The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-14
THOUSANDS AT SCENE
Great Parade Preccdcs Cere-
monies Opening Structure
Spanning the Arkansas
GOVERNORS CLASP HANDS
Robertson and McRac Reach
Across Line: Avery Tells
Of Pike Highway Plans

Travellers from Tulsa 10 Fort
Smith may now drive Into that his
torio city without paying toll-they
may motor across tho new $1,000
600 bridge that was dedicated Fri
day. II is the second largest con
crete bridge In the entire world, ana
u not only u monument 10 the pro-
Ercssivencss of the Arkansas city but
also II Joins two great BtatCE-.O Okla
huma and Arkansas.
Tulsa played an important part IN
Tho formal opening ceremonies Fri
day G. . Avery Of Tulsa. prcsl-
don't OF the Albert PIKE Highway As-
uOClatiun, accepted tho bridge for
that association from Buchnor VIII
Hams. chairman Of the bridge
building commission. In n short ad-
dress of acceptance Avery outlined
the history Of tho Albert PIKE High
way association and COmplimented
tho gathering on Its enterprise IN
building such a structure to leave
to posterity
Governors Shake Hands.
The bridge was formally dedicated
when Gov. j. II. a. Robertson OF
Oklahoma and Gov. Thomas G. Nc
Rae OF Arkansas shook hands across
the state limo which H. designated or
unveiled Friday. Thousands OF spec
tators stood on the bridge during
the ceremonies and watched tho
the sluggish Arkansas flow under
reath. mammoth parade from
the downtown section preceded the
dedication
Among those who attended from
Tulsa besides Avery were T.. Bee
Guihrcy, secretary OF the Albert
Pike Highway association. Wlllip m
Holden, secretary OF the Chamber
of Commerce. r. l.. Farmer. man.
aver of the Tulsa Clearing House
association. r. 4. Trusty realtor.
and II. Reynoldu. Haskell. Okla,
sent n delegation OF approximately
20 business men.
In his speech of acceptance.
Avery reminded his hearers that
this bridge is only link In chain.
and that they shonld return TO their
homes determined that accom.
pllshments In good rond building
shall become greater with tho pass
ing OF time.
But Beginning Snys Avery.
And now" he remarked, "as we
celebrate this completed link In our
highway. | want to impress on you
people locally and our membership
as whole that. like the student at
commencement exercises. we are not
finishing but just beginning. For,
Smith VIII not be satisfied with n
bridge that leads 10 a mud hole and
neither will Colorado. Kansas and
Oklahoma bo satisfied with n bridge
that leads only TO city pavement
We must return TO our homes from
this splendid gathering fun OF re-
newed enthusiasm and ambition to
finish the Job. and this job will not
be finished until the Albert pix"
highway Is continuous pavement
l,0OS miles long"
That those assembled might become
better acquainted with the history
~ the Albert pigc Highway associn-
I on, Avery reCounted some OF its
accomplishments and told of its
hopes.
"Thc Albert Pike Highway asso-
citation was organized at Tulsa JAM
uary 80, 1914" he explained. I'm the
spring OF the following year II be-
came affiliated with the National
Highway association at Washington,
ID. C., and late In the fall OF tho
same year became member OF the
Associated Highways or America.
The highway extends from Hot
Colo. It Is l.U0s miles In length and
there has been expended on It
during the past rive years a fraction
In excess of s7.OO0.000
S6,25O, 200 Available.
"Therc IN available for eNpendi'
ture on this highway during the
present construction season the vast
sum OF $6,250, ,000--almost as much
ms has been expended during tho
past five years. while n large por-
tion of this money comes from fed
cral. state, county and township
funds. many dollars of 1t has come
from private contributions that have
been made by public spirited clti-
zens along the route.
Since the organization OF our as
soclation in 1917 our secretary has
Travelled In a car over $4,000 miles
promoting highway organization.
contraction and maintenance, and
one feature OF our work we are par
ticularly proud Of Is that tho align
ment OF the Albert Pike Highway
is the same today as that outlined
at the original organization In 1911.
Com mittees that have assisted in
financing our work have the salts
faction OF reflecting on n service
well rendered while those who have
tailed to pay have neither been
harassed for funds nor deprived of
any service that the association was
able to give them
During the past five years our
association has taken an active
part In national and state leglsla-
tion aud has In somo capacity ap-
peared before practically every
county and township board along
the route from Hot Springs to Colo
rada Springs,
splendid Cooperation.
"One OF tho really delightful
features OF our organization il the
fact that tho lions share OF praise
for our accomplishments does not
belong TO the officers OF the asso-
citation, but TO the splendid citizens
along the route. Each community
seems to have instinctively grasped
the importance OF the undertaking