The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-19
Traffic Held up.

g"OAO 0A1OWSu W IOllOW
the procession out on the bridge as
far as the state line, without paying
toll. While the exercises were going
on. no automobiles or vehicles we're
allowed either on Bridge street or this
side of the bridge. to avoid confusion
that might result. A police officer
was stationed at the head Of Bridge
street to see the order was obeyed.
West bound vehicles, however, were
allowd on the bridge.
The Keokuk party was met at the
state line by Hamilton officials and
those of other Hancock comfy towns.
A great crowd of spectators from
Hamilton and other points in the coun-
ty gathered for the exercises. No toll
was charged passengers on the bridge
from Hancock county today. In the
Hamilton party were Mayor Neal
Daugherty and City Attorney Warren
H. Orr, Commissioner Hosford and a
number of prominent business men.
Lotion and Daugherty Shake.
After Mayor Lotion and Mayor
Daugherty had shaken hands, the Keo-
kuk executive introduced Theodore A.
Craig, the speaker Of the day, III the
following words:
ITO the Citizens of Hancock County,
Illinois, and Fellow Citizens Of Lee
County:
ut affords me genuine pleasure and
honor to have the privilege on the be-
half Of the city Of Keokuk, to intro.
duce to you Honorable Theodore A.
Craig who will deliver the dedication
address and welcome you to Keokuk
ION this-uccasion Of sthe@upentng OF the
high bridge to our city which unites
Illinois and Iowa-Mr. Craig"
Mr.. craig's Address.
! Eat the portal OF the city KeokuI
today bids welcome to it's friends of
Han sock county. Through the years
that have passed we have grown and
prospered, you on the east and we on
the west bank of this grand old
Father of Waters, and as you visit
us today we greet you not as stran-
gers but as old friends. We are both
happy in the thought that natures
barrier between us has now been rem
dered less of a barrier than ever be-
fore. We want you to feel that you
are as welcome in the city of Keo-
kuk as you would be in your own
homes, and we want you to consider
yourselves as one with us in the
same manner as though this river
did not flow between US.
Our meeting here today is in cele-
bration of an event which will be a
marked one in the history of the sew
eral communities represented. The
structure, which for neac'y half a
century has spanned these waters
and through those many years has
served our needs, has been replaced
by a new and modern one, ana today
new thoroughfare joining tfese sis.
ter cities and these sister states Is
opened and dedicated to its long
period of service.
Debt to Bridge Company.
"It is entirely Unnecessary for me 20
call your attention to the greater
convenience, the greater capacity or
the greater safety of this splendid
bridge. These things are obvious to
all of us and they will be more appar
ent to us as from day to day, In our
many and varied callings, we take
advantage of the benefits provided b
this wonderful product OF mans
genius. 1t is, however, entirely ut
ting and proper that we should ex-
press 10 the SOihpoh! W. op
probation of the fact that 1t has thus
provided us with greater and better
facilities for intercourse between our
communities on enterprises both of
business and pleasure. The old bridge
was one of the first of those which
was built across the Mississippi river
and, inadequate as it may now seem.
It was then considered ~rirmph OF
engineering SKILL AS it's completion
was coincident with the beginning OF
greater development of the west,
may we not hope that the compile
ton Of this new structure marks our
entrance upon a period Which will
bring to us the full fruitton OF the
hopes of many years. 1t is not idle
for us to trust that as the new Drldg7
far exceeds the old one IN ITS con-