People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1894 — A NEW BRIDGE. [ARTICLE]

A NEW BRIDGE.

It Is Formally Opened iu the Presence of Thousands at Leavenworth. Leavenworth, Kan., Jan. 4.- Fifteen thousand people, in addition to the 20,000 living here, celebrated the formal opening of the new steel draw-bridge across the Missouri river at this point The parade was over a mile long. D. R. Anthony presided at the dedication exercises and the test was made under the supervision of Engineer George L. Morrison, of Chicago. The test was most thorough. Then followed a gala train of Burlington and Rock Island cars. Speeches were made by several noted men. In the evening there was a grand illumination and a mass meeting. Work on the five bridge piers was begun December 20, 1892. October 1 last the first piece of iron was put into place and on December 15 the bridge proper was finished. It was the quickest piece of large bridge building on record. The structure cost $670,000 and is a combination railroad and wagon bridge.