Evening star., 1950-01-12
Gen. Young 10 Speak
AT Opening Of New
Bridge Saturday

Engineer Commissioner Gordon
r. Young is scheduled to be prin-
cipal speaker at dedication cere-
monies officially opening the new
South Capitol street bridge across
the Anacostia River at 10 am.
Saturday.
Announcing nearly complete
plans for the affair, Chairman
George L. Gregg of the dedication
committee said also that Budget
Officer Walter L. Fowler will be
master of ceremonies.
Twins to Cut Ribbon.
Della Mae and Mary Lou Ran
dali. 12-year-old twins of 125 Mo-
hican drive, Forest Heights, will
cut the ribbon, opening the bridge
A motorcade headed by Police
Supt. Robert j. Barrett will cross
the bridge from the Anacostia
side and return.
An acceptance address will be
made by j. v. Moran, president
of the Southeast Council of Citi-
zens Associations. Music will be
furnished by the Metropolitan Po-
lice Band and the Anacostia High
School Band. Cadets from the
high school also will participate.
Members of Mr.. Gregg's COM
mittee include Mr.. Moran, w. j.
Smith. G. Walter johnson, Hugh
De Fabio. George E. Didden, w.
L. Koontz. John F. Donohoe and
Harry Liebrand.
Meanwhile, suggestions for a
name for the span continued to
pour in to the Commissioners.
Roosevelt" is in the lead among
the names being suggested to the
Commissioners for the $4,000, 900
span, but its advocates differ on
the specific Roosevelt to be
honored.
There are two petitions in favor
Of Franklin D. Roosevelt, one for
Theodore Roosevelt, one for Mrs.
Eleanor Roosevelt and one for an
unspecif1ed Roosevelt.
One woman suggested that,
since "the folks of Washington
would be lost without initials for
this and that" the crossing be
called the "FDR".
Other former Presidents nomi-
mated for the honor are Herbert
Hoover, James Monroe. William
Mckinley Thomas Jefferson and
George Washington.
Mr.. LeibraRd, president of the
Congress Heights Citizens Asso-
citation. wrote than the executive
committee had voted for the cross
ing to be named the John Howard
Payne Bridge" in commemoration
of the composer Of Home Sweet
Home"
mot only was Payne one of
our early Colonial composers and
playwrights. but he was also a
statesman" he pointed out.
Douglass Suggested.
Sydney H. Gallwey, chairman,
Of the Frederick Douglass Me-
mortal Committee. suggested the
bridge be named for Douglass,
citing his unique role in the
struggle for Negro liberation in
the 10th Century and his close
ties with the city Of Washington. /"
Representative Frances P. Boil
ton Of Ohio is recorded in favor
Of the Elizabeth Blackwell
Bridge" honoring the first
woman to become doctor of med
icine.
An admitted "press agents
dream" was the suggestion that
the span be named for Sharon
La Rue, a dancer. since sit Is a
beautiful structure; what would
be more appropriate than to name
1t after a beautiful girl?"
Other names suggested include
Gen. Sam Smith," Gen. Pat
ton," Vincent B. Costello" Gar
rollsburg." Gov. Shepherd" CO.
lumbia," John C. Calhoun Me-
morial," Daniel Webster Memoir
ial, Thornton" James v. For
restal," Centennial" "Langs-
toms Span,'' and William w
Price"
Suiting the suggested name to
the scientific age, another writer
made the point that since this
:. bridge is opened in the Atomic
Age, why not dedicate it to and
call it after Albert Einstein, truly
q great American2"