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Show Mhe Dedication Set Next Wednesday cit UMI Dedication ceremonies have been planned for July 28, at 4:30 p.m. for the new bridge spanning the San Juan River at Bluff. The old bridge, a footbridge, Wiis destroyed by flash floods last year. The ceremonies culminate a year of feverish activity aimed at restoring traffic .across the river. Funds for construction of the bridge were furnished by the Bureau Bu-reau of Indian Affairs, $200,000; San Juan County, Coun-ty, ? 113,00; Utah Division of Indian Affairs, $100,000; ami the Utah State Department De-partment of Highways, $35,-000. $35,-000. Total cost on the project pro-ject was $453,000. The new bridge is being called the bridge of friendship, friend-ship, "Sik-is." History of the area stales that in H'-50 the town of Bluff was settled set-tled for the purpose of creating a better understanding under-standing and friendly reia lions between the people of the Navajo nation and the pioneer people of the newly acquired area of the United States. However, 91 years have gone by with th's purpose almost being .submeiged by the nearly impassable river, the San Juan, separating these two people. For ten years a footbridge has been the link and has been heavily used for every conceivable purpose other than vehicular vehicu-lar traffic. At last, through the efforts ef-forts of a determined people, peo-ple, this bridge of friendship, friend-ship, Sik-is, has been constructed. con-structed. This great monument, monu-ment, it is felt, will unite those from both sides of nature's barrier, the San Juan River, enabling them to live more closely together to-gether accomplishing the goals set forth 91 years ago. |