Evening star., 1938-06-18
DEDICATION OPENS
NEW CHAIN BRIDGE
Hazen Says 3-Lane Span to
Stand as Monument
to Advocates.

Chain Bridges have come and gone
with the passing of time, and today a
new chapter has been started in the
history of this famous link between
Washington and its Virginia neighbors.
No one is certain in just what year
the first bridge was erected on this
site. A wooden roofed-in structure is
believed to have been built some 140
years ago and later washed away.
Down through the years other bridges
spanned the historic Potomac at this
point, serving their purpose until the
toll Of time and flood took away their
usefulness.
The new chapter in the story of
Chain Bridge was opened yesterday
when Federal and District government
officials joined with civic leaders and
residents of Washington and Virginia
in the dedication of the new 1,351-foot
superstructure built on the piers of the
last Chain Bridge, which was opened
in 1874
Three Lane Bridge.
AS described by Engineer Commis-
sioner Dan I. Sultan in talk before
the hundreds of persons on hand for
the official opening, the new span is
outstanding in that it has the longest
continuous girder of any bridge in this
country, perhaps in the world. 1t is
q three-lane bridge, with pedestrian
walks on either side. Wide, well-paved
approaches on both the Virginia and
District sides have been constructed.
u 1T will stand as monument to
those who fought so long and so hard
for a modern new structure" Com
missioner Melvin c. Hazen told the
audience assembled on the District
side of the bridge.
The new structure is of the utmost
Importance" said Francis G. Addison,
r., president of the Board Of Trade.
1T is an artery over which thousands
will travel daily, and it undoubtedly
will enhance the progress Of the ad-
joining communities"
Two Recall 1874 Dedication.
Two Of the most deeply interested
SPECTATORS at the ceremonies were
Carl c. Haneke, 90 years old, of 1912
Thirtieth street NV, and Joseph E.
Benjamin, 86 years old, Of 129 street
NE, both of whom remember the
dedication and opening in 1874 OF the
Chain Bridge just removed.
II can even remember an old wood
en- structure that was destroyed by
ice in 1863" said Mr.. Haneke.
Senator Glass, Democrat, OF Vir-
einia, who, as chairman Of the Sen
ate Appropriations Committee. played
q major part in obtaining funds Tor
the new structure, recalled that he
asked Congress to appropriate $l00,0oo
more for the bridge than the District
had requested.
Representative Smith Of Virginia
said he felt the bridge would increase
the desire for even greater co-opera-
ton between the District of Columbia
and Virginia than ever before.
One of the highlights was talk by
John Clagett Proctor, writer and his
torian, who discussed the history OF
the land on both sides Of the bridge.
He brought with him 4l2-foot link
from a chain once used In chain
bridge Of many years ago. The link
was obtained from Mrs. Mary Foster
through her cousin, Mrs. George Tru-
EFT, daughter of the late Gilbert Van
Derwerken, pioneer omnibus owner
and operator in Washington.
Traces Chains TO 1903.
There are no chains in Chain Bridge
today" Mr.. Proctor said. The printed
program for the dedication carried a
history of The Chain Bridge-New
and DID," written by Mr.. Proctor. In
1t he said the first bridge constructed
there in such a manner as to justify
use of the name Chain Bridge was the
one erected in 1903 and destroyed by
food waters two years later.
The final step in the dedication
came with the cutting Of q ribbon
at the bridge entrance by Miss Mary
Carol Seal, daughter Of Corpora
ton Counsel Elwood Seal, and Miss
Marianne McCarty. This was followed
by q motorcade across the bridge, led
by the Boys Band of the Arlington
Kiwanis Club and a group of Ameri-
can Legionnaires. The American
Legion Boys Drum Corps also played
Among the guests present was for
mer Representative Thomas L. Blan-
ton of Texas, who was chairman of
the House Subcommittee on District
Appropriations when the funds for the
new Chain Bridge were made avail
able.
The Washington Gas Light Co.
Band played several selections
throughout the program. and pupils
from the Americanization School,
dressed in native costumes, presented
q. colorful program of folk dances
George c. Shinn, chairman of the
Bridge Dedication Committee, pre-
Hded.