Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-11

be opened at noon on Thursday next
and remain open, Sundays excepted, I'M
Til November 30th Less than five
months ago the first spadeful of dirt
was turned up for the foundation of the
superb buildings which have been COM
pleted at cost of more than a million
dollars This splendid exhibition of
American enterprise quickness is in it
self an indication of the scope and
character of the exposition, and the vast
auditorium, in which the opening cere-
monies will be held is a striking illus
tration of the largeness of the under
taking. Although a magnificent music
hall, with an amphitheatre large enough
to accommodate an audience of 5000
people, it forms but part of the ehor-
nous main building of the exposition.
The stage alone of the auditorium has
a capacity for 600 singers, in addition
70 space for public speakers and the
caring for very large number of dis
tinguished personages and guests who
will be present on the opening day, and
upon other occasions during the pro-
gress of the exhibition. The opening
ceremonies on Thursday. which are to
be held in the chief structure OF the ex-
position, will be attended with much
solemnity and interest The Governor
of the State, Mayor of the city and re-
personalities Of the government at
Washington. and of many of the great
est nations of the world will be present.
and that widely popular organization,
the United States Marine Band. to-
gether with 600 trained singers under
the leadership of Prof. Rosewig, are
preparing a musical programme which
will extend through large part Of the
day.
As at present arranged, President
Widener, of the exposition association.
will turn over the exposition to Gov
ernor Stone, who is in turn to deliver
it into the custody of the Mayor OF the
city, and Congressman Hepburn will ac-
cept joint supervision of the enter
prise on behalf of President Mckinley,
thus establishing it upon the broad
basis of city, State and national in
dorsement. The address and ceremon-
les of the day, which will be participate
ed in by Archbishop Ryan, OF this
Catholic diocese. and other prominent
clergymen, will be Of the most interest
ing character.
The display Of manufactured pro-
ducts which have a present or contem-
plated foreign market is very complete,
and the methods of manufacture show
ing the progress in the making and the
completion Of needle or a cuff but
ton, or of giant locomotive or a great
bridge, will be everywhere before the
eye in varied and almost endless sue
cession. The beauty and extent OF the
buildings themselves. as now completed
compare with the best product OF the
Centennial exposition or the Chicago
Worlds Fair. The United States gov
eminent, in addition to a very large
appropriation towards the buildings
themselves, has expended $4,000 in the
selection of samples from abroad OF
wares, business data and samples,
which form an exhibit not only of
value to the business men who visit the
exposition, but are of absorbing inter-
est to the merely curious OF the gen.
eral public.
There are miles Of aisles and hun
dreds of thousands of displays along
them in the buildings themselves and
the grounds and approaches to the FIVE
structures comprising the main build
ings and their sister groups are very
pleasing A feature Of the exhibits will
be an extensive display OF automobiles.
every sort OF horseless vehicle having
a place in the display. A brilliant
musical programme has been arranged.
On the Esplanade the public finds
great variety OF amusements riyalling
in some respects the famous Midway
Of the Chicago fair. This includes
Chinese village Of $50 persons, and all
the variety Of Chinese religion and do
nestle life.
There are also such things as an ORR
entail theatre, an Indian village, an old
Southern plantation, blarney stone and
the blue Killarney lakes. and many pic
lures, shows and novelties Of al kinds.
The international commercial con-
gress. which Is TO be opened in the ex-
position auditorium about the tenth OF
October. under the supervision Of Di-
rector Wilson. will be represented, in
addition 10 the presence Of President
Diaz. OF Mexico. by thirty foreign gov
ernments and more than one hundred
and twenty-five foreign chambers OF
commerce have named delegates. The
sessions of the congress will continue
for about three weeks.