The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-02
TENNESSEE'S EXPOSITION.
FORMALLY OPENED BY M,KJN-
LEY PUSHING A BUTTON.
Exhibits, However, Are Not Nearly
Complete and it Will Be Several
Days Ere They Are in Ship Shape.

Nashville Tenn. May Following a
night cold and dreary, a night casting
gloom over an entire city, where all the
people were anxiorsiy hoping for a
! typical May morning. bright, warm and
beautiful upon which TO celebrate the
actual opening of the Tennessee Cen
tennial exposition. came day surprising
and delichting expectant thousands A
bright, cloudless day dawned, but cold.
with a chilling north wind blowing. The
eject of the rain during the night van
ished. the wind dried the earth. and
when the children's parade, including
knights of Pythias. Tennessee Guard
OHIO, the sponsors and maids of honor
OF the Essence order. with brass bands
and fying colors. marched along the
decorated streets, the throngs forgot the
cold and wind and dismissed their fore
bodings.
AT o'clock the gates of the Tennessee
Centennial exposition were opened and
people began To arrive. BY O'Clock the
forum. the building, holding 5000 people
was filed. The brief and simple pro
gramme was carried out before one of
the most brilliant gatherings ever as
sembied in Tennessee On the platform
were the exposition officers and commit
tees, Governor Taylor and his staff the
chief justice and associated justices of
the supreme court, members OF the WON
ars board and the mayor of Nashville,
United States Senator W. 3. Bate, and
hundreds OF prominent citizens.
President John W. Thomas. at Il
O'Clock. with q historical gavel. raped
for order, and Ri. Rev. Thomas F. Gay
lord. coadjutor bishop of Tennessee Of
fered prayer. President Thomas. Gov
ernor Taylor. Chief Justice Snodgrass.
w NJ Mccarthy. John Thompson,
speaker of the state senate. and Morgan
&. Fitzpatrick. speaker of the house OF
representatives. delivered brief addresses.
After the addresses. President Thomas
dictated on the stage the following mes
sage to President Mckinley:
TO the President'of. the United States of
70 America. Westinghouse. c.
The people Of Tennessee send greet
ing and request that you now put in
motion the machinery of the Tennessee
Centennial exposition.
IN few minutes the roar of artillery
was heard echOing and re-echoing through
the building and over the grounds. Presi-
dent Mckinley had pressed the button;
the exposition was opened; the machinery
had started.
d.torium ended and the people gathered
around the immense fountain represent
ing Electricity, built, by Moretti. TO wit
cesS the ceremony of its presentation
president of the woman's board. Gov
ernor Taylor introduced Mrs. Kirkman
II brief speech. and Mrs. kirkman
briefly accepted the honor. and touched
the button and the water gushed forth.
A luncheon was served to the members
of the woman board and guests. and q
reception followed. During the afternoon
one of the most charming buildings. the
was formally opened with
exercises. This building was
ore of the chief centers of attraction
during the afternoon.
Among the distinguished visitors upon
the auditorium stage were eX-vice-preSi
dent Adlai F. Stevenson of Illinois and
Governor Stephens of Missouri.
ditorum attracted the growing crowds. |
a-d as the afternoon heightened the at
tendance increased until after o'clock |
when the tide set cityward.
The agricultural building has caught |
the fancy of visitors. It's decorations |
drew we'll and the building was filled all |
1ay. The mineral and forestry building |
with exhibits nearly complete. were much !
The government building
The commerce transportation and ma /
rhinery buildings were thronged The /
railway terminal station containing the (
EXHIBITS of several roads. was center !
If attraction.
Only a portion of the parthenon. the
art gallery, was opened. the pictures not |
being hung in two-thirds of the build /
NJ. but the pictures on the wall were |
tiewed by thousands. Tonight concerts /
Diete illumination of the grounds and |
ould:n~s by electricity drew thousands
n addition to those who waited on the
grounds for The night programme. Con
;erVat.ve estimates place the day and
lisht attendance at 10000.