The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-01
TENNESSEE'S BANNER DAY
PRESIDENT TO OPEN THE BIG
CENTENNIAL AT NOON.
The City is Open-Armed and Ready,
With Visitors Pouring in--The
SlSborate Programme.

Nashville. Tenn, April 30.-In spite of
constant rain for a week, delaying and
retarding work in every department, or
der has been made to take the place of
confusion and the Centennial city prac-
tically complete, With exhibits in every
building, is ready to throw open its gates
tomorrow morning. Visitors have been
coming all day, and tonight trains from
all directions brought in more. Hon.
Adlai T.. Stevenson, and party, Governor
Lon. V. Stevenson and Mrs. Stevenson,
of Missouri, have already come and will
participate in the simple opening cere-
monies. Though some of the buildings,
including the government building and
some of the special State buildings, will
not be fully completed for some days,
every building that is to contain exhibits
is ready for occupation and in all of them
are exhibits.
In twelve large and commanding struc-
lures busy scenes have been enacted
night and day this week, while exhibits
were put in place and finishing touches
given. These are the auditorium, par
thenOn, which is the art gallery, COM
merce. women's. agricultural, machinery,
minerals and forestry, transportation,
children's, historical, government, negro
and railway. The roads and walks,
shrubbery and grass are in excellent
condition, but the inclement weather has
prevented the removal of the flowers and
plants from the green houses. The Gin
cinnati, Knoxville and other city build
ingS are ready.
The exhibits made by the railroads,
both North and South, are extensive and
complete, and consist in large measure
of out-of-door displays of minerals. plants
and trees The official ceremonies to-
morrow will be brief and simple, with no
special effort at display, but marked by
dignity. The following programme will
be observed:
Parade of the Ancient Essenic Order
and other orders, with 1900 men in line,
starting promptly on Broad street, at $40
O'Clock, as an escort to Governor Robert
l.. Taylor, who will be accompanied by
State and city officials and his full staff.
Opening exercises in the auditorium at
IL a. m., with prayer by Bishop Gaylor,
when Governor Taylor. President
Thomas, Director General Lewis, Chief
Justice Snodgrass. of the State. Speaker
of the State Senate, Speaker of the House
and Major Mccarthy, will deliver short
addresses.
Starting. the machinery with the cleo
tric signal by President Mckinley at
noon.
Formal reception of the Moretti foun-
tain of electricity, on behalf of the wo-
mans board, at the woman's building,
when Mrs. V. l.. Kirkman, president of
the woman's board, assisted by the four
vice-presidents of the woman's depart
ment, Mrs. Florence X. Drouillard, Mrs.
c. n. GrOsvenor Mrs. X. w. Thomas,
and Miss Mary b. Temple, the secretary,
Miss Ada Scott Rice and the treasurer.
Mrs. r. f. Weakley, will be handed the
key with which to turn on the water and
start the fountain.
Public reception in the womans build
ing.
Opening exercises in the chidren's
building, beginning at 4 p. m.
Grand open-air concert at the band
stand, near Lake Watauga.
At night the domes and fronts of all the
buildings will be illuminated with elec-
tric lights, and the thousands of lights
about the grounds will be turned on.
Another open-air concert will be given, =
and the days festivities will close with q
grand display of fire works.