these are the qualities which will make
our city and our people great. God grant
they never may be lacking in our midst!
Mayor Edison, on accepting the bridge on
behalf of the city of New York, said The
city of New York ~joyfully unites with the
city of Brooklyn in sincere congratulations
upon the successful completion of this grand
highway, establishing, as it does, an endur
ing alliance between these two great cities,
We are enabled this day TO recognize the
fact that a common and unbroken current
flows through the veins of each which mus
add to the strength, healthful growth and
prosperity of both and we believe that whaf
has thus been joined together shall
never be put asunder. To ook forward
twenty-five years and attempt to discern the
condition of things in this metropolis if they
shall continue to move forward on the same
scale of progress, is an undertaking that few
can grasp. No one dares accept the posi-
bilit. es that are forced upon the mind in tn,
course of its contemplation. Will these tive
cities, ere then, have been consolidated int
one q eat municipality, numberirg within it
- H. A. y AA.l