The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-17

ance. The buildings along the principal
streets were profnsay decorated. Flags,
banners, bunting of all colors ana decorative
designs had been tastefully arranged along
the house fronts, while at many of the more
prominent street corners triumphal arches
had been erected
In the vicinity of the exposition buildings
the scene was one of great activity. Men
and boys We're hurrying TO and fro, while
inside the exhibitors or their representatives
were busily engaged in experimenting the
finishing touches for the formal opening.
As early as o'clock the military and civic
bodies, who were to take part in the process
sion of the day began to form st the
armories, and several detaclIments of the
visiting militia paraded the streets headed
by their bands, who played stirring airs as
they marched to the places which they pro
pose to make their headquarters during their
stay. 1t was estimated by good judges that
fully $4,000 strangers are in the city.
President Arthur's telegram formally
opening the exposition was received at 3 10.
The Rev. Dewitt Talmage made the open
ing prayer, after which the expo
sition poem, written by "Xarffa'
was read Visitors were then welcomed, and
Director General Burke presented the build
ings to President Arthur by Telegraph Sa-
lutes were fred from war ships and mer-
chantmeu, and thousands of steam whistle
We're let loose
Some Facts About the SHOW.
New ORLEANS, Dec 17.--Some flea of the
magnitude of the exposition which was
opened in this city Tuesday may he gathered
from the following statements:
Over ,000 car loads Of exhibits have al
ready arrived, and as many more are on the
way. The space has all been allotted, and
the great buildings viii be filed to overflow
ing. The foreign exhibits alone will cover
some 200, 900 feet Of space, and win include
displays from England, France, Belgium.
Russia, Austria, Italy, Spain, China, Japan,
Siam, Central America, Mexico and other
foreign nations Every state and terri
tory in the Union viii be largely represented,
and from the facts and figures now at hand
it would seem that this will be the largest
exposition the world has ever witnessed.
Notwithstanding the fact that the building
already erected cover some seventy five
acres, or about ,, 100000 square feet of floor
up TO accommodate overflow exhibits. The
foundations for another addition TO the main
building are just now being laid. and the
structure will probably lie finished within
ten days
An idea OF the magR Jude OF this man
building can be gathered by comparing il
with the main buildings of previous exposi
tons, as shown by the followin; official
figure:
Square feet.
Worlds Exposition, New Orleaus. e. l, 656. 05,
CRY stal Palace, Lonion. 1882 800. l. 400, 60.
lnHloH Exposition, 1Sjl.....-..... 9Sj, ~
Philadelphia Exposition, 1876 ...... s73 y,
ParA Exposition, 1885 81, 49,
Paris Exposition, lSt}.............. 45d %:
Vienna Exp sitiol, lSi'i-.......-... 49, 10,
The government building, built by virtu,
OF congressional appropriation, viii be s
large exposition in self j. w!H include tin
United States exhibits, the collective stat,
exhibits. and tie educational exhibits. Til,
treasury department viii show exhibits per
tanning to TIC coast survey, lghthou3es, LIE
saving, fre-saging service, customs and in
ternat revenue, printing and engraving
etc The war department will exhibi
arms, ordnance, engineering, anu al
pertaining 10 the art OF war, with per
feet Illustration Of the medical, surgical an,
hospital services. The navy department wil
show models Of war vessels, ancient am
modern, and all the modern appliances AM
equipments for naval warfare. The interio
department viii d. mainly with tn
history. customs ana records of the aborig
inal races Other departments as the paten
office, the fishery Commission the depart
,nent OF justice the department of agricul
tuIe, the bureau of statistics the bureau o
| education, ald the Smithsonian institution
! viii ta fully ~, raSauta1