The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-19
Mr.. CLEVELAND's FEAT
The Great Machinery Put in
Motion by Gentle
Touch.
SCENES AT THE FAIR GROUNDS
With Military Pomp and Civic
Dignity the Gates We're For
mally Opened.

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass, Sept. 1S.-The
vast machinery of the Atlanta Exposition
was set in motion to-day from the Presi-
dents summer home at Gray Gables.
The weather to-day has been rather un-
propititious for it rained nearly all day.
About noon it cleared somewhat, but it re-
mained cloudy all the rest of the day.
Early in the afternoon Superintendent
Viles, of the Boston office of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, was at his
TEN porary desk at Gray Gables, and made
frequent tests to Atlanta to see that every
thing was in proper shape. Mr.. Viles was
in direct communication with Atlanta,
and received during the afternoon several
messages concerning the progress of the
exercises. AT about o'clock the chair
man of the committee of arrangements
telegraphed Private Secretary Thurber
that the President would not be called
upon to perform his part until or $50
o'clock at the earliest. This caused some
little disappointment, for it was under
stood that the button would be pressed at
or about o'clock.
The room in which the ceremonies were
performed is known as the Presidents gun
room, leading off the handsome reception
room on the northeast corner of Gray
Gables.
Private Secretary Thurber during all the
preliminaries acted as master OF ceremo-
MES, and as fast as the messages were re-
ceived took them to the President, and
frequently the President would ask how
matters were progressing. Ever since the
exposition project was first undertaken
the President has taken the deepest inter-
est in it and he was anxious that the un-
dertaking of the opening of the exposition
at this end should be a success in every
way.
The President received the following
telegram before 5 o'clock from ex-Goyer-
nor Bullock, chairman of the committee of
arrangements:
The committee on ceremonies is instructed
by the president and direetor-general and by
the board of directors to express to the Presi-
dent their high appreciation and thanks ior
tho great interest the President has shown
both on this and other occasions, and in behalf
OF the success OF the exposition. Under the
guidance OF the hand of President Cleveland
one of the most important commercial and
industrial events ever attempted in our section
has now started on its career for the upbuild-
ing of our material interests by closer CONNER
cial relations with all portions of our country
and with sister republics south OF the United
States. The mingling of practical people from
all sections made possible by the Presidents
approval and aid to Our efforts, will render
future i'll will between the sections impossible.
At the request of the committee, the
President was asked to send his message
before the button was pressed, in order
that it might be read to the vast assem-
blage Mr.. Cleveland consented and wired
the following at about $50:
To the President and Board Of Directors Of the
Southern States and International Exposition, At
lantd, Ga: Fully appreciating the value and
trnuOrtance OF the exposition ineugurated to.
day, am especially gratifed to be related to
lis inception and progress and to participate in
its opening ceremonies. 1 sincerely congratu-
late those whose enterprise and energy have
accomplished such splendid results, and heart
lily wish the exposition they have set on foot
will be successful in consummating all the
good results contem plated by Its promoters.
GROVER CLEVELAND,