The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-12-18
/ JnMAL OPENING OF THE WORLDS
FAIR BY PRESIDENT Ar
THUR, ATWASHINGTON.
Surrounded by His Cabinet the
President Awaits the
Telegraphic Signal.
Address of the President OF the
Fair, Showing its Pur-
poses and Objects.
Arthur's Reply, Officially De-
claring the Great Fair
Formally Opened.

Formally Opened.
WASHINGTON, ID cember 16.-There
was considerable delay in the opening
exercises at the New Orleans exposi-
ton to-day, a large crowd Of dis
tinguished peopl9 had gathered at the
| White House, and every arrangement
made for the president to open the
exposition in AN appropriate style.
The president took his station at the
telegraph sable, and remained stand
ing there, surrounded by his cabinet,
for over half an hour before the signal
that every thing was in readiness was
received by the telegraph operator.
| The Marine band WAS present, and
hal exhausted their programme of
national airs Tor the occasion. A1any
lett the building.
The signal was received at half-past
two o'clock, and in q few moments
| the address Of President Richardson
was received as follows.
| To the President CT the United
States: The present occasion is the
consummation of an enterprise inau-
gurated in conformity to an act of
congress passed less than two years
ago, authorizing the holding of 9
Worlds Industrial and Cotton Cen
tennial Exposition, under the joint
auspices OF the United States Nation
al Cotton Planters Association, and
y its location. The city Of New Orleans
| was then selected as the site of this
| Worlds Exposition, and in June, 1883,
thirteen commissioners, compos-
ing a board of management, were
appointed by the president of tha
| United States, and at once entered
upon the discharge of their duties. At
an early date, however, it became
manifest that the liberaiity or the il
dividuals of the city and state wouIa
be inadequate to meet the require
ments of the increasing magnitude Of
the undertaking. Accordingly appli-
cation for aid was made to the Z aited
| States, through congress, resulting in
obtaining that generous assistance
which has so materially contributed
to the accomplish hment oil the purpose
contemplated From the COM
mencement it was determined
nothing should give local or
sectional character &c the great work,
but that it should be, as it truly is,
national and international exposition,
and consequently, to-day are assembled
| here the representatives of all the
nations of the world, side by side with
those of our own national government,
and of every state and territory in this
| Union.
| All have contributed examples Of
their resources and their progress in
this wonderful collection of industrial,
commercial, educational and artistic
objects, now open to the Inspection of
the world. How much Cf good shall
result from The means of instruction
here furnished is beyond mortal
| power to measure; but certainly not
| the best benefit to be derived from
his exposition viii be closer and more
friendly intercourse of our own
people with those of other countries
the development of commercial inter
ests and the tirmer establishment OF
peace in our own country. 1t will be
a monument of the era of unity in the
interests of harmony and good feel
ing, destined, it is believed, to endure
as long as the continent itself shall
exist, on which these now perfectly
united states are established.
| now present to you this eXposi-
| tion, ready, as our be,t efforts within
the brief period of time at our com
mand have been able to make it, ard
for the degree of success attained, we
appeal to u generous judgment.
The address of President Rich
ardson was read by Commissioners
General MoIehead, and, in reply,
| President Arthur madea brief address
and declared the exposition open. The
address was at once telegraphed to
New Orleans. 1t is as follows:
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
SIN the name of the people of the
republic, congra' ulate the citizens
OF the southwest in their advancing
prosperity. as manifested by the great
international exposition now about
to open. The interest OF the
nation in that section of
our commonweal has found
expression in many ways, and nota-
bly, in appropriations for the improve
ment of the Mississippi, and by ma
tional loan to promote the present ex-
position. Situated as it Is, at the
gateway of trade between the United
States and Central and South America,
it will attract the attention of people
of the neighboriug nations to the
American system, and they will learn
the Importance of avaliing them
selves of our products as we
will of theirs, and thus not only good
feeling, but profitable intercourse be-
tween the United States and the states
of Central and South America, will
be promoted. The people also OF our
own country, thus brought closer to-
, gether, will lind in this exposition OF
competitive industries. motives for
strengthening the bonds of brother
. hood. Railways, telegraph lines, and
submarine cables have drawn much
nearer the nations of the earth, and al
assembly like this representatives Of
different nations is promotive of gooC
will and peace, while it eivanceS tht
material welfare of all. The United
states extends to those from foreign
countries VINO visit us on this occasion
a cordial welcome and now, at the
executive mansion, IN washington
in presence of the assembled repre-
sentatives of the friendly nations o
the world, of the president of tn
senate, of the speaker OF the house o
representatives, of the chief JuStlc
and associate justices OF the suprem
court, OF a committee from each hous
of congress, and of the members o
my cabinet, l again, and In thei
name. congratulate the promoters o
| IuG CAOCStllOA tAAC cAuCt4SAOOS IL
auguration of the enterprise whic
promises such far-reaching results.
With my best wishes for the fulfil
ment of all its great purposes, l nov
declare the Worlds Industrial an
Cotton Centennial Exposition is opeE
(Signed,) CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
President.
The remarks were received with al
plause.
Remarks were then made by Sena
, tor Logan on behalf of the congres
slonal committee. At tie close of h
remarks the president. at 3:l0, touche
a button of the instrument and start
ed the machinery in the expositio
building.
scenes at New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS, December 16-Tl
day of the Inauguration ceremoni'
at Worlds Exposition opened brigi
and cheerful, ami thousands of peop
made preparations early in the NOR
ing to witness the long expected even
Every public aad private buildir
aloIg the principal streets was deco
ated with more or less elabo.ativ
ness. Along the strest-car routes vi
itors from rcrthern dimes were a
tonished TO fipd hundreds of oranl
trees bending beneath their lipe fru