Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-02-01
FRISCO'S FAIR OPENED.
The City GaIy Decorated with Bunting,
Flags and Banners.

position opened at noon to-day and San
Francisco celebrated the greatest holl-
day in her existence. Streets were gay
" decorated, flags and banners were tiy-
ing from thousands of stalls, and the
ships in the harbor were adorned
with the standards of many nations.
Public and private business was at a
standstill and every road leading to the
Golden Gate Park and the fair grounds
were crowded with visitors. Many had
crossed the continent to be here to-day
and thousands had arrived from all
parts Of California and the Pacific Coast
at large.
Gov. Markham had declared January
q legal holiday throughout the state,
and the day was observed as such. In
San Francisco all the banks and bust
ness houses closed and everybody was
free to go out to the fair grounds.
Thousands Of people were here
from all parts Of the Pacific
Coast, and the hotels and streets
were crowded with strangers. The
buildings were profusely decorated
with flags and bunting, and everybody
was in Gala attire, Most of the street
RAILWAYS of San Francisco terminate at
Golden Gate Park, and tleip entire roll
ing stock was inadequate 10 accomlno-
date the people who ascked out to the
park to witness the triunfnhal opening
of their pet project. At 10 A. ". the
parade, under command Of Gen. DlcR-
inson, started for the fair grounds. In
the procession were four regiments OF
the National Guard, regular army troops
from Preside, Gov, Markha and
staff, fair officials, civic societies and
many of the confessional features to be
seen at the fair. Golden Gate Avenue:
the main drive to the park, was thronged
with spectators who listened TO Tie str
ring music Of numerous bands and
cheerej as the long line Of men marched
by. Shortly after II O'Clock the process
sion reached the fair grounds and as
sembled on the recreation grounds
where a huge grand stand had been
erected near Festival Hall,
The order of the exercises be-
gan With a medley of airs all
nations by the Midwinter Fair Band,
followed by an introductory adj
dress by the president Of the day,
James D. Phelan. Prayer was offered
by Bishop Nichols, after which a grand
chorus, "America' Was sung by the
Midwinter Fair Chorus of 800 voices.
Then followed an address by Gov.
Markham, music by the Iowa State
Band, an address by Director-General
M. FL. DE Young, declaring the exposl-
ton oven, and an grafton on the gen
eral berrefts and permanent results or
the MidWinter Exposition by Gen. II.
L, Barnes, Music by the Austrian
Band and chorus of national airs end
ed the programme.
Gov. Markham, in his speech, well
coined the people to the fair and ex-
tended to the strangers from other sec
| tons of the country the freedom OF the
entire state. The Governor said al
| though California was the first state IN
the Union to appropriate money for an
exhibit at the Worlds Fair in Chicago,
| wonderful and complete, yet many
| Calitornians who visited the Co
| lumbar Exposition were forcibly
impressed with the fact that it
was utterly impossible to transplant Cal
ilornia to Chicago; and while our build
ing and its contents and our various eX-
hibits in many departments excited ad-
miration and congratulation, Calitorni-
ans knew that the real California was
not there. 1t was then and there de-
termined that California should have an
international exposition.
The Midwinter Fair is direct result
of the Chicago Columbian Exposition
| M. II. DeYoung, national commissioner
to the World Fair, last June conceived
the idea of midWiDter fair for San
Francisco. The suggestion was re-
ceived here with enthusiasm and i'm
mediatelv committees Of citizens were
appointed to make the necessary az.
Engagements. On July 10, 1898, Golden
Gate Park was selected as a site for the
fair, and on August "A ground was
broken for the enterprise in the pres
ence of nearly 100000 people, the larg
est crowd ever gathered together on the
Pacific Coast. The citizens of San Fran
cisco and California at large sub
scribed literally the necessary funds
and over 100000 was raised il
this manner. At first only six
ty acres Of land was sci
aside by the park commissioners fo1
the fair, but the magnitude of the enter
prise began to dawn on the people here
and the space was soon increased to l6(
acres. The half-dozen buildings at first
contemplated have increased in number
to nearly 100, all large, substantial
structures.
The tract is covered with massive
buildings and alive with semi-tropica
verdure. Hundreds of palm trees
Towering plants and vines make a beau
tiful setting for the structures, which
are largely of oriental design. Grouped
on the terraces surrounding the ex-
tensive open place called the Grand
Court are the exposition buildings
proper. At the eastern end OF the
court is the building of manufacturers
and liberal arts, the largest structure
on the grounds. 1t measures is:
feet in length by 225 in width with ar
annex in the rear 37Ox6O feet. At the
opposite end of the court is the admin
istration building, a beautiful structure
with a big golden dome. On north side
of the court is the mechanical arts
building, 3330x160 feet. Opposite this
are the fine arts palace and the build
ing of horticulture and agriculture
The fine arts building is Egyptian
in style with huge sphinxs guard
ing the entrance. The horticul
tural and agricultural building il
| of old SnaniSh Californian archi.