the bonds which have united us. This, in any case, is my fervent
hope, and this is my resolute objective.

Certainly with the completion of the magnificent bridge and tun-
nel, connecting the southern tip of this peninsula with the Virginia
mainland, we are confronted with the necessity of planning—with the
need to look into the future and appraise as best we can the eco-
nomic and social impact that may be expected.

There is more, however, to which we must direct our best talents
and our strongest energies. I am speaking about more than just the
direction of the flow of traffic through our three states on the pen-
insula. Because I hope that each of you will take the time to look
at the overall prospects—to anticipate what we need to do in a num-
ber of areas of endeavor to provide a constructive, progressive and
healthy economic future for the people of Delmarva.

Let us concern ourselves with the creation of the kind of economic
climate that will assure maximum opportunities for our young peo-
ple, so that they will not be forced into voluntary exile when they
go out to earn a livelihood.

Let us make provision also for the preservation of the natural
beauty of this lovely land, and by so doing insure its continuing rep-
utation as one of the truly great areas of our Atlantic seaboard.

We would all agree, I think, that the construction of the bridge
and tunnel will have a drastic effect upon the growth of this area—
upon the commerce and the agriculture on the peninsula. But per-
haps we should consider this "eighth wonder of the world, " as it
already has been called, as a symptom and indicator of the inevit-
able progress to come. We must exercise both foresight and cooper-
ation to make certain that we achieve the maximum benefit to the
people of the Eastern Shore from the increased traffic and activity
that may be expected to result from the bridge-tunnel. If we define
progress as a process of improving our ways of doing things, then we
are on this day actually talking about changing the perspectives and
the lives of many thousands of people for the better. We are talking
about changing the way the people of this region have lived for
300 years. Just as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge has had a continuing
and constructive impact by creating unbelievable assets to the Eastern
Shore, so will this bold new project which links Delmarva with the
mainland of Virginia.

There are any number of symbols and indications of the progress
the Eastern Shore is making. One was the announcement made last

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