Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-24
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BY Victor Rosewater

{ CEREMONIAL functions of the Roman Cath
| Ole church are always imposing and impress
sve, setting before us as they do survival OF
the brilliant pageantry and perfection OF splendor
Of ancient Rome The installation services for
anew bishop, such as we witnessed here this last
week, constitute SO infrequent and exceptional an
eevent-not more than three such services can
| have taken place heretofore in Omaha--that it
| is no wonder cards of invitation were at pre-
MUM and the attendance. quite up to capacity
| OF the new cathedral notwithstanding weather
conditions that would ordinarily have forced post
ponement of any other public affair. The intense
cold outside and the unfinished condition of the
| interior of the edihce with many makeshft ac-
corhpodations naturally interfered with the spec
tacuar effect, but the presence of the large
number OF visiting prelates and priests with their
vari-colored vestments and striking insignia made
1t scene long to be remembered. The most
regrettable absence was that of Archbishop Ire
land who came down from St Paul for the funeral
OF the late Bishop Scanned, but who, l am in
formed was kept away by the precarious state
OF his health from participating in the inaugura-
ton of the successor Archbishop Harty how
ever, is entitled to congratulations on the aus
picious character of his official incoming to his
new field 81 labor
Though slow Of building, the cathedral gives
promise of being notable addition to Omahas
architectural possessions. The bare brick wallis,
exposed ceiling framework and temporary bal
with the acoustics, yet the carrying of the chant
ing, music and addresses was remarkably good.
Commenting on this, said to Architect Kimball,
who is the responsible designer 81 suppose put
ting in the ceiling. arches and completing the
enclosing walls will make it still better" But
his answer was: I'VE can't tell. 1t may make i:
better or worse. All we can do is to try it out"
! suppose the traditional requirement of cathe-
dral building call for level floor which means
obstructing the sight Of the altar platform to all
m hark 0f Tho feet fax.y &c I
wonder if an architect who erected such struc-
ture with an inclined floor or ampitheater
arrangement would be professionally condemned
and ostracized for responding to the comfort
and convenience of the worshippers?
The bridge which the Union Pacific is substi-
tuting for the outgrown span across the Missouri
river here is the fourth that has been in that
place. The first bridge was steel caisson
bridge single track bridge if remember cor
ing of the road. About 1877 couple of the
center spans were taken out by tornado which
swept along the river bed and the bridge was
rebuilt, hrst with temporary timbers and then
with steel The whole population of the town,
believe, was down on the river bank the day
after the storm to look at the wreckage The
truth is, though that the bridge and its approach
used to be in the early days great attraction
for both home folks and visitors and it was
regular thing for US boys to go down there to
watch thS u gins WIZ past anu III the ntcrVai 10
throw stones and sticks into the water below
The bridge was again rebuilt in the sos with
stone piers instead of the caisson and double
track and roadway and foot sidewalk on either
side After the Douglas street bridge was built,
the facilities for vehicles and pedestrians were
removed presumably by agreement conditioned on
the owners of the wagon bridge refraining from
putting railroad tracks on it for competing roads
which may also account for the fact that in
making the present enlargement of the railway
bridge no auto roadway has been aided For
facilitating train traffic across the Missouri the
new double-track bridge, strengthened to meet
the weight and speed requirements OF modern
locomotives and trains, will surely be acclaimed
a great relief by all who have been sorcly tried
in these recent years by trains waiting Ste get
the bridge"