764 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

From the moment of its conception, this bridge crossing the Poto-
mac became a tangible symbol of progress and faith in a better,
brighter future.

This bridge — now over twenty-seven years old — represents Mary-
land's confidence in the future and our leadership's vision of what
the future would hold.

We need only recall the time of its conception — the 1930's, the
bleak decade of depression — to appreciate the extraordinary vision
of Maryland's leaders.

In the year 1937 a feeling of economic apathy prevailed throughout
the nation. Few could afford the luxury of cars or trips or travel. The
State's total population was estimated to be little more than 1. 5 mil-
lion, while all the residents of Southern Maryland's counties combined
numbered just over 40, 000 people.

There was little indication for optimism and less incentive for am-
bitious investment schemes. There was little impetus to lift the eco-
nomic lethargy. "Happy days" did not seem on the horizon. Yet in
Maryland a handful of leaders knew what was to be and, even more
important, what could be if proper plans and programs brought the
necessary facilities to stimulate growth.

Their vision was nonetheless tempered with realism and with re-
sponsibility. They saw what needed to be done — and could only be
done through State initiative, State planning and State funds. They
recognized that there was risk, but without risk progress is rare.

This was the vision of experienced businessmen — the pragmatic
view that economic growth could be positively developed — and a net-
work of highways, bridges and tunnels was essential to generate eco-
nomic growth.

Thus, in 1937 legislation was enacted authorizing the State Roads
Commission to develop a comprehensive bridge and tunnel construc-
tion program financed wholly by the tolls. That legislation was signed
into law by Governor Harry W. Nice.

A plan of awesome ambition emerged including spans crossing four
of Maryland's waterways — the Potomac, the Susquehanna, the
Patapsco and finally the ultimate — a dream of two centuries — a
bridge linking the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

The first priority was to create a national "north-south" highway —
avoiding Baltimore and Washington traffic, cutting travel time and
distance between Philadelphia and Richmond.