Evening journal., 1916-05-13

with the material increase Of
travel. ferrying OF passengers. teams
and vehicles on the cumbersome fiat
boats was the cause of great delay.
and at times the passage was attend
cd with some danger. for you must
understand that the stream was Of
much greater width then than at the
present time. and the marshy char
acter OF the land beyond (which even
at the present day bears evidence OF
this facD. rendered the roads at times
impossible and rapid transit impos-
sible. A combination OF these condi-
tiOns gave rise 10 a movement in 1906
for the construction OF bridge across
the Christiana. and the Legislature
at the session in January 1907. grant
ed a charter TO the Wilmington Bridge
Company. and a bridge was built at
the foot of Market street.
This Improvement. the Chronicier
states. resulted In great convenience
TO the public. appreciated the value
Of real estate. and materially In
creased the trade OF the city.
"As the city continued to grow in
population and spread over a greater
amount of territory. another bridge be-
came a necessity. and in 1867 the old
ferry gave way to a wooden bridge.
During the eight years which followed
1867, by the gradual elimination OF ito
compound parts. this wooden struc-
ture was transformed into the present
Third street bridge-a name with
which every citizen Of Wilmington has
been familiar for more than forty
years. This structure. which in a
measure served the purpose for which
it was intended. has had a varied and
checkered career. Too delicate in its
construction for the burdens il had to
bear IL was much of the time under
the doctors care and whenever IL eX-
hibited signs Of regaining a healthy
condition some old scow or sailing
vessel would bump up against II and
knock IL Off its base. Much 10 the
worriment and distress OF the
Levy COurtmen, who were charged
with its care and operation.
'At last patience ceased 10 be a vir-
tue and the Legislature OF 1911 author
lied S15O,000 bond issue for the con-
struction Of a new bridge. In attempt
ing to locate suitable foundations at a
point where tidal conditions were un-
favorable. and in order to procure ap-
proaches which would adequately
serve the requirements Of the con-
stantly increasing traffic. the fact was
disclosed that an additional 100000
would be required. which was author
lied by the Legislature in 1913.
"This splendid structure which YOU
dedicate today is in keeping with other
municipal improvements recently COM
pleted Il is thoroughly modern in all
its particulars; in construction il is sci
cntidcally correct; in appearance il i.
an adornment TO the city, and IN eff.
cheney it reflects credit upon those who
have charge Of its construction.
at win exert material influence
upon the future growth and develop
ment Of our city and the surrounding
country. The convenience which IL af
fords the public should cause ms 20 re-
ioice in the benefits which should now
follow its completion.
'Tf errors have bccn committed In In,
past. LET them be forgotten. for history
reveals 10 ms the fact that human ma.
tre is much the same in every age, and
that a comparison of the customs of IN,
Times OF our litu'N'rNhi~ Nflhf hhi T.
bring ms 10 n greater appreciation OF
our own blessings.
"I,t us welcome - a substantial evi'
dencc Of an increasing interest ON tho
part Of our citizens in civic hettermeni
this new River Front Bridge"
Mr.. Marvel Tells Of Bridges.
I'm his speech Josiah Marvel showed
that the first bridge built over the
Brandywine creek. in 1854. was the
one over which Caesar Rodney passed
on his famous ride TO Philadelphia,
and since then bridges have been
built i'm 1922. 1889 and 1887 at the
same site. The first bridge across the
Christiana river was erected at Mar
ket street in 1908. he set forth, and
was i'm service until the present Mar
ket street bridge was built. in 1888
The Eleventh street bridge across the
Brandywine was built i'm 1863, Wash
ington street bridge in 1898. and Van
Buren street bridge a few years ago
The original Third street bridge was
!, built in 1868. Referring 10 the new
bridge. Mr.. Marvel said:
1T Is now open for use OF our COM
munity. and we can look forward not
only with hope. but With real conf