[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10958]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE CELEBRATING THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE'S 125TH BIRTHDAY

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2008

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call my colleagues' 
attention to the historic occasion of the Brooklyn Bridge's 125th 
birthday. In 1883, citizens of New York City and Brooklyn took the 
first step toward uniting their two cities. Then, the Brooklyn Bridge 
opened to the public, bringing to life the dreams and plans of John and 
Washington Roebling. It is this bridge that captures the imagination of 
the world, appearing as a symbol of Brooklyn and New York City as far 
away as Europe and Asia.
  After 60 years of political, financial and technical discussions, 
including a six-lane tunnel proposal in the 1830's, John Roebling's 
plan was approved, the New York Bridge Company was formed, and in 1869, 
construction of the bridge finally began. The bridge was built over a 
period of 14 years in the face of enormous difficulties. Washington 
Roebling, John's son, had always been a man, who liked to be on site 
during the construction, and often he could be found instructing others 
what to do and many times doing manual work himself. Washington 
actually spent more hours in the working chamber than anyone else for 
fear that any slip might prove to be disastrous.
  Unfortunately, in the summer of 1872, Washington Roebling had to be 
carried out with caisson disease. From this point on, he remained 
painfully paralyzed and became known as the ``man in the window'' as he 
never returned to the site of the bridge, but watched it from his 
townhouse, directing the construction through his wife, Emily Roebling, 
who acted as an intermediary. In total, 27 people died during the 
construction of the bridge, some of the worse accidents happened during 
cable rigging and others were crushed by swinging blocks.
  In the end, John Roebling's claim that ``the great towers will be 
ranked as national monuments . . . as work of art and a successful 
specimen of advanced bridge engineering,'' came to life. On May 24, 
1883, with schools and businesses closed, the Brooklyn Bridge also 
referred to as the ``Great East River Bridge'' and costing $15 million 
was opened with hundreds of people attending the spectacular ribbon 
cutting event.
  Madam Speaker, it is an honor to represent the congressional district 
that begins once you cross this magnificent structure and is one of New 
York's most spectacular and evocative landmarks.

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