The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-12-17
Arthur's Dedicatory Address From the
Executive Internationally
opened-The Machinery
Moves.


trial and Cotton Centennial Exposition
dawned clear and pleasant. Nothing was
left undone TO make the opening cere-
monies brilliant and imposing. Never
before have the streets of the city been
SO crowded with people, Every incom-
ing train is loaded with visitors, and the
hustle and turmoil as they hurry off in
search OF accommodations reminds one
the scenes during the Centennial at Phila-
delphia,
Already the hotels are full, and great
difficulty Is experienced in obtaining
good quarters. The city presents gala
appearance. The buildings along the
principal streets are proiusely decorated.
Flags, banners and buntings Of all colors
and decorative design have been taste
fully arranged along the house fronts,
while at many of the more prominent
street corners triumphal arches have been
erected.
Canal street, the grand boulevard of
OF the Crescent City, presented a spec
tacle never equaled even during carnival
festivities. From the river front away
toward the lake, the eye met nothing but
one vast scene of changing colors. The
stores are decorated so gorgeouSly that
one could with difficulty see the build
ings. Flags OF all nations are hung from
broad galleries, and streamers are sus-
pended from roofs TO the ground. Even
the wide Neutral Grounds" showed bits
Of color
Long before the hour fixed for the
formation of the Exposition procession,
the crowds began TO collect on the broad
banquettes and on the neutral space in
the middle OF the street. Soon the thor
oughlare from Rampant street TO the river
was so densely packed with people that
thousands despaired Of getting glimpse
of the procession and took the various
lines Of cars for the Exposition Park.
Shortly after ten O'Clock the procession
composed of officers of the Exposition
Commissioner of Foreign countries the
United States Government and the sew
eral States, and distinguished visitors and
citizens, formed and began the march to
the levee, where was mooIed the magnia-
cent steamer Fred. A. Blank draped In all
the colors of the rainbow.
The procession marched aboard the
Blanks, which swung out into the stream
and headed for the lower limits of the
corporation, so as 70 traverse the entire
length OF the city In the trip up stream,
giving those aboard view of the entire
shipping, moored along the fifteen miles
OF river front.
Reaching the lower end Of the city the
Blanks turned and sped up stream, her
course along the route being the signal
for salutes from war ships, ocean vessels
and the screaming Of steam-whistles of
the steamboats,. Every vessel was taste
fully decorated with flags, and their crews
on deck and in the rigging, cheered as
the Blanks passed.
The boat landed at the Exposition
wharf at noon, and the party proceeded
70 Music Hall, in the main building, where
the opening exercises were to be held.
When the procession reached the build
ing the IL 900 seats in the hall were al
most filed by persons who had started
for the park before the procession moved,
while thousands congregated In groups
around the vast auditorium.
When the Exposition officers and Com
missioners had taken places on the plat
form, the orchestra struck up the "Presi.
dents March," A reception to Governor
s. ID. McEnery followed, and the orches-
traRplayed National airs.
Rev. Il. De Witt Talmage, Of the Brook
Ign Tabernacle, offered prayer, at the
conclusion Of which Governor McEnery
began the opening address.
The Governor referred to the magnitude
OF the Exposition, and the benefit 1t
would confer on the whole country, es-
pecially the South, TO whom international
expositions had hitherto been unknown,
and expressed the belief that the inter-
course between people from different
sections Of the country would bring the
States closer together, socially and politi.
cally, than they had been for third of
century.
Tho Exposition poem Of Mrs. Mary
Ashley Townsend, "Xariffa," was then
read, at the conclusion of which Mayor
J. V. Guillotte, welcomed the visitors to
the Crescent City, promising them courte-
GUS and fair treatment by the citizens.
Director General Major N. A. Burke
then presented the Exposition building to
President ed. Richardson In brief ad-
dress. Colonel Richardson, In turn, pre-.
| sented tho building To President Arthur
by telegraph. A Geographic response was
received and read from the President,
officially announcing tho opening Of the
Exposition. +.
The machinery began TO move slowly,
followed " " HRIg 2( tno -nnsa- oiu