The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-21
THOUSANDS AT
DEDICATION OF
VICTORY BRIDGE
Governor Cary Harde Delivers
Greatest Address of His Ca
reer.
JUDGE LOVE OF QUINCY
PRESIDES ON ROSTRUM
Harold B. Ayres Speaks of the
Realization of Old Spanish
Trail
Especial to The Journal. !

~ IN JCNCIION, tla., July 20--Nic-
tory Bridge was opened for public travel
at noon today by the state road depart
ment. The ceremony was an impressive
event, and the crowd so large that es-
innate is difficult, but there was between
six and ten thousand people present
many Of whom came from Others states
and from distant part Of Florida
The bridge was decorated with hun
dreds of flags set on staffs at twenty
foot intervals. Promptly at noon the mil
itary band from Fort Barrancas led the
| motorcade from the western end of the
| bridge to the central draw The first car
was driven by Miss Ellen Thompson, sec
retary of the state road department, and
contained Governor Hardee, Judge II. B.
| Phillips, other members of the road de-
partment and Hon. Fred Marsh. Of Pen
| sacola. The second car contained the
sponsors for the dedicatory services.
chrlstened Victory.
AS the procession approached the draw
IT was lowered and stop was made while
/ Miss Jannettte Liddon, OF Mariana, the
sponsor, stepped to the southern ran and
broke bottle (contents unIcno1u1. de-
| clarfng that she named the bridge ssyie
tory" in honor of our soldier and sailor
heroes who gave their services and lives
| in defense of our country
The procession then moved to the east
ern end where a speakers stand had
been erected Judge E. c. Love. Of
Quincy, presided and introduced the
speakers of the day. first paying Rbeatu-
tiful tribute to our soldiers and sailors
who made the supreme sacrifice during
the World War and to whose memory the
bridge was dedicated
Best of His Career
Governor Hardee made one of the finest
addresses of his career Standing as he
did almost under one of the great arches
OF the bridge, he seemed to feel keenly
the inspiring presence Of the beautiful
structure. He spoke Of it's beauty of ar
chitecture, reflection of the cultural
standards of the American people, That
such an undertaking tended to put an
end to talk OF state division, or the an
nexation of west Florida to Alabama. He
expressed the hope that the next great
propect Of the state would be the building
Of the bridge over the Escambia river.
thus closing the last gap that separates
our peoples.
He referred to the gas tax as the most
popular form of road tax and that he
hoped to see it re-enacted at the next
session Of the legislature; and that he ia
vored the use Of the convicts on the
roads, agitation by some to the contrary,
notwithstanding.
Judge Phillips, chairman of the state
road department, was next introduced.
and he called attention to the fact that
that great new projects similar in char
acter 10 the Victory bridge cannot be
undertaken without a state road depart
ment. He gave an outline of the history
Of the bridge. that the idea was first ad-
vanced in 1914 of building a wooden
structure, but the idea grew into a re-
inforced concrete bridge.
The difficulties encountered grew
enormously. he said. as the work pro-
gressed, high waters at times sweeping
the temporary structures away, but
through it all the work kept going for
ward
Speaks of Future.
Harold p Ayes, managing director of
the Old Spanish Trail, spoke at length,
after which a liberal dinner was served
to all, which TRULY reflected the hospi-
tally Of the two counties-Jackson and
Gadsden. Mr.. Ayes speech in full fol-
lows:
Address.
Emerson once wrote that all the great
achievements In the annals Of history
were the result Of the enthusiasm OF a
few. This bridge is a great achievement,
a classic and monumental structure,
planted here in a sparsely settled sec
tion to carry the travel Of a state and
a nation. because few men looked into
the future.
structure Of this class Is usually the
child Of some great center Of population.
Out here, these men could easily have
justified themselves had they built some
semi permanent bridge. Instead, they
chose that harder path where skin. per-
plexity and a great faith must attend
them as they struggled with the task
Florida, and all yen who helped. are
honored this day. and down through the
years. the travellers Of q nation viii be-
stow tribute. and many will say Florida
had men of vision who were worthy Of
their task.
Others have talked to you OF this
bridge. / will talk Of the highway
In 1915 you, of West Florida and Of