The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-05-26
Imposing Ceremonies Attend II ,
Distinguished Men Beidg
Present
GOV. JOS. W. FOLK OF
MISSOURI THE ORATOR
HUNDREDS OF RAILROAD AND
BUSINESS MEN FROM CHI
cAGo AND ST. LOUIS
AMONG THE GUESTS
MANY NOTED
MEN.

The great double tracked steel
bridge at Thebes, model of archi
tectural art. a magnificent monument
70 engineering genius, mastodon in iii
enduring strength, inspiring admira
tion from the thousands of visitors
and exciting pride in the hearts OF
distinguished railroad men of the
great middle west who were present
at the ceremonies, was formally open
cd at Thebes yesterday, and another
gateway 10 the south and southwest
for the commerce and traffic and hu
man intercourse of the uof;n and cen
trail west was added to the empire If
trade, and new triumph was scrred
TO the achievements Of this marvel
Gus age
imposing Ceremonies.
The ceremonies we're Imposing
There were present several hundred
railroad men Of Chicago and st. Louis,
men of achievement and position In
J the railway worli, who had as their
guests many of the old business men
of the cities named chief among ali
being Gov. Joseph w Folk, OF Mis-
souri,, who was the orator of the day
. Gov. q. - Deneen Of Illinois. was alst
70 have been present, but 6n account
Of strike conditions IN Chicago, was
forced to abandon the trip
1t was q great day in the railroad
history Of the Mississippi valley and
one which marked new era in trans
\ portation In this section The yisitors
went to Thehes BY special trains from
Chicago and St Louis, and numbered
probably six hundred. In addition
there were specials from Carbondale
Cairo and other places, which com
bined, took into the town probably l..
600 or 1900 strangers Added to these
were country people for many miles
around who gathered to witness The
ceremonies. In all there were between
5000 and 1000 people present at tn,
exercises.
Bridge Decorations.
The big bridge was decorated fol
the occasion with large flags suspend
ed from each end, between which OF
the Illinois side was the seal Of tn,
Prairie state and on the Missouri sid,
the zeal of Missouri.
Il was 2:0S D. m. when the first spe
cial arrived from ST. Louis, being
Cotton Belt of six Pullmans, bearin,
Gov. Folk and party and railroad OF
flcials and Wells band from st. Louis
Following this came a Frisco specia
Of 10 Pullmans and shortly afterwar
Ch cago special of 10 Pullmans al
rived. The band struck up an air an
the two long specials went across tn
bridge abreast, followed by an Iro
Mountain special.
The Speaking.
On the return to the Illinois side TIL
exercises at the speakers stand con
menced. Mr.. II. H. Britton presiden
Of the Bridge company, was master Q
ceremonies. Speeches were delivere
by Gov Folk, Cob s. W. Fordyce. Pro-
Woodward OF Washington universit,
Vice President A. G, Cochran of TIL
Miescuri Pacific, and Mr.. w. j. Ca
houn OF Chicago,
Gov. Folks Speech.
Gov Folk expressed his regret a
the inability Of Gov Deneen Of Illinois
to be present and expressed admire
ton for the latter as man and as
public official, although he differe
from him In politics. He spoke Of th
development Of the country and Sal,
this was the most remarkable age l
the worlds history, He talked abou
the greatness Of America and cspccia
ly Of Missouri, whose virtues he q
tolled in eloquent sentences. He tall
cd Of civic righteousness and drew le,
sons along the line Of good govern
nent and law enforcement from tll
bridge. Remove one pillar and th
bridge would still stand but would \
weaker; remove three or four pillar
and the bridge would fall. So " wa
with law Ignore one law and II
government would not fall but woul
be more infirm: igncre four or five {
all laws and the government wou
fall No government could exist wilt
,nt law Gov Folk was literally a
pIauded throughout.
The Blg Test is Made.
At the conclusion Of the spcakin
the great test Of the bridge was ma,
BY massing "a giant engines abreast
IL on each track~-and crossing slo
ly, stopping when directly over Il
middle span to throw the enti
weight on that span. The test was
4 complete success and the great strs
NJ. tufe Az not xiye 70 much as . hnil