The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-25
THE AMERICAN EXPOSITION.
The Opening Ceremonies--The
Grounds and Buildings.
THE GREAT SHOW.
The States and Territories---The Pa
c,f1c SLOPE and Territories IN the
Lead--A Cosby Letter.

people of New Orleans could possibly make
it. It was thoroughly New Orleans day,
in point Of offweather, with a clear blue sky,
free from asingle cloud, and would have been
warm but fDr q refreshing gull breeze. The
city put onits holiday dress for the occa-
while the streets were bright with life and
color. Everybody was out, en- route to the
Exposition. There never has been q more
complete ar general public holiday in New
Orleans than this. The courts, the schools,
the public offices, Federal, State and mu-
nicipal, the stores and offices were all
closed, and business was as dead, for one
day at least, as it is possible to conceive.
The programme OF the opening ceremonies
included aparade by the local and visiting
military companies and other organiza-
tions, a trip by river to fairgrounds: and the
usual speeches and music there. The pro-
cession that escorted the Governor to the
Exposition tent was quite impressive in
point of numbers and appearance. The Unit
ed States troops, the Second Artillery, held
the post of honor at it's head, then followed
the local and visiting military companies,
Grenadier force in the high bear-skins, Ar
tillery, Infantry and Cavalry. A second
division included the entire Fire Depart
ment of New Orleans with it's twenty-four
companies. A third, the Knights OF Pythias
anu OHQ8r uullOEIueu OISt1uALtaUOuS OA0A
followedh he benevolent associations and
the vetadhns, while the last division was
given unto the colored troops and organi-
zations.F
THE RIVER PARADE.
The trip to the ground was made by the
Governor and the military escort by river,
with bunting, steamed; but the general
public had to make the trip by car or car
riage, which was a marked and agreeable
improvement over last year in the matter
of transportation, and which will prove a
great convenience to those strangers, who
swore, with cause, last year, over the slow
horse-cars that took three-quarters OF an
hour to reach the grounds. The construc-
tion of a steam railway to the Park has
obviated this discomfort, and In twenty
minutes one is now landed at the very
doors Of the main building and guaranteed
comfortable, roomy seat all the way out.
Equally advantageous is the new
asphalHum drive to the grounds, along
St. Charles avenue, the longest continuous
paved boulevard in the world, just con-
structed at cost of $45O,OOO. For the
first time people in carriages were able to
reach the Exposition without danger Of
getting lost in quagmire of mud. Thou
sands availed themselves of this opportun-
ity, and there was, in consequence, a
splendid display OF fine turn-outs and fast
horses, and of the fashionable world OF
New Orleans.
With these conyeniences, and with the five
lines of cars and four of steamboats, there
was no crowding or elbowing,for room, and a
crowd of 10000 persons was carried 60
and from the grounds with the greatest
| ease a1d without a single accident OF any
| kind.
The ceremonies were held in Music Hall,
in the center of the main building, and
which, Notwithstanding seating capacity
| of i 2 900, could not contain hall the audi
| ence that tried to force their
| way in. There were speeches by
Guillotte, by Senor Matthias Romero, Min
lister from Mexico to the United States, and
| the Exposition officers, but the striking
features of the ceremonies was the music,
| and the chorus of 500 male and female
voices, that gave in splendid style the
| national airs. Congratulating kilograms
| were read from the Presidents OF Mexico
| Venezuela Ecuador and Uruguay and other
| American republics, and from many OF the
| Governors and members OF the cabinet.
The speeches, as usual, ran on to late
hour of the afternoon, while the crowd
surged in and out of the hall, wandering
/
to see and study the sights.
| THE GROUNDS AND Bull DINGs.
| As faras the buildings and the grounds
themselves were concerned, everything was
in perfect condition. The walks and drives
the gardens and groves, all presented q
bright and inviting appearance. The tur
was as fresh and as green as in springtime
| the trees in bloom, the plants and shrubs
covered with buds and flowers: The plan
| of the horticultural hall was changed from
last year, and this conservatory-the
largest in the world-converted into a vast
garden, with winding walks throughout it.
bordered by tall tree ferns and camellias
and with avenues OF pineapples, ban
anas, palms and other tropical plants
leading away in every direction from the
grand fountain that stands in it's center.
The Mexican gardens, planted last veal
in cactus, agaves and magueys by the
Mexican Commissioner, were fourishing
the drives and walks in good order. and
indeed, everything as fresh and bright az
possible.
It was the same with the buildings, but
there was considerable backwardness with
| the exhibits, many even OF those from New
| Orleans being not yet in place. But none
OF the machinery was in working order, and
only about one-third of the main building
and one.half of the Government or STATE
| building was filled with exhibits. This de
| lay is attributable to the exhibitors, who
have been warned to hurry up by the man
agement, but who have, as usual, delayed
| their arrival here until there is a block
ade, and it is impossible to get everything
unpacked and in position at the same
time.
FOREIGN EXHIBITS.
Only four of the foreign governments
Honduras, Guatemala. Venezuela and San
Domingo-are fully prepared. The French
| Brazilian, Argentine, Chilian and English
exhibits are now on their way here and viii
be in position in few days; the others art
even more delayed. OF those already up
| Honduras holds the palm with very
creditable exhibit, the central figure being
a true Moorish building, constructed en-
tirely of the rich natural wood OF the coun
try. The Venezuelan, Guatemalan .ano
San DOMINICAN displays are fine exhibits o
the mineral, vegetable and forest resources
of those countries.
The Government or State building
thanks to the energy of the several Com
missioners-is in a more advanced condi
Mon, although it will take some weeks YET
to get it fully in order. Iowa. Arkansas
New Jersey and Louisiana are fully ar
ranged; Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Hi
nois and Tennessee nearly SO; Kentucky
South Carolina. Idaho, Oregon. Nevada
Montana and Arizona in an advanced stat
of pre- paration. The other States and Ter
ritories have large quantity OF their ex
hibits on the grounds, but little OF them un
packed.
On opening day Iowa and Arkansas car
ried off the prizes for the best and mos
complete displays. Arkansas exhibit o
fruits. both preserved and in q raw state
exceeded anything horticultural seen in tn
last Exposition, and is said to be tn
largest and finest State exhibit Of fruit
made in this country.
Iowa's exhibit included all the produc
tions OF that State. One Of its proudes
features was a miniature representation Q
an Iowa farm on the Mississippi, with tn
green fields under cultivation, the houses
stock, etc., and in the distance range O
hills. New Jersey and Illinois both deserv
special mention for their very creditabl
exhibits OF their agricultural and manu-
factured products.
THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
The Pacific slope and the Territories vii