Birmingham state herald., 1897-05-02
MAIoR D. e. LEwTs, spEEcH.

Twerty-osae months ago you did me the honoT uo place in my hands the plysio Il features of tIh1 celebration of the canten- Gfal of Tennessee.
 A scheme tcr the great work was pre- scented to you alzn adopted by you and your executive committee.
 Immediately the site was selected and the work begun.
 The scheme contemplated the holding of a comprehensive interstate and na- tion3l exposition to particularly illus t1ate the progress of Tennessee and her people.
 Eighteen parts, consisting of the de- paTtnlanta of art, agriculture, commerce, children, eduloat.cn. electricity, forestry, history, hygiene, minerals, promotion and publicity, military, negro, public com fort and woui3rRs, made up the whole Buildings cf ealeh of these departments were embraced in the scheme.
 First to be selected was the building to contain the art collection, and the Parthenon was chosen as the model Coupled with this decssion was the de7f termination to truly and precisely adhere to all the lines and lneaments of the "gem of all architecture" and it is fair to say that this sell:ction and this deter mination fixed the standsrd which marks the success of the Centennial ex- position cf Tennes5sla.
 There was fns11'al into the minds of all the architects and builders an ambition to place upon their respective building sites structures in every way worthy or the illustrious keystone, and to complete the work the engineer adorned the grounds in sweet accompaniment.
 The amusement and plea sure features of this fair city have been kept in unlson with the general whole, and ''Vanity Fair is presented to play it's part.
 Tt is with very great pleasure, sir that I present to you the keys.
 Then, al a given signal the wires fash- ed the magic word to the White House at Washington. President Mckinley touched the button. and as the band played Hail Columbia" the machinery was set in motion and the Tennessee Cenhsarlial exposition was opened to the world.
 Chief Justice Snodgrass. William Mo Carthy, John Thompson. speaker of the ststIe senate, and Morgan c. Fitzpatrick, speaker of the house of representatives, delivered brief addrers. &. After the ad- dresses President Thomas dictated from the stage the following message to Pres ident Mckinley:
 ''To the President of the United States of America. Washington: The people of Tennessee send greeting, and request tIIat you now put in motiou the machinery of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition"
 In few moments the roar of artillery was heard echoing and re-echoing through the buildings and over the grounds. President Mckinley had pressed the button. the exposition was open and tIt IIIdCuiHSTy IHIu SI9TlSQ al lX.lf o'clock. The exercises in the auditorium ended and the people gathered around the immense fountain, representing elec- tricity, built by Moreth, to witness the ceremony of it's presentation to and ac- ceptance by Mrs. " l.. Kirkmam, presi- dent of the woman's board.
 Governor Taylor introduced Mrs. Kirk iran in a brief but happy speech, Mrs. Ki'rkman briefly accepting the honor of touching the button and waters gushed fT1-f ltTT-.1 1it,oN Alx1.. the members of the womans board and guests and a reception followed. During the afternoon one of the most cha rming buildings, the Chaldrerfs. was formally opened with Kindergarten exercises, and this building was one of the chief centers cf attraction during the afternoon. Among the distinguished visitors upon the auditorium stage were ex-Vfce Pres ident Adtai F. Stevenson. of Illinois, and Governor Stephens, of Missouri.
 An open air concert and music in the auditorium attracted the growing crowds and as the afternoon heightened the at terdanee increased until after o'clock, when the tide set cityward The agit- cultural building and caught the fancy of visitors. Its decoria'tlons, artistic, yet pe- cuHarly unique, drew we'll and the build- ing was filled early. The mineral and forestry building with exhibits nearly compldte, was much frequented The government building was in go'd shape for viewing. and thetransportatlon, com merce and machinery buildings were thronged. The railway terminal con- taining the exhibit of several, was the center of attraction Only portion of the parthenon, the ant gnllery was open, the pictures not being hung in two-fhirds of the building. But the pictures on the wallis were viewed by th,usan nds 1t was an exhibition that a tracted the crowd The people went from building to build ing as though they had a duty to per- form. They had come to view the expo- sition as an entirety.
 Tn the evening concerts by the band. fireworks. illumnations of the grounds and buildings by electric lights drew thorT,ndls in aGl11tion to fhcse who waited on the grounds for the night pro- gramme.
 Conservative estimaces place the day and night attend ?hce at 30,000. Perfec. order prevailed.
 JIM THOMAS