Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-05
AL TANAHl BRIDGE
FORMALLY 0PENED;
GREAT Celebration
BY ED u. BRADLEY


(staff Correspondent of The Journal
BRUNSWICK. Ga. July More
than 10000 people, representing
practically every section of the
state, but particularly southeastern
Georgia, participated in the celebra-
ton here Saturday attendant upon
the formal opening Of the AItamaha
river bridge, perhaps the most pre-
tentious project thus far attempted
in the development of Georgja's state
highway system. The opening of
the big bridge, or rather, the series
of bridges linked together by wood
en- trestle structures, was made the
occasion of a gathering such as had
never before been seen in the little
town of Darien, one of the oldest
settlements of Georgia and rich in
historic interest.
Governor Thomas W. Hardwick,
with state. county and municipal Of
fcials, as well as good roads en-
thusiasts from all sections, united
in the rejoicing over the forging of
the missing link" in the eastern di-
vision of the Dixie highway. The
route from Savannah to Jackson
willie. heretofore containing an al
most insurmountable barrier In the
shane of the great Altamaha delta
and its impossible sWamps, is now
thrown open to the travelling puDIlc,
Tourist traffic. hitherto hampeFF9
and held back by unsatisfactory Iolo
conditions. will be enormously IN
g creased while the town of Darlen,
cut off from the rest OF the StaJe
when the Georgia Coast ana FIeu-
mont railroad was scrapped MANY
months ago, is once more given
means of communication with Inc
outside world. .,
Governor Hardwick, who delivered
the principal address OF the occasion,
struck the keynote when ne ueCIaLsut
that since highways are the mos
permanent evidence of ciVll1Eatlon' SO
he AItamaha river bridge, repre-
senting a most remarkable achleVe-
ment, constitutes an emblem OF prog
ress which the state OF Eeorgla
must continue.
Large Delegations Attend
The program of addresses began
at 1910 o'clock. soon after the ar
rival Of the cOntingents from SaVaQ-
nah, Brunswick, Jacksonville ana
other cities which sent large deIegt-
lions to the celebration. governor
pearing after the barbecue: Whlch
was served at midday under the great
water oaks in the square. The morn
ing program included addresses by
w. D. Barclay, mayor OF Daflen;
JUDGE G. NJ Tyson, of DariCn; Con-
slant Miller. chairman of the Glynn
county board of commissioners;
judge J. w. Bennett, of Brunswick;
Elliott W. Butts, president OF the
Young Mems club OIL Bru3 I " ~
Clark Howell, of Atlanta, and :; N.
Strahan, chairman Of the state hgh-
way board
These addresses preceded the for
NAL christening of the bridge, Whcn
was gracefully accomplished by Two
sets of sponsors and attendant halds
representing the cities OF Bru lnoMlo
and Darien. The Brunswick sponsor
was Miss Ellen Mcintosh Emanuel,
end her maids were Misses Florence
Aiken, Virginia Emanuel and ltlIlan
Miss Anna Downey and her MAIDS
were Misses Ellen Fox, Lois Bur
rows and Thelma Smith. bottle
Of honest to goodness" champagne
was dashed against the steel span
across the DaTien river. one OF the
two steel drawbridgeS in the SERIES
Then followed the barbecue ana
the thousands Of visitors were re
called with all the deucacleS Ina
make a Georgia barbecue an occasion
long to be remempered. A car e lostu
of meat was cooked over open 1lreS
in the long trenches where negro
s Sc had been busy. since early
in the morning. preparing, for the
feast. There was an abundance Tor
all and even then the supply seemed
undiminished.
The AFTERNOON speaking program
was featured by addresses by f. G.
Bell. OF Savannah; w. t. Anderson
Of Macon: wallace Pierce, of, Au-
eusta; Thomas J. Hamilton, Of Au-
gusta and H. 3. Phillips, of ITALIA
6asse. Fla. Unavoidable circum-
stance made It impossible for Unit
ed States Senator W. J. Harris to
attend, although he was listed for
speech. Governor HardWick APP
Deared at the close of the, spe22klng
program, being introduced by Judge