San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-30
TINE PARADE.


At an early hour this, morning the
streets and plazas of the city were filled
with citizens on foot and in their vehicles,
to view the great street parade that open
ed the festivities of the Fair.
The procession formed on Avenues ID
and G., and under the leadership Of Ma
jor Fry, moved through the principal
streets in the following order:
Mounted Police.
Marshal of the Day.
Military Band.
Spanish Students.
Maverick Rifles.
State and City Administrations and Fair
Association.
Companies X, II and ID, Third Cavalry.
Mounted Battery.
Fire Department.
The procession passed over Alamo
plaza where 1t was Joined by the state
and city authorities and Fair association.
The route was then taken up through
Commerce street to Main, plaza where the
officials, escorted by the Spanish students
departed for the Fair grounds, and the
troops and fire department returned to
their various rendezvous.
The streets and plazas were live with
strangers who admired the great line of
troops and our splendid fire department.
The new rifed breech-lOading guns of
the artillery created considerable com
ment. In all the procession was very
creditable one.
On arriving at the grounds a salute of
honor to the governor and the military
announced that the opening exercises had
begun. The military band played before
the exposition building while the cannon
were fired and then all filed into the build
ing, the Maverick Rifles marching
straight to the auditorium where they
were assigned to seats on the right. The
hall was soon filled with ladies and gen.
tlemen and a concert was given by the
band while waiting for the speaker, Gov
ernOr Ross to make his appearance.
Another splendid concert was also
given by the Spanish students mandolin
orchestra. They come from Mexico, but
wear the Spanish costume, which is very
picturesque and striking. Their appear
ance was greeted with applause, as were
also the results of their earnest efforts to
amuSe the crowd.
A striking feature, that could be easily
remedled, is the absence Of all decorations
in the auditorium. Not having time to
paint the naked wooden walls, ceiling,
etc, the place has an intensely bare, for
lorn appearance, and the absence If dec
orations renders it still more uninviting.
The only attempt at enhancing the
beauty of the place was the hanging of
one United States and one Mexican flag
over the front of the proscenium, and a
large United States flag as background.
After quite long wait, Governor Ross
entered the building and was escorted to
the roStrum by the officers Of the Fair as
ISOLATION. He delivered the opening ora
tiOn, in which he said the purpose of this
Fair Is to demonstrate the resources of
the great state of Texas. San Antonio
has been chosen by the Providence of God
to form great part in the history of the
state and am glad this has been allotted
her to show to all, the future great me-
tropolis Of the entire western portion Of
the state. He gave an expose OF the OBJ
jects Of the exposition, complimented the
city on its evident prosperity, cOmpli-
mented the surrounding country, paid a
grateful tribute to the officers Of the Fair
association, thanked his audience and
gave to President Diaz and his republic a
fine compliment in we'll chosen words and
then declared the Fair to be formally
opened.
Colonel Andrews then introduced DR..
Plutarco Ornelas, our resident Mexican
consul, who responded to Governor Ross
speech in few well turned sentences,
pledging both his friendship and the CO.
operation and friendship of the republic
he represented to always hold in high re
gard the great state Of Texas and the
United States and their present and flu
ture rulers.