Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-09
LOADED WITH LONELINESS.
TWELFTH-S STREET BRIDGE DEDI-
GATED TO PUBLIC USE.
Speeches by DIR. Tebbets, T. j. Gu
ME, Elwood Bruner and p. s.
Lawson-Ceremoni

American river atIWelfth street was turned
over to the Board of Supervisors on Satur-
day afternoon, and dedicated TO the public
use with appropriate and interesting cere-
monies. From o'clock until half-past 3
the road leading to the bridge was crowded
with vehicles of all descriptions convey
ing people to the scene, while the road
sides were lined with pedestrians who were
not so fortunate as to own horses and bug
gies, or who preferred the exercise of a
short walk outside the city limits. The
day was delightful, and the scene presented
along the road and at the bridge was an
animated one. Long before the ceremonies
commenced the new structure was crowded
with men, women and children. As usual,
the small boy occupied every point of
vantagefrom which to view the proceedings.
He could be seen climbing the trusses
in every direction, hanging by one hand to
connecting rod, and awakening the fears
of the ladies that he would surely be pre-
cipitated into the rushing stream below.
But, alas he did not fall
The proceedings were greatly delayed by
the non-appearance of n. Greene Curtis,
who had been expected to deliver an ad-
dress, but who did not attend. In the
meantime the First Regiment Band enter
tanned the impatient crowd with some very
fine selections.
THE DEDICATION.
1t was o'clock when the contractor, A.
w. Burrell, President of the California
Bridge Company, mounted a temporary
platform erected at the west side of the
center span and called the assemblage to
order At his request the crowd separated
so as to leave clear space in the center of
the bridge The band then proceeded to
the northern end Of the bridge and marched
through the opening and back to the plat
form, PLAYING a lively air.
Mr.. Burrell announced that the bridge
could not be turned ovel to the county I'M
til it was completed and that one spike re-
manned to be driven before the structure
was finished. Miss Grace BurrelI, his
daughter, then proceeded to drive golden
spike, while the band played 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner Miss Burrell welded
bronzed sledge hammer decorated with
red, white and blue ribbons, and her
strokes kept time to the music.
The three young ladies who were to
christen the bridge with champagne were
then escorted to their respective stations on
the three spans. Miss Matte Bates, with
Charles Eldred as her escort, occupied the
center span Miss LYDIA McMullen, with
w. w. Rhodes, the south span, and Miss
Ellie Stanley, with Max Hornlien, the
north span. AT the sound of a bugle-call
signal three bottles of champagne were
preached and the young ladies dedicated
the bridge by scattering the contents over
the roadway.
Mr.. Burrell then called upon the Board
OF Supervisors to come forward and take
charge of the proceedings. Dr. F. f. Teb-
bets, President of the Board S. J. Jackson.
%. Bates, c. C. McMullen and H. C.
Ross mounted the stand
REMARKS OF DR.. TEBBETs.
The President addressed the assemblage
as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: This day marks another
progressive step made by the people of Sacra-
mento City and county. In the early days of
the history of this State and the city of Sacra-
| mento but short distance from where we now
! stand, was the head from which the supplies to
the populous mining camps were distributed.
Later, from ii the first pony express for the East
was dispatched, and to it came the first over
land telegraph. From it, still later, was pro-
Jected the first transcOntinental railway on the
American Continent Keeping full pace with
the spirit OF progression, the city and county OF
Sacramento was the first to make its local APP
proaches OF travel free to the inhabitants of the
surrounding country, and to-day from all sides
the people from about us can come into our
county over well-buit and free bridges Toll
gates do not Obstruct the roads within our
eounty's borders. The bridge which We now
dedicate to free public use will remain monu-
ment of the progressive ideas of the people of
our county, in anticipation of what we will wit
ness in the very near future in the line of de-
| yelopment in the district which we inhabit.
An average of 200 teams a day pass over the
American river bridge. With the development
that is being made of the remarkable resources
OF the favored section in which we live who
can gauge the possibilities of the future? With
the settlement of the vast and fertile country in
our own and surrounding counties, to occur
within the next few years, will follow an era of
prosperity which few not acquainted with our
resources can now anticipate.
On behalf of the Board of Supervisors l am
commissioned to accept this bridge as the prop
erty OF the people of Sacramento county to be
! dedicated for the free use of whomsOever may
wish to cross it so long as it shall span this
stream.
After the applause following his remarks
had subsidized Dr. Tebbets called upon r. J.
Clunie to address the crowd which he did
in the following terms
Mr. President Ladies and (1e9lteDle7, desire tn
state that came here accidentally, as it were.
not dreaming that ! would be called upon to
say word on this grand occasion, but / ascer-
tanned that my old partner, n. Greene Curtis,
who had been selected by the committee, is not
here, aud for that reason 1 will intrude upon
you for few moments. | think it ought TO be
the happiest moment of Mr.. Burrelrs life to see
the completion of this monument to his ability
as builder. II is an additional evidence of the
enterprise and energy of the people of Sacra-
mento. While am not one of you to day, there
IS not lady OF gentlemen within the sound of
my voice who does not know that rejoice in
everything that has a tendency to build up Sac
ramento and the surrounding country. Zap
plause. l can recall the time, my friends, when
every approach to the city of Sacramento was
| toll-road, and l rejoice that now the people are
awakening to the necessity of free roads and
free bridges. 1t means prosperity il means a
convenience no nj a. no airy
Permit me to say TO you that to-day the peo-
pie of California, particularly of Central Cali
fornla, are about to enter upon an era of pros
perlty that they never dreamed of. The people
OF the East are turning their attention to Cali
fornia, and particularly to the central
h ss ~ state e. They are leaving
coming TO the land of milk and honey.
and of fruits and flowers. You and know that
with proper class OF people in this country no
one can predict her future greatness. We have
our mountains ribbed with gold and our broad
and fertile valleys yielding harvest sufficient
to sustain the world upon. All we want is pop
ulation, and thank God, the people of the East
are beginning to realize that there is no country
on the face of the earth equal TO California and
permit me TO say that in my individual opinion,
the central part of the State-Sacramento and
its Surroundings the best part of California
10 day, lapplausel and affords to the people
about to settle in tais State better inducements
for investment and surer return upon their
capital than any other section of the State.
While we have
A GLORIOUS CLIMATE,
We do not propose to sell that We propose to
sell them land thatw will yield proper return on
I their money.
am proud OF this Board of Supervisors. am
proud of its honored President am doubly
proud of the people of Sacramento who stand
| at their backs and Furnish the money TO create
| these Improvements. Sacramento in the past
| by its indomitable will and courage has risen
| from floods and fires, and under more dsadvan-
| tageous circumstances than any other place in
| the world she has accomplished more until to-
| day she occupies, as was said by my friend,
| Chesley, the second position in commercial i'm
porfance in this great State.
| This is a step in the right direction. The peo-
| pie of Sacramento have only to go elsewhere
| over this broad land and come back to Sacra-
mento to appreciate the enterprise and energy
and the comforts surrounding Sacramento
Ladies and gentlemen, did not expect to be
| called upon. l am but poor apology for the
| distinguished gentleman who expected TO ad-
| dress you; but If my remarks are discounted If
| they are not understood If they are not put to
you in nicely rounded sentences you may know
that whatever may say to you comes at least
lolis the bottom of my heart. Applause.l /
thank you for calling upon me. / feel honored
by being permitted 10 say word in favor of
Sacramento at any time and on any occasion.
We slapped hydraulic mining last winter, which
proved a curse TO this great valley and which
mas been a constant menace to the property in
terests of this great State, and in a few short
years you Will realize the importance of that