The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-06-27
SEVERN BRIDGE
OPENED BY RICHIE
Dedication Ceremony Is Followed BY
Historic Pageant, Regatta, Water
Carnival And Dance-Prizes
Awarded At Academy.
Annapolis

SONS on the banks. This was the set
ting in which the new Severn River
Bridge was opened formally Saturday.
1t was a setting of vivid contrasts.
Only an hour before, dark clouds had
threatened a downpour. An ancient
rope-drawn ferry, on which horse
and carryall were transported slowly
across the river, was marked by feet,
gray naval speed boats.
The old wooden bridge across which
| equipages SO ancient that their names
have been forgotten seemed like a
gaunt specter out of the past beside
the massive new span with its sleek
purring limousines.
| Overhead the airplanes, harbingers
of new era, waved gay farewell to
all ages of transportation that depend
ed on mule drawn ferry and horse
drawn carriage. '''is
First on the program was the
pageant, "The Spirit of Transports
ton" This was in Is episodes. The
first showed the early Colonial traffic
by pungy and canoe. In natural order
came the pack horses, the Conestoga
wagons in which the pioneers crossed
/ the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies,
then the ferry, and finally the "horse-
less carriages" the line beginning
with the obsolete models of the last
century and coming down to the lux
urious motors of the present day.
Then came the surprise prepared by
| Harry D. Williams, Assistant Chief En-
gineer of the State Roads Commission.
A heavy truck of the kind used on the
State roads in construction work was
lowed across the old bridge at the end
of long rope. A dummy driver sat
at the steering wheel. AS the truck
neared the south end Of the bridge, a
trap was sprung and the truck fell
through. It was caught by some of
the underpinning, and only went half
way down, but it stopped traffic.
Workmen then nailed boards across
each end of the bridge. The boards
bore the warning bridge closed"
| Governor Richie and his mother,
Mrs. Albert Richie, accompanied by
| John N. Mackall, chairman and Chief
Engineer of the State Roads Commits
sion, and Stuart IS. Janney walked
across the bridge from the Annapolis
end to a waiting automobile at the
northern terminal, which was barred
by rope of gold and black ribbons.
The motor was started, the barrier
broken and the bridge opened official
| ly. After the Governors car came 10
floats, representing Is of the Maryland
counties and Baltimore city.
| Scenes represented by the floats
were as follows:
Allegany County-Model working
| coal-mine industry.
Anne ArundeNPeggy Stewart tea
party off Wind Mill Point, October 10,
1874.
Baltimore County-"The Garden
Spot of Maryland"
Calvert-Tobacco industry.
Caroline Protestant Epis-
copal Church Club, of Denton.
Carroll Birthplace of rural free de-
livery.
Charleston. Samuel Smallwood,
commander of Maryland Line.
Dorchester-Tomato industry.
Garrett-"Where Presidents Spend
Their Honeymoons."
Harford-The Hartford Declaration
of independence, ITS.
Observation-Disclosures
Kent-Port of entry of the Eastern
| Shore, 1905.
Queen Anne's-Landing of Captain
| Claiborne, Kent Island, 1881.
st. Mary's-Landing of Leonard Cal
vert.
Talbot-Carrying a message of the
surrender of CORVALLIS via Annapolis.
I Washington-Fruit and farm indus
tries.
Wicomico-Wighco Comico Tribe.
Worcester-Discove by Vera
zano, 1924.
Baltimore City-Activities of Bal
timore city.
Frederick county Had prepared an
SldUOIdIC nOdI, uul IL got On tuS
macadam road bed somewhere on the
way to Annapolis, and the county was
not represented in the parade. 1t was
said floats from one or two other coun-
ties met similar fate. -
After crossing the bridge Governor
Richie spoke from stand erected at
the foot of a sort of natural amphi-
theatre at the southern end of the
bridge, where there was room for all
the crowd to hear.
The Governor was introduced by Mr..
Mackall.
I'VE are assembled today where the
history of Maryland is richest" the
Governor said
"Out in the harbor, a century and
half ago, the Peggy Stewart was
burned, and the flames kindled the
greater fire which gave our country
independence in the world.