Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-02
EXPOSITION OPENED.
PRESIDENT PRESSED A BUTTON AND
MACHINERY MOVED.
OPENING EXERCISES SIMPLE.
EXPOSITION IS IN CELEBRATION OF
CENTURY OF STATEHOOD.
Grounds Cover 200 Acres and Are
Within Fifteen Minutes Ride of
the Business Center of
Nashville-Art COliec-
ton Superb.
OPENING EXERCISES SIMPLE.

Nashville, Tenn, May 1.-The Tennessee
Centennial exposition was opened at noon
to-day, with appropriate ceremonies. in the
presence of many thousands of people
The weather was bright and cool, and at
an early hour the streets were thropged
with people assembled to witness the pa
rade of the Essenye order and other So
cieties.
The opening ceremonies of the exposition
were simple, but impressive. and fittingly
marked one of the memorable events OF
Tennessee's history. The members of the
legislature, with their wives, assembled at
the Union street station at O'Clock, and
were conveyed to the exposition in special
trains. The auditorium was filled with a
crowd of over 1000. while a multitude was
unable to gain admission.
The ceremonies were opened with pray
er by Bishop Gailor. of Tennessee. Major
]. w. Thomas president of the Exposition
Association, then arose, and was received
with cheers. He said in part: These
grounds and buildings were dedicated TO
the honor and glory of Tennessee, in COM
memoration of an event which transpired
June l. 1896, and as a tribute to the men
and women who have endured the hard
ships of frontier life that they might found
IL great commonwealth. They loved the
banner of our country with its little clus
ter of fifteen stars, and the lapse of 100
years has not impaired this patriotism;
for the people of Tennessee. still lave the
same banner. with its constellation of
forty-fve stars, representing forty-tive SOW
ereign states, which constitute the greatest
nation of the world.
The objects of this centennial exposition
are TO commemorate the past. present the
advantages of the present, and inspire hope
for the future-objectS SO laudable that the
ent;erprse m has reseiI s ed the approval OF the the
| celebration is prompted by reverence to the
past, it is also prompted by a desire to
advertise and proclaim our advantages, so
| that thousands from other states will see
what we have accomplished and realize the
marvellous wealth of our undeveloped re-
sources. While the past century has not
| been one of continuous peace and prosperi-
| ty, yet there has been more of prosperity
| than of adversely, and as we look back to
| the pioneer days of Tennessee we are proud
| of the achievements of tie past and re-
joiGe in the advantages. of the present.
The next speech was by Governor Robert
front of the platform the crowd rose as
one man and it was some time before he
could proceed with his address.
At the conclusion of Governor Taylor's
address the band struck up Dixie" and
the building thundered with applause.
When quiet once more reigned Major E. C.
Lewis, director general, gave a short histo-
ry of the building of the exposition and
formally turned over the keys to President
Thomas.
Then at given signal President McKin-
ley was notified at the White House and
touched an electric button. AS the band
played Hail Columbia" the machinery he
exposition was opened TO the world.
The idea of celebrating the centennial
first suggested about six years ago. but
| nothing was definitely decided on until
| convention composed of all mercantile or
ganizations and individuals favoring the
celebration was held here in June. 1894.
In the November following the county
voted S5O0Oo, to the stock and before 1885
ha a rod tnair rlp 1,
Fifty-third congress declined to make an
appropriation and the people of Nashville
West Side park was chosen for the location
and the city council subscribed 100000. The
legislature next gave $4,000 and when the
next congress saw the extent of the sue
cess already attained, it appropriated $780,
600 for the erection of a special building
and the installation of an exhibit. This,
with the appropriations made by various
Tennessee counties and cities. made the 20
tai cost of the exposition exceed $1,000, 800.
The exposition grounds are within a
quarter of an hours ride from the business
center of the city and cover an area of 200
acres. One of the principal buildings is the
Parthenon, said to be faithful reproduc-
ton of the historic structure in Athens. 1t
is used as an art gallery. The Machinery
building is also of Greek order and Is S1Sx
1SS feet. The Commerce building measures
5glX256 feet and Is surmounted by a dome
1,5 feet high.
The agricultural building is an imposing
structure with n Central dome fianked on
either side by three minor domes. A chill
dren's building was constructed entirely
from funds collected by the children The
negro building is of especial interest as
1t shows the progress of the race from the
old slavery days to the present. The trans
portation exhibit has been arranged by
President j. W. Thomas. of the Nashville.
Chattanooga & St. Louis railway, who is
also president of the Exposition Associa-
tion. Mrs. Kirkman is at the head of the
woman's department and the building was
designed after the Hermitage Andrew
Jackson's home, by Miss Sara Ward Com
ley.
The art gallery is said to surpass the
collection shown at the exposition in Chi
cago. The number of foreign exhibits tes-
titles to the international character of the
exposition, all the European countries be-
ing represented. as well as Asia, Africa
and South America.
The giant see-saw is the principal feat
ure of the exposition's Midway Plais-
ance." or Vanity Fair, as it has been
named at Nashville.
Special attention seems to have been
given to the decorative electrical illumi-
nation of the grounds and buildings All
of the buildings. with the exception of
the United States government building, will
be Illuminated nightly.
The greatest live stock display ever held
in the South will open in September and
about $50 900 will be given as nrernirp,s