Evening star., 1935-12-20
NEW CALVERT SPAN
HELD PROOF DELAY.
IS NOT DISASTROUS.
Senator Thomas Cites Ben.
efits of Disagreement in
Dedication Address.
10000 AT CEREMONIES
IN ROCK CREEK PARK
Hazen Accepts Bridge and Passes
It On as Christmas Gift
to People of City.

The new monumental Calvert Street
Bridge, dedicated last night in a col
orful ceremony that drew some 10000
individuals into Rock Creek Park, is
proof that disagreement and delays
are not always disastrous" according
to Senator Elmer Thomas of Okla
homa, who delivered the principal ad-
dress.
Senator Thomas, chairman Of the
Subcommittee on Appropriations OF
the Senate District Committee, re-
lated how disagreement on the type
of bridge to be built resulted in de-
lay, and the delay brought about the
present monumental structure at a
cost of $1,175 900, instead of a steel
bridge at a much lower figure.
Plans for a new Calvert street bridge,
he said, were first made in 1917. Re-
vised plans were made in 1882, and
not until 1884 did Congress make the
required appropriation.
Upkeep on Old Span Cited.
The speaker also said that the old
steel bridge that stood for 45 years
on the site of the present structure
cost only $4,000 to build, but re-
quired s115,000 or 164 per cent of the
original cost for upkeep.
This bridge was paid for" the
Senator said, mot alone by the peo-
pie of Washington, but by citizens
of virtually every State in the Union,
since the money came from sales
tax on gasoline"
Senator Thomas was preceded on
the program by Commissioner Melvin
C. HaZen, who told how he, as young
engineer. ran the original line and
fixed the level for the old Calvert
street span. He accepted the COM
pleted work on behalf of the city.
IT take great pleasure" he said, "in
passing on this magnificent Christmas
gift to the people of Washington.
Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, director Of
highways, formally presented the
bridge, and Engineer Commissioner
Ian /. Sultan was the first to respond.
Bishop James E. Freeman said the
invocation. George c. Shinn, chairman
of the Dedication Committee, presided.
The program also included a series
of dances by girls from Friendship
House, the Christ Child Society and
Neighborhood House, and concert
by the United States Navy Band.
Vari-colored fioodlightS were thrown
on the span from the nearby Taft
Bridge during the ceremony, and red
flares lighted the approaches to the
special stands beneath the span.
The formality was preceded by a
parade that started from Eighteenth
street and Florida avenue shortly after
Z o'clock. Headed by Maj. Ernest w.
Brown and a police escort, officials
and special guests reached. the center
Of the bridge nearly half an hour
later.
Girls Cut Ribbon.
Miss Geraldine Clark, Az -year-old
daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Howard
F. Clark. and Miss Ann Laser, 6-year-
old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer
C. Laser, both dressed in attractive
blue coats and hats, cut the ribbon
that signified the opening OF the
bridge They were surrounded at the
time by the officials of the ceremony
and a group of American Legionnaires
lined the sidewalks with the Ameri-
can flag.
The little girls led the procession
across the bridge and the parade pro-
ceeded out Calvert street to Connectt-
cut avenue. thence down Cathedral
avenue into Rock Greek Park. There,
at a special reviewing stand, the off,
cials saw only part of the parade
pass. At o'clock radio broadcast
of the ceremonies began, so the last
two sections of the parade disbanded
at that time and the guests and off,
cials moved to a speakers stand.
Concert by Navy Band.
There the United States Navy Band
presented a brief concert before Shinn
presented the dancers and speakers.
Police officials estimated that in
addition to the 10000 spectators in
the park, between 10000 and $4,000
witnessed the parade along the line
Of march.
An official count by the Police De-
partment showed that 106 automobiles,
10 bands, 5 floats and lab individuals
took part in the parade.
The food lights that played on the
bridge were handled by volunteer
members Of Battery A, 260th Coast
Artillery, of the District National
Guard.
W 80