Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-02-03
THE MIDWIA1ER EXPOSITION.
Formal Opening Of the Fair at
San Francisco.
Grand Procession. Three Hundred Trained
Voices Sing '.Americs''--Address by
Director DE Young Effects
of the Enterprise.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Jan. 27.-This
is great day in the history OF Califor-
MIA, the land of sunshine. fruit and
flowers, for the golden state throws
VIDE open the gates OF her wonderful
undertaking, the international Mid
winter exposition, aud displays to the
great and small, containing exhibits OF
highest merit, the whole the result OF
the enterprise, courage and en-
eray of her citizens. fhe gov
ernor having proclaimed the day
II holiday business through
out the stnte for the time is at "a stand
stll, and thousands of people have
come 10 the city from interior and
other sections Of the state, and Oregon,
Washington, Nevada, Arizona and
British Columbia have contributed n
large proportion of the visitors. The
procession. of which General John IA.
Dickinson of the National Guard was
grand marshal, and which commenced
to move at 10 o'clock was one
If which the city may well
be proud, as it was larger
and more representative than any ever
held here. Every fraternal organiza.
tion in the city and every society and
club of any Importance was out In full
force. The national and state troops
an tho procession made a splendid
showing. The native daughters of the
golden west, veterans OF tho Mexican
war, the Grand Army of the Re-
public men, the naval battalion
and representatives OF all conces'
sions at the exposition were
also in line. The rear Of the
procession was brought up with car.
riages containing Director General
Young and other officials OF the expo
sition, Governor Markham and other
state officers, Mayor Elliott and other
municipal officers, General Ruger, com
inanding the department of the Pacific
Commandant Howison OF Mare island
navy yard, the various foreign, state
and county commissioners of the expo.
sition and many Others.
After the parade the crowds made
grand rush for the exposition grounds,
where the ceremonies of opening day
were to be held. A grand stand which
had been erected. where the ceremonies
were to take place, accommodated 1000
people and was occupied in an incred-
IDLY short space OF time. The Midwin'
ter fair band, Iowa State band and
three other bands were in attendance.
The first speaker was James ID. Phe-
Ian, president of the day, who spoke OF
the great enterprise in honor of which
the celebration of the day was being
held and congratulated the people OF
San Francisco and California on what
has thus far been done and what would
yet be accomplished. The speaker was
followed by Rev. Bishop William +.
Nichols, who offered prayer.
Then came a grand chorus of Amer
lea, ;" rendered by 800 voices, the great
audience joining in singing. After the
mighty refrain of the national anthem
had died away Governor Markham
came forward and made welcoming
speech.
NJ. II. DeYoung, director general OF
the exposition, was the next speaker.
"Five months ago, almost TO day." he
said, 1--WE assembled within these
grounds and turned the first shovelful
of earth and by that act
made the first material movement
toward building up, developing and
erecting the California Midwinter In.
exposition. Many OF you
who are here today said il would be
physic impossibility. But when we
w.ra nut .so ths, test we- e-demonstrataj
what wonderful latent power we pos
sessed and the vast amount of our re-
sources. On that occasion | asked
You the question, will it pay?
On this occasion | say &c
you and ask You now the same
question in the light of the past, Has
it paid up to this time" Yes it has paid.
vt that time throughout this great re
public from the extreme eastern Dor
ker to the shores Of your Pacific, stag
nation and business depression were
stalking through the land, there was a
threatened run on our banks and want
Of confidence was apparent everywhere.
Look today at the result. There
is complete restoration OF
confidence, business is progressing,
our streets are crowded and the general
community is in better frame Of
mind. That these highly satisfactory
results are directly traceable to the
good feeling produced by the Midwin.
ter exposition project is, think, indis
putable. There can be but one result
OF this exposition and that is an in
crease in our population and an in
crease in our capital. We have before
us six months. During that period
the management Of this exposition
hopes to give you six months of amuse
ment. six months of education, si2
months to broaden and elevate your
selves, six months OF fetes. amusement
and general relaxation. while, one and
all of you, hope. will join in extend.
ing the hospitality for which we have
the reputation, to all strangers TO come
within our gates" Director General
De Young then declared the exposition
open and Mrs De Young pressed an
electric button, which set the enor.
nous machinery of the exposi
tion in motion amid the shouts
OF the great gathering, waving OF
thousands of flags and banners, salutes
by battery of artillery. and the playing
of the Star Spangled Banner" by five
bands.