The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-13
MEMPHIS NEW BRIDGE.
The Structure Formally Declared
Open For Traffic.

open fOr IraIQC.
MEMPHIS, TENN, May 12.-At noon to.
day, with impressive ceremonies, the great
steel bridge across the Mississippi river at
this point was formally declared open for
traffic. All yesterday, last night and this
morning the railroads and steamboats, have
been emptying people into Memphis, and
the crowd Of visitors which to-day thronged
the city and congregated about the great
bridge to witness the ceremonies is estimated
at 10000. The city never before presented
such gala appearance. The decorations
OF the business houses were never so elabo-
rate. and the star-spangled banner floats
from every cornice and window of down.
town buildings. Distinguished visitors in
the persons Of eminent statesmen. senator's, i,
congressman, governors, supreme court
judges and prominent railroad officials
crowd the hotels and are here to join in the
celebration Of the grandest event in the
history Of Memphis.
MADE A HOLIDAY.
The wholesale business of the city made
the day holiday and the freight Depart
ments Of all the railroads were closed for
business excepting for the delivery of perish
able freight. The man-of-war Concord
gayly bedecked with stars aud stripes and
the union jack from stem to stern, raised
her anchors and steamed slowly down the
stream toward the bridge amid a tremen-
dous din Of whistles from the shipping and
from the levee. The river craft had been
handsomely decorated except the mammoth
transfer boats, whose vocation will soon be
known as thing Of the past. The weather
was delightful
AN IMPOSING PARADE.
The festivities Of the day began with an
imposing street pageant which started from
downtown at 10 O'clock. A detachment of
mounted police cleared the way and the
procession which folio we'd was most impos-
ing. The visiting and city militia acting
as an escort to the distinguished guests OF
the day, in carriages led the way. Follow
ing. these were the fire department OF
Memphis, with the engines and carts gayly
decorated and 100 floats, all illustrative OF
the products and manufactures OF the
Mississippi valley, and many other beautiful
and striking features, the whole elaborately
interspersed with music.
AT THE BRIDGE.
The procession was about two hours in
passing, and after traversinR the business
portion Of the city, proceeded to the bridge,
arriving shortly before 2 o'clock. George
w. Morrison of Chicago. chief engineer of
the great structure, began the ceremonies
by motioning to an engineer seated within
his engine and in a minute q procession OF
eighteen ponderous locomotives. amid
tremendous cheering, started on to the
bridge as the supreme test
The bridge. which was thus opened for
traffic, was built by the Kansas City, Mem
phis and Birmingham Railroad Company
who will at once commence using it, the
first regular train to cross over being their
Kansas City fast express, arriving at
o'clockto-night. The bridge is located on the
spot where Ferdinand De Soto crossed the
Mississippi in 154l, and in excavating for q
shore pier on the Tennessee side, some
Spanish halberds, supposed to have been
used by him, were found. Senator Voor-
hees was the orator Of the day and delivered
an eloquent address Of dedication.