Evening star., 1939-10-08
Officials Of ; States
Attend Dedication
Of Hancock Bridge
1000 See Ceremonies:
O'Conor Delivers
Principal Address
By the Associated Press.

Sy the Associated PreSS.
HANCOCK, Md Oct. 7-Oficials
of three States, the Federal Govern
ment and Western Maryland COM
munities Joined an estimated 1000
citizens today in formal dedication
of the new million-do bridge
spanning the Potomac River from
here to West Virginia.
In a dual role of host and prin-
cipal guest, Gov. Herbert R. O'Conor
welcomed visiting dignitaries at
luncheon at the Woodmont Rod and
Gun Club. then delivered the dedi-
catory address as what he described
as Maryland's finest bridge was OH
cially opened to traffic.
State Roads Commission workers
and the contractor still had a few
finishing touches to make on the
a550-foot bridge. but they offered
40 obstacles to the ceremonies.
\ Mayor Omar N. Carryer Of Han
cock and the city council here ar
ranged the program which, after the
luncheon. started with a military
parade to the Maryland end of the
span.
O'Conor Speaks.
/ There Gov. O'Conor told the crowd
officials of Hancock and other
residents of Washington County
were to be congratulated upon the
realization of their dreams"
] Since the span links Maryland
and West Virginia, with PennSyl-
vania but a short distance away, 1t
represented a stretched hand of
good fellowship to our adjoining
friendly neighbors," Gov. O'Conor
asserted, adding that the bridge
would pay for itself "one hundred
fold by triendlier relations, increased
contacts and greater cooperation
In matters of mutual interest"
Recalling the history of highway
development in Maryland, Gov.
OConor listed the Free State as the
first in the Nation to complete a
system of hard-surfaced roads. At
the same time, while Maryland
e'blazed the trail" he noted that,
with the usual characteristic of the
pioneer" there was mot the vision
for a preconceived plan to meet the
inordinate traffic demands Of the
future
The road builders of 30 years ago
had not the slightest comprehension
Of the growth of automotive trans
portation that was to come" he said.
System Begun in 1909.
When the State system was start
ed in 1909. he explained, the State
had but $500 licensed motor We
hicles; in 1915, it had $4,000, and
this year, 4l0,O00-an increase Of
1900 per cent in IS years.
Strides are being made to restore
Maryland highway supremacy, he
told the visitors.
Other speakers on the program
included Gov. Arthur H. James of
Pennsylvania and State Senator
Arnf1eld Proctor, representing Gov.
Homer A. Holt of West Virginia;
Ezra B. Whitman, chairman of the
Maryland Roads Commission; Adjt.
Gen. S. G. Waller. representing Gov.
James H. Price of Virginia, and H.
R. Bishop of the Federal Bureau of
Public Roads, representing Thomas
H. Mcdonald, chief of the bureau.
The new bridge is about one mile
west of the old span, which, al
though still in restricted use. was
badly damaged by the 1896 floods.
All steel work OF the new span is
high above extreme flood level and
the roadway surface is about IS
feet above the river bottom:
Participating in the military pa
rade with National Guard units
from Frederick, Hagerstown. Cham
bersburg. Pa. and Waynesboro. Pa.
Three Maryland National Guard
planes flew overhead during the
ceremonies.