Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-09
Ceremony in Chicago in Which Pres
ident Took Part.
THOUSANDS WITNESS FUNCTION
Speeches by Secretary Gage and
Postmaster General Smith.
DISTINGUISHED MENPRESENT

the magnlHcent new 1euerai DuiiulHS VI
Chicago. The event was the GROWING fea-
ture of the weeks celebration marking the
annual observance of Chicago day. Long
before the hour set for the ceremonies the
streets surrounding the block on which the
steel skeleton of the new building STANDS
were packed from curb to curb with push
irg. jostling people, anxious to get a
glimpse of the naticns President and the
distinguished visitors from other countries,
while every window in the gaily decorated
skyscrapers surrounding the federal build
ing was taken advantage of. Even on the
steel Orders of the federal building itself
were perched hundreds of venturesome
curiosity seekers.
In the angle formed by the south and
west wings of the federal building at Jack
son boulevard and Dearborn street. ana IN
front of the Union League Club review
ing stand had been erected for the accom-
mediation of the distinguished visitors, IN
Guiding Vice President Mariscal ana party
of Mexico Premier Laurier of Canada ana
other notables of that country; members
of president McKineys cabinet and the
diplomatic corps at Washington; senators
and representatives, and otner nvlteu
guests. When President Mckinley threw
the first trowelful of mortar under the up
lifted block of limestone and pronounced
the corner stone set one OF the most nota-
Bile gatherings ever in Chicago looked on.
President Greeted by Cheers.
Shortly before 10 o'clock a roar OF cheers
from down Jackson boulevard announced
the coming of President Mckinley and his
partv. 1t was with considerable difficulty
that the troops of cavalry and the police
forming the presidential escort could clear
a space wide enough for the carriages con-
tanning the President and members OF his
cabinet and other guests to pass ana as
the carriages slowly made their way up the
boulevard toward the federal building the
applausa became continuous. The Prcsi-
dent frequently arose and do1ed MS nat III
response. At the entrance OF the Union
league Club the President and the MEM
hers of his party alighted. and after brle1
reception were escorted across Jackson
boulevard to the platform In front OF the
federal building. perfect hurricane OF
cheers greeted the President as he was
escorted TO the dais at the side OF when
the corner stone was suspended, ready for
the ceremony. The President warmly
81 eeted the officials, then turned and bowed
to the group of brawny-armed workmen
who were to complete the laying of the
corner stone. Judge Christian C. koh'saat
chairman Of the committee on ceremonies
introduced Secretary of the Treasury Ly-
man J. Gage as presiding officer for the
corner stone exercises. The Secretary was
warmly cheered as he stepped forward.
Secretary Cages Remarks.
Secretary Gage said in part:
The long history of human society Is best
known to US by the monuments which pass
ing generations have left behind them.
These monuments, whether in form of
temple or pyramid, record for us the stage
of art and mechanical knowledge enjoyed
by the people by whom they We're builded
The temple may now be a ruin. The tribe
Of people who worshiped therein may have
from written history. But their
works, still preserved. remain silent yet
elo uuent witnesses of their ideals and their
aspirations. From the orient vaguely out
lir ed in the remotest past in the occident
papitating with the activities of present
civilization. the way is marked with the
evidences that man is a monument builder
that society, by an instinct always existing.
seeks to immortalize itself by embodying
its best thoughts in some enduring form.
Each age. each social organism has acted
after its own ideals and in strict conformity
t. its own stage of advancement
1t is in accord with this inner law written
by the Creator in the heart of man that we
are here today-joined as one-to lay the
corner stone Of the temple to others builded
by the nation. Designed to serve the pres
ent needs of a civic state, 1t will neverthe-
less witness to the future the best con-
ceptions of free people living in this
western land in the closing years Of the
nineteenth century.
Restraint of Omcial Duty.
The moment is full of inspiring thoughts;
eloquent words wait for the orator to utter
them. If such words could be mine 1t would
not be my privilege to speak them. Re
strained by official duty, 1 cannot even
voice my own emotions, excited as they are
by the remembrance that for more than
forty years this spot to be honored by the
genius of the architect and the skill of the
artisan, has been as familiar to me as has
been my daily life. The city we love is to
have a temple worthy of her greatness.
The nation we love Is to fittingly express
on this spot her best conception of art made
to serve utility.
Representatives of other nations are here
TO do us honor and to share with us in our
JOY and pride. The honored chief executive
of our own republic Is here to put the
trowels first touch to the noble edifice |
have said art is here to remain the sery-
ant of utility In the great building the
public business of the people is to be
transacted. The federal courts. the agency
OF the revenues. and last but not least,
the great postal department is here to eff.
clently administer its important function.
AT the conclusion of Secretary Cages
orlef address Rev Frank w. Gunsaulus of.
Tered short but impressive prayer, the
President and all the members Of his party
uncoVering as DR.. Gunsaulus asked a bless
ing on the ceremony
secretary Gage introduced Postmaster
General Smith He was also greeted wifi
much applause.
Postmaster Generals Sneech
Mr. Smith said, in part:
This ceremonial, led by the President o,
the republic in the imposing presence O
distinguished national representatives anf
foreign dignitaries and of this great multi
tude of citizens. is fifty associated will
Chicago day. The stately structure who's
cornerstone is now laid. symbolizes in ;
large sense the dignity and power of tn,
United States. But in a direct and prac
teal sense 1t represents the business lif,
and activity of Chicago 1t is the nation
visible seal and stamp upon the commercial
rank and Importance of this splendid city
The development Of the country within {
period of thirty years on all its materis,
sides seems like "such stuff as dreams ar,
made of" In 1870 the total receipts o
the postal service were $40 772 30, and it
total expenditures s23y3s. s37. This year W,
shall spend SlO5.0O0.0OO, and our receipt
will be SJ,OOo0O0. While our population
not counting the new possessions. has dou
| bled. the postal business has multiplied
nearly five-fold. The figures in othe
realms tell the same fabulous story. Sine
| 1879 the distributed wealth of tn
! country has increased from $27 900
] 100000 to over So.0Oo,000,000. This un