The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-17
LEApED INTO ACTION
AT THE MAGIC TOUCH OF THE
LIGHTNING.
Opening of the Great New Orleans
Worlds Cotton Centennial
Exposition.
The President at Washington Controls
the Forces at New Orleans, and at
the Proper Moment Lets Them
Loose-Ceremonies at Both
Ends of the Line.


Dec. l7.-At u O'Clock Tuesday, members
OF tho diplomatic corps, congressional COM
mittees, and invited guests began to arrive
at the executive mansion to witness the
novel ceremony Of opening the New Orleans
exposition by telegraph. The Marine band
was in attendance and enlivened the cere-
monies with national airs.
The United States senate was represented
by Messrs. Logan, 1olph, Cameron of Penn
sylvania, Cameron of Wisconsin, Harrison
Miller OF California Riddieberger, Pendle-
ton, Butler, Vest Jones of Florida. Slater
ami Walker. The committee on the part OF
the house Of representatives consisted of the
following named gentlemen MeSsrs
Oates OF Alabama, Rogers OF Arkansas
Henley OF California, Bedfor of Colorado,
Seymour of Connecticut, Love OF Delaware,
Davidson of Florida Harleman Of Georgia,
Hit of Illinois, Watson OF Indiana, Hender-
son of Iowa, Perkins of Kansas, Halsell of
Kentucky, Ellis of louisiana Dingley of
Maine. Covington OF Maryland, Lyman of
Massachusetts, W.nuI,S of M;chig III, Strait
of Minnesota, Wan Eaton of Missis sippi,
O'Nell of Missouri, Green OF North Carolina,
Laird of Nebraska Cassidy of Nevada, Ray
Of New Hampshire Bean of New Jersey,
Adams of New York, Paige of Ohio, George
Of Oregon, Bingb of Pennsylvania, Chace
Of Rhode Island Eemphil Of South
Carolina, Caldwell o, Tennessee, Throck-
morton ct Texas. Poland of Yer
mont, u'Fmrell 81 Virginia, Glib
son OF West Virginia, Rankin If Wis
consia, OlTay of Ariz ma, Raymond of
D. kota. SiHgiser OF ldahs, Maginuts OF
a u.
o. U,a,. Butts Of Washington territory, and
Peat oi Wyoming.
At l2:5i p. II, the Ca { r ON was crowded
vita dlstingui hsi guests. and orlanJntei
Ly an IMMENSE picture % the New Orleans
exposition: hu.!Iin1 anI sruU.J,, fr.utei
cn cotton ami -urg, .uni 81 by f"r,d frame.
Tao ornament WAS the gil ii The exposition
officers
At l;55 tie president, Senator EdmEuds
AMI Speaker Carlisle took tncir places behind
the telegraph talk Tie caUinst. repre-
scented by Secretaries FrelIaghuysen, Lin
coin Chandler, McCalloch ami At oraay
General Brew ;ter, stood at It's i ,a~ AMI lie
hind them tie senate ana house committees
ranged themselves. Mr, Bancroft also stool
close By
Daring the delay that enSued the president
cnatJed pleasantly WIFI the representative,
Of the press, who were grouped behind him
Al 3:45 p m. the following telegram was
reserved:
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. Ito THE PRESl-
DENT 0F-raE UNITED STATES: The resent
occasion is the cons Gulnl itloa OF an enter
prise 4naugurataI ia conformity 10 an act ui
| congress passed less tAau UHu years. and
| authorizing tho holding OF q Worlds
industrial and cotton exposition, IN
| der the joint auspices of TOE
| United States, the National Cotton Planters
| association, and the city Of it,5 location. New
| Orleans was then selected rs til. site u. taiS
! Worlds exposition, and III June, lhS TIE
| comm SslonerS composing the board ., man
| agenent We're appointed by tae presi lent ci
the United States, and al once entered upo4
! the discharge of their duties.
At an early date, however,. it became
manifest that the liberality of individuals II
the,city and state would be inadequate t.
meet the requirements OF the eyer-increa ing
magnitude of the undertaking. Accord
ingly, an application for aid was made to
the United State, through congress, result
| ing in obtaining that generous
assistance which has so materially
contributed to the accomplishment OF
the purpose contemplated. From the
| commencement, it was determined that moth
| ing should give local or sectional character
to the great work, but that it should lie, as il
truly is, a national and international exposi
ton. How much of good shall result !roIa
the means of instruction here furnished is be
yOnd mortal power to measure.
The telegram, which was quite long, closed
by thanking the people of the United State
for their generous assistance and appealing
to them TO make tire exposition a Success.
1t was signed bv Edmund Richardson, presi-
dent
Immediately after the telegram was read
the president read his address, formally
opening the exposition, and it was q ter
wards telegraphsd direct to the exposition
building in New Orleans
The following is the full text of President
Arthul's address, formally Opening the expo
sition:
In the name of the people of the republic,
| congratulate the citizens of the southwest
in their advancing prosperity as manifested
by the great International exposition nov
about to open. The interest OF the nation il
that section of our commonwealth has found
expression in many ways, and nota
bly, in appropriations for the Improvement
of the Mississippi, and by the national LOAF
to promote the present exposition Situated
QS it is, at the gateway of the trade between
! Lne united states anu COaGf6l anu oOuUI
America, il will attract the attention OF the
people of the neig6boring nations of the
American system, and they will learn tn,
importance Of awaiting themselves Of oul
products as we will of theirs, and thus no
only good feeling but profitable intercours'
between the United States, the STATES of Cen
trail and South America will be promoted.
The people also of our own country, thu
brought closer together, Will find in tlEs eX
| q n 5frac
for strengthening the bonds of brotherhood
Railroads, telegraph lines and submarine
cables have drawn much nearer the nation
of the earth, and an assembly lilae this o
the representatives Of the different nations i
, promotive of good will and peace, while i
advances the material welfare of all. The
United States extend to those from foreigl
| countries who visit us on this occasion cor
dial welcome.
% And now, at the executive mansion il
Washington, in the presence of the assemblies
representatives of the friendly nations of tht
| world, OF the president of the senate, of til
speaker of tine house of representatives, O
, the chief Justice, and justices of the supreni
court, of Il committee from each hou o
congress and Of the members Of my cabinet
Iugain and in their name, congratulate til
promoters Of the exhibition upon the auYc
> ious inauguration of an enterprise Uhic
{ promises such far-reaching results
With my best wishes for the fulfiilnent O
, all It's great purposes / now declare that ii,
Worlds Industrial and Cotton exposition
, open.
The Transmission of the presidents adore,
= was concluded at precisely 3 p. m, and &
. $40 the signal to formally open the esZlssi
/, ton was given and the ceremonies conclude
with music and general enthusiasm.
The telegraph instrument with whic
President Arthur opened the exposition wa
placed in the east room Of the executive maj
, sion Monday The wire was tested Tuesda
. morning aud found to be in fairly good Col
dltion, but the recent storms caused it
work little hard
' There was a hush of the hum Of voices
q the room as the president stepped forwal
and touched the button which started
a motion the panderous machinery 800 mill
l away, and the scene was impressive in
4 marked degree.
n After the Ceremonies at the executi'
, mansion were concluded, a joint congratul;
( tory telegram from the senate and hou
: committees was telegraphed to New Orleai