The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-02
TranS-Mississippi Exposition Opened
With Imposing Ceremonies.
BIG CROWD ATTENDED
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEG
PIE ON THE GROUNDS.
Mckinley Pressed the Button That
Started the Machinery-Great
Civic Parade Three Miles Long
National Marine Band Gave a Con-
cert-President's Congratulations

Omaha, June 1.-Amid the music of
100 bands, the cheers CT 100000 people,
the blast of many whistles and the
waving of innumerable flags, the trans
Mississippi exposition was dedicated
! this morning. Nothing occurred to mar
the occasion. At $3.50 o'clock the great
civic parade started on its march from
the center of the city to the grounds.
The national marine band led the splen-
did pageant and 100 musical organiZa-
tons from the various states in the
midwest contributed to the occasion.
The parade was three miles long,
consisting of the officers and guests of
the exposition in carriages, the semi
military organizations and all the Sc
cret societies of this and adjacent
states. The special trains continued to
unload their crowds until the railroad
men estimated that at least 100000 peo-
pie had arrived. These, mingled with
the citizens of Omaha, formed one
solid phalanX along the route of the
parade for ten miles.
Rev. DIR. Nichols of st. Louis opened
the exercises at the grounds with an
appeal TO The who doeth all things
we'll" to shower his blessings on the
enterprise and the people of the trans
Mississippi region, especially President
G. w. Wattles, Hon. John L. Webster
of Omaha and Hon John N. Baldwin of
Council Bluffs, eulogized the occasion.
STARTED BY M'KINLEY.
Following the dedicatory exercises,
the officials and guests adjourned to
machinery hall. They were anticipated
by crowd that was measured by the
dimensions of the building. Just as the
hands of the big clock showed the hour
of l, President Mckinley, from his seat
in the White House, touched the button
connected with his telephone. 1t was
connected with a direct circuit to
Omaha, controlling the power in ma
chinery hall. Slowly the great wheels
of the mechanism began to revolve,
gradually the speed of the wheels in
creased, until the hum of the shaft
reached the normal-the electric spark
liberated by the Presidents hands had
given life to the giant plant and all the
smaller machinery of the entire grounds
receiving inspiration from the same
source, began its routine work. This
was the conclusion of the formal ex-
ercises.
In the afternoon, at o'clock, the ma
tional marine band gave a concert,
which was attended by many thousand
people. 1t is estimated that over 100000
people passed the gates during the day.
EXPOSITION MUSIC.
The music of the exposition has been
planned on a broad basis, with Mr..
Willard Kimball as director. The Them
as orchestra, Marine band, Apollo club
of Chicago, and later in the season,
some of the famous artists for recital
work, will leave little to be desired. a
novel idea is the giving of three after
moons to producing original manuscripts
by American composers. American. mu-
sic is to have marked attention
throughout the exposition.
The congress of music, separately,
under the guidance of Mr.. Homer
Moore, will be great educational fac
tor. Prominent people throughout the
land will read essays on music and dis
cuss various musical topics with play
ers and singers of note to Illustrate all
The G~ltest ensemble
effects will be produced by the choral
numbers and glees, which have been in
rehearsal for months, under
Mr. Thomas ]. Kelly's artistic direction.
The opening days music will go down
in history as one of the bright days in
American music.