Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-02-22
INTERNATIONAL
BRIDGE OPENED
With PROGRAM
Two Laredos Join In Event
Celebrating Completion
of Giant Structure
Especial to the Herald)

LAREDO. Texas, Feb. %. - With one
of the greatest crowds present that the
two laredos have ever experienced, the
Washington Birthday celebration today
was crowded with event after event.
which will not be concluded until after
a lengthy program for tonight. The
celebration is patriotic on the American
side, big feature Of the event being
the opening Of the new international
| bridge connecting the American and
Mexican cities Of the same name.
In commemorating the birth of George
Washington, the two nations met n. this
international point for the dedication of
the new international bridge which cen
! meets Laredo. Texas, and NucvO Laredo,
4 Tamaulipas, to the extension III trade
relations and the promotion Uf Grand
international Highway" The Cere-
! monies were held under the auspices ot
the Laredo Chamber of Com nerco. r. A.
Mstthes. president Of the chamber, was
H. charge of the bridge ceremonies, as
planned By Secretary Fred W. Mally
and the several committees.
Governor Pat NJ. Neff arrived over
the |. & G.. y. at 1880 o'clock. He was
met by a large delegation Of citizens.
headed by Mayor Leopoldo Nillegas Of
Laredo and escorted TO the Hamilton
hotel, where breakfast was served. The
governor spent few minutes after
breakfast meeting and greeting local
citizens.
At Q a. m. (American time. or s a. m.
Mexican) Governor Neff and the Ameri-
can delegates assembled at the Laredo
city hall. while the Mexican officials
did likewise in Nuevo Laredo.
The official personnel performing the
dedicatory ceremonies consisted Of J. X.
Beretta, president Of the Laredo Bridge
company. owners Of the structure;
Fred A. Matthes. president Of the Laredo
| Chamber of Commerce; Mayor l.. Vile
gas Of Laredo: Eduardo ElarcOn, presi
dcnte municipal. Nuevo Laredo; Gov
ernor Pat NJ Neff of Texas; Governor
c. Lopez de Lara of Tamaulipas; Ing. F.
Cara Nicto and Deputies +. Martinez
| Cello and Leocadio NJ Gonzalez, repre-
scnting Governor Juan NJ. Garcia Of
Nuevo Leon; Ing. J. s. Siller. official
representative Of the secretary Of COM
munications and public works in Presi-
dent Obregon's cabinet; representatives
Of Texas and Mexico highway commits
sions and international highways, and
many delegates representing civic and
commercial bodies.
The two professions wendcd their ways
, through the streets of their respective
cities. arriving at the landings on each
side of the Rio Grande at about 9:15
o'clock. At signal. sent UP from the
international monument, located on the
bridge, they marched TO the monument.
where the dedicatory exercises were
held and addresses delivered.
\ Shortly after II o'clock, following the
ceremonies on the bridge, the procession
Of governors and officials went back to
the city hall in Laredo TO witness the
attack and capture Of that edfce by
the Indians" and the surrender Of the
\ KEY TO "Pocahontas. This exhibition
has long been a custom carried out in
\ Laredo on WaShington's birthday, under
the auspices Of the Order of Red Men.
In war paint and feathers, the hordcs Of
mcocasin-footed tribesmen swept down
the streets and launched their attack
against the city edifice Amid yclls and
cheers. typifying the days of the from
ter, they bore down upon their object
4 i've, storming the castle and taking no
prisoners Mayor Nillegas. seeing de-
/ feat and no chance of retreat, gracious
| ~ bestowed upon Pocahontas as repre-
sented by Mrs. Courtney Slaughter
/ Profit. the key TO the hall and city,
and bade the merry makers 10 enjoy the
season in the fullest manner while they
had possession o fthe town.
Following this came the grand parade
Of the Washington celebration which,
leaving the city hall, passed through the
streets OF Laredo and across the bridge
in Nuevo Laredo at noon hour, this be-
1 ing the official first crossing Of the
structure" opening il to the commerce
between the two republics. Besides the
officials and many civilian and military
American and Mexican bands. in the
line of march were soldiers of both coun-
tries, floats depicting the festivities Of
the day and historical events pertaining
thereto, as we'll as representative Of
frontier days, Indians, cowboys. and sew
eral civic and commercial bodies.
Following the parade, Governor c.
Lopez de Lara of Tamaulipas rendered
luncheon complimentary TO Governor
Neff.
The following were in Governor de
Lara's party: Attorney Juan Manuel AL
avarez del Castillo. deputy of the hon.
orable congress of the union; Eduardo
Williams, president of the American
Chamber Of Commerce of Tampico; r.
Onate. representative of the National
Chamber Of Commerce Of Tampico; At