Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-06-22
HONOR TO MR.FERRIS
Eneinssr Pay Homage 10 the In
vsntos d TIE Wheel. :
R.ssis OUsns - WonanS ExAth1e
as<l Ossaunny ongws Wtnss--A
Chasua o1nU 0ssg&sus Asson

TIM Gale Paris a Plttsburo. Pa. started
first fos ths 60oo iavitsd guests and
then for thousands q exposition visitors
who had bsen patteutIy waiting to take
. ride in the moustef circle oe steel and
iron. II w. . great day for the civil
engineering peoeossion IN general and
Inventor fseyis il pastieulaF. Old Sol
beamed on the Inaugural ceremonies
and there was no hitch in tho procesd-
ings. Everybody snong the 5000 IN
vised persous of norsor les prominence
was elevated slovly to height Of 30
feet. and by gradual indescribable
motion lowered through space to the five
platforms. Nobody was afraid 10 get on
board tho thirty-six cars OF forty seats
each but some Of the women and men
too. experienced q disaGrceable sensa
tion in the motion of the wheel which
made them resolve not to 60 up and
down again. Still. that was not the fault
of the wheel. a. the motion Of the ma
chinery 10 almost impcrceptible. There
is. however. q peculiarly novel, lurching.
rise and fall. combined with forward
motion which nobody has ever been ac-
customed to on land or water. simply be-
cause there Is ouly ono Ferris wheel in
the world.
Notable Men Present.
Before the inaugural exercises began.
and while the guests were gathered in
side the Rates the Iowa state board,
pcrchcd in the topmost car Of the wheel
high above the promenade on the roof
of the manufacturs building. played
patriotic and popular airs appropriate
to the occasion. Tho wheel revolved
few times to show the Thousands watch
ing il with straining eyes. the motion
and safety Of II. Robert w. Hunt. presi-
dent of the Ferris Wheel company and
architect of the administration building.
led the way TO the platform which had
been erected under the wheel and acted
IA chairman. He was surrounded by q.
w. G. Ferris. L. q. Rice, the assistant
to the inventor. Chief Walker Fearn OF
the foreign affairs department.: Gen.
Nelson A. Miles. u. 8. A.; Sir Henry
Wood Of the Britieh commission; Judge
Vincent. ex chief justice Of New Mexico.
secretary Of the wheel company; Robert
A. BoIe and Julian Kennedy. Major
Handy. OF publicity and promotion;
Hakky Bey. the ottoman commissioners
general; Prof Herbert Vos. art commits
sioner for Holland; Commissioner Yer
crucisse of Belgium. City Engineer Art
ingstall Of Chicago. Engineer Gottlieb
and. other promineat members of the
profession.
President Hunt welcomed the guests
ON behalf Of the directors He said he
had been connected with many engi.
necring enterprises. but never before had
ne known such q gigantic piece of ma
chinery to start % smoothly and abeo-
lutely without hitch.
Honos~ to Slr. Ferris.
A. trustee Of the Polytechnic school
IL Troy. New York. the oldest in the
country. he considered il IN honor to
place among the illustriour roll Of honor
the name Of George w. e.. Ferris-
Mr. Ferris told how. at an informal
dinner in Chicago restaurant. he had
conceived the idea of having the engine
represented at the fair in a striking man.
iron and steel Aftcs months OF hard
work he had thought out and planned
the wheel The newspaper press and
having wheels in his bead. but not on
TN kIOuu0. t<0Nf u VI YOU. i0ttIf-f
and gentlemen" said the young genius.
Mr.. Ferris was loudly applauded. Gen
ersl Miles paid tribute 10 the genius
and practical worth 81 American en-
ginerrs. Major Handy and Judge Vim
cent also spoke and then the gucsts were
invited a. take ride in the wheel.
which was decorated with American
flags and bunting Of red. white and blue.
Rme~ian and German Exhibits
Princess Marie Schahovskoy. repre-
senting the institution of the Empress
Maria in Russia. was the hostess at a
reception in the Russian section of the
woman's building during the afternoon
in honor of tho opening 1t the exhibit.
Prince Wilousky. Mile. RoRossky. and
Mr.. Zelcnoy. who isin charge IT the ex
hihit. assisted in receiving the guests
and explaining tho objects Of utility and
art on exhibition in the pavilion The
entrance representa- q church door. In
the show cases arc copies of ancient
wofnen's work and mossic-. gold robe.
which belonged 10 countess ~ the six
teen'h century. exhibits ~ rural indus
tries. magnificent embroidery aud fine
needlework Tea was served in kussian
style to the memlers ~ the womcn's :
board. exposition officials. foreign CO
nisssonsrs. members 10 the Russi 49,
commission and the officers ~ fhe
Stnssirun.
Germany's vine exhibit In the depart
ment - vitirulturs wss opened this
afternoon AZ I o'clock Imperial Connie
pieoer wermush delivered brief al
dress describing vitiruitnre In Germany
and Aiis,ed urun the methods pursued
by vine grDxsrs of Germany Ca pro.
ducs the vines fsf uhich the cnnntfs IL
fs'nuue The Gesmauis Manner choir
ssng .Fsttarlsnd~ and then Secretary
Dahleu. in chafgc Il The eshihii. made a
few temaflss After the singing - "p~r
Naekt Am Khein~ the invited guests
marched over 81 the wtr~fcar ~ tsarn
hsvha restaurant in Nsdws, rias.asre
where fvfreshmsns~ sete -efvssi
som~ ssp~ss W..tc.
Festival ball ws~ The s.-p.e a nosa
be event IN the musical sesiJ 4 rep
r--~ntsiive eiss- from The shosal -rse,
efie~ - the western state. lesla,iins
che Ciarsnasss FESTIVAL association.
Nils.ase~ Asian slsb N,eassl-.lss
t'isos 81 a--s,ssatss,s. - ttssis s'hssfai zss
I eirsy ana ~ Paul t'hess' s~s-.safips. o.
TIE nussts~f a psi en.irs ghs .lisas Issf.
q F'ilissna r, faseiins. ssziHtel - sks
rsTsssgs..a ssltAr~sfa q Ia sssr lies
sieIe tinsrht ir',ilsfs" sea The Hfns
gsfi q asatef~-sts'r esstsss ~
fsak rise sszLt~fs eass as>~ tnsss
tush. nirs iaaa Little. Isvsfs -, 4