The sun., 1909-06-13
QUEENS BOROUGH'S BIG DAY
MAYBETHEY AREN'T GLAD OVER
TEE LINK TO MANH4TTANi O..
The Day Lasts n Week, ami Yesterday
Was the Morning OF liberation, Ova.
tion, JubiIatlon and Cachinnation
over the Worlds Greatest CantfieNer.


tion, JubiIatlon and Cachinnation
over the Norlde Greatest Cant'ieNer.
4 dizzy day for Queens was yesterday,
whose low, descending sun saw Long
Island City all lit up with enthusiasm
and the big red skeleton that spans the
river linking the lonesomest borough
with the world officially opened.
The hopes and fears Of a hoary Com
mittee OF Forty. the dreams OF neurotc
press agents the secret ambitions OF
Ozone Park realty agents, all came to
focus on the plaza at the Long Island
City end OF the Greensboro Bridge for
three pulsine hours of joy. Gov. Hughes
was there, Gen. Jacob NJ. Dickinson.
Mr.. Taft's man Of war; Major-Gen Roe.
commander OF the New York National
Guard; Comptroller Metz and Bird Coler-
oh, dear me, but Long Island City was
bursting with pride at having such I'M
portant feet on her surface.
With a-parade: hours long the brave
day opened, With fireworks, blare OF
bands and the raucus cries of barkers
the day closed. But it was only the first
day of seven wherein Whitestone Landing
and Far Rockaway are to join hands and
dance dazzling whirlof carnival on the
plaza.
A bite out OF Coney Islands Bowery
with q dressing up Of the upstate county
fair is what the bridge plaza is and will
be for the remainder of the six delirious
days OF Queens rejoicing, Yesterday
before even the first bray Of bassoon
was heard coming through the arches OF
the new bridge the carnival town of tent
and stand that has taken on its mushroom
growth in Long Island City's midst was
open and roaring for business.
For two blocks ON ei cher side Of the main
causeway down from the bridge approach
there was an umbrella field OF tents
flaming pavihons and board shacks
festooned with bunting. Merry go rounds
were merry go rounding, barkers were
splitting their infnitives and the unob-
trusive shell game man was shelling
those Of Queens rural population who
cannot believe that they live in Greater
New York.
poINos AT THE STADIUM.
1t was not long after the noon hour
when the long grand stand-stadium is the
real name for it in Queens-to the right
Of the bridge approach began to sProut
psrasols, bonnets and the shirt sleeves
of overheated men. Within half an hour
it was packed and belated holders OF
tickets were being told by Inspector
Kelly, at the head OF the local arm Of the
police service, to go around there
Around there meant three blocks Of walk
ing and second man in blue TO turn the
belated ones about and send them merrily
back to where Inspector Kelly stood. ...
About 800 girls of the public schools
who had been carefully drilled in patriotic
songs walked down the plaza all staruhed
and stiif and took &eir places in a'section
reserved for them. They were the Choir
listers who were to salute" the flag with
song. =; 8. .,... o.. = D.. .. ,,.r
William Williams, the head of the long
standing Queensboro Bridge celebration
committee, was one OF the largest and busi-
est men in sight for the hour or so preced-
ing the advent Of the parade. At l2:4o
O'Clock there was biare of trumpets
and with = guard oLhenor from Troop A
Gov. Hughes and Col Treadwell his aid.
with other members Of his military staff.
that Mr.. Williams had.to meet. elm and sit
EN- in hurry. John D. Crimmins and
Borough President Gresser OF Queens
climbed into the stand. then came Her
man Ridder, Bird Coler and Metz. Bor-
ough President Ahearn- Of. Manhattan.
DR.. Thomas Rainey, fondly called the
father OF the bridge by the Queens folk;
Gen. Dickinson and Mgr. Lavelle Of st.
Patrick's Cathedral President MCGOWAN
OF the Board Of Aldermen, acting in the
absence OF Mayor Mcclellan. had an escort
Of mounted men from traffic squad c
and one Of the citys automobiles all to
himself. ..
Mr. Williams called upon Mgr. Lavelle
to offer the opening prayer. The church
man in his robes stood before the big
gathering and prayed for blessing on the
formally to accept the completed bridge
IN the maine Of the city. It was link
between the boroughs-that big bridge
over there-and President MCGOWAN
thought that more as link than as mere
avenue OF traffic was the bridge note
worthy achievement.
TALKS By DICKINSON AND HUGHEs.
Borough Presaden1 Ahearn had little
something to say then about a crowning
achievement in which the Borough OF
Manhattan shared with Queens her jus
tihable pride Borough President Gresser
heartily seconded these sentiments. and
Secretary OF War Dickinson was the ne xt
one introduced by Mr.. Williams.
Il congratulate the whole city of New
York." said he, upon the achievement OF
this great engineering enterprise. To
my mind II tells better than anything
else like it that has been done here Of the
magnificent audacity OF New York city
In undertaking great enterprises and
being baked by nothing. Though some
Of US may not be OF New York; your city
IL after all the Mecca Of the whole coun-
the boldness OF your imagination, the
art OF your practices
Prolonged cheers followed the intro
duction OF Gov. Hughes A camera man
whose machine shot UP and down on the
top Of q pole rushed to within three feet
Of the Governor. made his camera con-
tYaption elongate Its neck and d.snapped the
shutter. Then Gov. Hughes spoke.s
1T Is a source OF pride to citizens
OF the State and to the citizens Of the
country that we have a great metropolis
not simply rejoicing in a distinguished
past and in present affluence but in having
the most important future OF any organ
lied community perhaps in the world.
But you cannot make a city by legis-
lative enactment. You cannot make
that Is to say. true city by passing a
statute. In the single civic organization
must be reflected a genuine community
OF interest. There must be developed
here in Greater New York city con-
sciousness permeating the entire city.