Connecticut western news., 1883-05-30
THE BIG BRIDGE OPEN.
Two Cities Join in Making a Mammoth
 Holiday.

On May 24th the great bridge con- nectng 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 Now York and Brooklyn vied with each other in the celebration of the oc- casion. Both cities were filled with spectators interested in the event. By noon it was 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. .sA,- s
 One hundred policemen on horseback wheeled into Madison square precisely at 124 o'clock. They formed in double ranks in front of the Fifth avenue hotel, and stood motionless as the 7th regi- ment, amid burst of hand d-clapping and hearty cheers, swept past the hotel en- trance. Thirty drums rolled in unison and the band played the inevitable Hail to the Chief" as the detachment of 250 assigned as a guard to the Presi- dential party broke from the main line, and, turning with the precision of clock work, swept into West Twenty-third 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 sound like the simultaneous firing of regiment of mlsketeers.
 With the President were Secretaries Frelinghuysen and Folger and Trustee John T. Agnew, Secretary Chandler and Postmaster General Gresham, Attorney General Brewster and Trustee J. Adri- ance Bush.
 Then came in carriages McMichael, MT. Allan Arthur, MT. J. A. Bush, Mr. Miller, MT. Rollins, MT. Cooper, MT. Phillips, Governor Cleve- land, General Slocum, MT. A. s. Hewitt, the orator of the day; Comptroller Campbell, MT. Macdonald, Governor Ludlow, of New Jersey; ex-Governor Fairbanks, of Vermont; General W. s. Stryker, MT. Jenkins Van Schaick, Governor Littlefeld, of Rhode Island :; MT. Henry Clausen, the members of Governor Cleveland's staff; Collector Robertson, MT. Orlando B. Potter, MT. s. s. Cox, Warden J. Green, MT. William Windom, Speaker Keller, MT. 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 were lined with filled 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. 1 reached the City Hall. -..---. 14s.-.z 4.s
 The plaza in front was perfectly clear, and as the mounted police turned into the open space the immense crowds surged forward and backward and there was any amount of struggling and pushing to get 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 T. Fitzpatrick, from the Fourth Assembly District He made speech in the board at recent meeting assailine the trustees for not having the opening o1 the bridge on some other day than the birthday of Queen Victoria.
 President Arthur was received with cheers and he bowed his acknowledg. ments.
 The procession, escorted by the 7tl regiment, passed to the New York ap. proach. At this point the batteries o1 the Navy Yard and Governors Islanc opened and these were followed by tht | guns of the feet of naval vessels. A the Brooklyn approach the guests were met by the 23d regiment, and the 7N 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 applaus'
 arose. MT. Kingsley, as the otficla
 agent of the Board of Trustees of tn
 bridge, announced formally to the Chic
 Magistratessof the two cities that tn
 bridge was ready to be opened for publi
 use, and subject in its control and man
 agement only to such restrictions as tn
 people, to whom it belongs, may choos
 to impose upon themselves. He spok
 of the work of the late John A. Roebllnl
 as engineer, and of his son, Colonel w. A
 Roebling, the present engineer, to who1
 he ascribed the credit for the great tri umph of engineering skill. To the on who lost his life and the other who los his health during the progress of tn work, he said the people owed debt (
 gratitude.
 Mayor Ldw made the speech accept ing the bridge on behalf of Brooklyn 7 Science had said the work was possible Courage had said, s'It shall be, and to , day city which had 100000 peopl when the bridge began, but now ha 3 600,OOO population, welcomed with e1 thusiasm the wonderful creation ( s genius. MT. Low spoke of the debt ( gratitude due to the workmen and thos
 who had lost their lives in the progres of the work.
 He said it had seemed as if the pop1 5 lation of the two cities had been brougl q down to the river bank each day to | l. taught patience, and after these mar years patience had had her perfect worl /, The development of the bridge had n' | belittled but enlarged New York, ar Brooklyn will not grow at New York t expense, but to her permanent advantag ,- '"The Brooklyn of 19OO," he said, ''cs
 hardly be guessed at from the city (
 to-day"
 Mayor Edson accepted the bridge f.
 New York city, saying: 'We belle
 that what has thus been joined togeth e shall never be put asunder." Conte1 |. plating the possibilities of the ne: ' twenty-five years, he asked: twill t! II two cities be consolidated? Will tl of right of self government be conceded l, them |? Will the progress of improv = ment and the preparations for commerc 1 manufacture and trade, and for the col