New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20

Moran, the Mayors secretaries, walked with
him. and Health Commissioner Lederle. Lieu
tenant Colonel Spiers, aid to Major General Cor
hin and Commander E. B. Barry, aid TO Rear
Admiral Rodgers, followed. Behind these were
various city officials, including Police Commits
sioner Greene Corporation Counsel Rives. Dock
Commissioner McDougaI Hawkes.. Park Com
missioner John f. Eustis. F. r. l. Gould. City
Chamberlain. and Tenement House Commission
or r. w De Forest. General J. c. Wilson. John
Bigelow, Judge Gray. President Fornes OF the
Board Of Aldermen, Borough Presidents Cantor,
Hafen and Cromwell. Justices Willard Bartlett
and Morgan J. OBrien. Lewis Nixon, Monsignor
Mooney and Borough President-elect Ahearn.
and the Manhattan. Bronx and Richmond MEM
bers OF the Board OF Aldermen followed. There
was one woman in the party. Miss Bigelow' who
accompanied her father, John Bigelow. The alb
sence of Controller Grout, who took no part In
The ceremonies, created considerable surprise
Mayor-eiect Mcclellan end ex-Mayor Robert
A Van wyck were two other conspicuous ao-
sentees. Letters of regret were sent by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, every member OF his Cabinet
and Governor oden.
It was just before O'Clock when the process
sion moved on the bridge. amid the plaudits OF
the watchers on the housetops. keen wlno
drove across the bridge from the river, straight
ening out the flags that had been planted along
the south roadway at intervals Of forty feet ana
sending a chill through the adventurous group
that Jared out TIE bridge. Along the ap-
proach the procession moved in silence but just
as the Mayor reached the end Of the bridge
structure the regular art llery battery stationed
there doomed forth a ioLr-gun salute. Instantly
there arose from the river below the harsh
screech OF whistles. and the hundreds Of river
craft ferryboats. tugs and other vessels added
their tribute OF noise to the din
With slow pace the Mayors party moved tow
ard the centre OF the span. where they expected
TO meet the Brooklyn party. including the Bor-
ough Presidents OF Kings and Queens and the
aldermen. The whole south roadway along
which the procession moved. was lined with po-
lice at intervals Of fifty feet. From the stringers.
Orders and sides OF the roadways dozens Of
cameras kept up an intermittent volley at the
procession and the Mayor halted several times
10 be photographed
MEET IN MANHATTAN BOUNDARY.
Just before the centre OF the span was reached
the Brooklyn delegation tired OF waiting. moved
on their Manhattan colleagues and the exact
meeting place OF the two bodies was well in
side the Manhattan boundary OF the bridge. As
they met there was moment OF handshaking.
Borough President Swanstrom greeted the Mayor
and Martin W. Litteton also greeted friends.
while the aldermen from the various boroughs
had a handshaking that would have beftted a
lifelong separation. Somehow in this felicitation
the two lines became inextricably mixed. The
Brooklyn contingent stood fast, but the Manhat-
tan crowd pressed toward Brooklyn. and for sew
eral minutes there was a congestion that would
have done credit TO the old structure. Then the
Manhattan wave triumphed, and the whole min
Eled and commingIed delegation pushed over
the structure, treading on each others heels
sweeping digniied policemen before them. but
causing no disturbance and doing no injury.
Meanwhile the craft the river still
screaming their salutes, and as the party
reached the Brooklyn end of the bridge another
battery Volleyed out a salute, while the Brook
lyn housetops took up TIE cheering that their
Manhattan neighbors had carried on so eff
GENTLY. As the procession descended at the Will
.iamsburg plaza they were greeted with salutes
from Troop c. while the 47th Regiment per-
formed duty similar TO that Of the list in
.New-York. At the very end of the bridge
sgrandstand had been erected, and. passing IN
der the gay bunting and other decorations the
Mayors party was hustled up the stairs of the
grandstznd, commissioners and private citizens
sningling in a rush for seats. Then the formal
exercises OF the dedication OF the bridge were
begun.
MR.. LINDENTHALS ADDRESS.
Alderman Peter Holler, the master of cere-
duced the Rev. Dr. James H. Darlington rector
OF Christ Church. who delivered the invocation.
Gustav Lindenthal. Bridge Commissioner
then presented the bridge to the Mayor and the
city formally. He said in part:
Mr. Mayor: IT is my agreeable duty to-day to
orncialy announce &c you, as the head OF the city
years OF continuous and difficult work the second
street traffic can pass over it from without
More than twenty wears aro Uban the first
bridge over the East River was opened, with great
and imposing ceremonies. you were one of the
Brooklyn Permit me to congratulate you on your
presence the chief magistrate of Cur great con-
1t is probable that neither Yourself ror any one
ot the participants Of that memorable occasion ex-
So great were the difficulties in the construction
OF that first bridge many the new prob
lens 20 be solved, that fourteen years were re-
quired for it's completion In the mean time. the
progress in the art Of bridge building has 50
rapid that for the second bridge only one-haIf the
tine or the TTst bridge required. IS within
rho bounds OF reasonable expectation that the time
% complexion or the third ard fourth East River
bridges. already IA process Of construction, and
OF those which have not been planned vet but
more than 5f P fe nef9ed and 6f vii be little
strncton OF the WILLIAMSBURG Bridge
This structure IS to-day the hea West SUSPENSION
bridge IN existence and the largest bridge on this
continent II Is twice as strong the Brooklyn
o6Sd Far as egneeFiag science can soree with
against corroson iJs only deadly enemy will stand
hunoreds OF years in unimpaired strength.
iant, perhaps not more distant than The crusades
~ the past when the building OF such colossal
terisl o. which they are moulded-that is iron and
hIeeI.~lA not be longer obtainale in sufficient
gone the great steel sridges OF New-York will be
now. INA" 'iisS
MAYOR lows SPEECH.
For the city, Mayor low. amid hearty ap-