full advantage of our potential. But, this island does little without
accessibility. In the past, it was possible to count the number of
people who came here on a summer's day on your fingers. Mile upon
male of golden sand and furrowing surf was unaccessible to our
people. Today, that has changed. This 1, 640 foot bridge now makes
Assateague a part of Maryland.

To whatever use it is put, this island adds immeasurably to the
recreational potential of Maryland. It is an additional drawing card
for tourists, and with more and more leisure time available to the
workers in the urban regions, tourism is becoming a bigger and
bigger business. Maryland will be able to accommodate those thou-
sands upon thousands of future generation.

Furthermore, I am happy to see a start in the planning for a State
park on the upper nine miles on the island. Here is an instance where
the State is moving forward to provide areas for its people where they
can picnic, where they can swim, where they can simply walk by
the side of the sea in quiet and in splendor. This park will make the
drawing card more powerful, more attractive. I look forward to the
day when it is completed.

On this occasion, I must extend my congratulations to the officials
and the people of Worcester County who labored long and hard
to make this beautiful structure a reality. To the State Roads Com-
mission, whose engineers aided so materially in the design of this
bridge goes my thanks and congratulations on a job well done. To
the contractors also congratulations on a job well done. Of course,
the Board of Public Works, of which the Governor is a member,
supplied one-third of the funds necessary to build this bridge.

None of this would be possible, and none of us would be here
today, Senator Sanford, if it were not for your dedication and the
hard work of your fellow members of the Worcester County Delega-
tion to the General Assembly. After all, it was the bill you gentlemen
introduced and passed which set the entire project in motion.

In dedicating this bridge, it is my fervent hope that it will help
Assateague Island, Worcester County and the State of Maryland
reach their full potential in the field of seaside recreation. I hope
the island is developed in a fashion which will provide the greatest
good for the greatest number in bringing diverse means of recreation
to our people and those who visit our shores.

Again, congratulation to all on a job well done and I, personally,
look forward to many more visits to Assateague and to Worcester
County.

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