The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-16
NIAGARA FALLS PARK.
The Reservation Dedicated According to Pro-
gramme in Despite of Bad Weather.

NIAGARA FALLS, July 15.-The day is magni
fcent and everything indicates that the cere-
monies this afternoon will be concluded success
full. The city is crowded, and all incoming trains
are filed with people @"om New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio and Canada. The exercises of the
day were begun with the firing of one hundred
guns at sunrise this morning.
All the business houses of the city are deco
rated, and the streets present a gorgeous spec
tacle. At an informal meeting of the commits
sioners, held at the Cataract House this morn
ing, the following dispatch was received
LONDON, England July IA, 1885.
ITO the Representatives of the State of New York at
Niagara Falls
"The commissioners of the Reservation Society
congratulate the State of New York on securing
Niagara Falls to the public"
Ex-Governor Tilden sent telegram express
ing his regret at not being able to attend.
About noon a brisk rain fell, but notwith-
standing this the committee on arrangements
decided that the ceremonies should not be post
poned, and accordingly the speakers and as
many as possible of the visitors assembled under
the roof of the pavilion, and at the appointed
time Bishop Coke commenced the proceedings
with prayer. Mr. Dorsheimer then read the fol-
lowing, which he had received from the Gov
ernor-general of Canada:
"Sir-I am desired by his Excellency the
Governor general to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter dated the I'd inst, in which, on
behalf of the commissioners of the State reser-
vation of New York. you have been good
enough to transmit to his Excelency an invita-
tion to the State reservation at Niagara on the
10Th. His Excellency desires me to say that it
would have given him the greatest pleasure
to be present upon the interesting occasion, but
that is impossible for him to leave Ottawa at
the time, owing to the fact that session of the
Dominion Parliament will probably close upon
or Immediately after the day upon
bis EXcellency has seen with the greatest ad
mlratlon efforts which have been made by your
citizens to do justice to the magnificent scenery
of the falls He trusts that these efforts will be
attended with the success which they deserve,
and the example which has been set upon your
side of the falls may ere long be followed upon
| this. His Excellency trusts that you will con-
vey to the commissioners his warmest thanks
for the invitation l am sir, your most obedient
humble servant, H. j. ANsON,
"a d. e. Governor-generalsS Secretary.
Ex-Lieutenant governor Dorsheimer, pres-
dent Of the commission, then made the presen-
tation address, after which Governor Hill ac-
cepted the reservation on behalf of the people of
the State of New York. There were about
twenty-five thousand people in the park, in
which the pavilion had been erected,
The following letter was also read:
"WAsH1NGToN D. c., July Is, 1885.
ITO E. Il. Delano, Esq, Chairman, etc:
Dear Sir-I have received your invitation, in
behalf of the citizens of Niagara Falls, to attend
the opening of the State reservation at that
place on the 10Th inst, and should be glad to be
present upon the interesting occasion, but regret
to say that official duties will deny this pleasure
to me.
With thanks to the citizens of Niagara Falls
for the cordiality of their invitation and the
tender of their hospitality, 1 am, yours very
| truly, GROVER CLEVELAND"
Actresses were also made by Hon Erastus
Brooks, Jas. c. Carter orator of the day. Lieuten-
ant governor Robinson, of Canada and Attorney
general Mowatt. After the singing of the hymn
America" and the Doxology, the exercises were
closed with the benediction by Bishop Coke.
In the afternoon there was parade and re-
view of troops, and in the evening grand dis
play of fireworks, witnessed by an immense
gathering of people. 1t is estimated 80, 900 Wis
itors were here today. Bands are playing at the
different hotels, and a great many persons will
remain here during the night as it would be
impossible for the roads to accommodate the
thousands who were it otherwise would return
to their homes. The depots are crowded with
tired picnickers, and trains will run all night
The celebration, in all its parts has been grand
success