Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-14
The PARIS SAQN' OPEN
Tho Great Exposition Of All Coun.
tries 0nicially Declared Open
At Noon Today.
Vast Crowds 1hrong the Great
French Metropolis, Which is
Gaily Decorated.
The Grounds and Buildings Truly
49, a 81

The Grounds and Buildings Truly,
Beautiful-America the Great.
est Exhibitor.
| Paris. April 14.-At noon today
\ France opened to the world the crown
ling exposition of all countries. The
most favorable weather conditions pre-
walled and the innumerable bright col-
ored domes and minarets glistened in
the sunshine. Paris was early astiri
with people vending their way towards
the Elysee and in the direction of the
exposition in hope Of witnessing the
presidential procession at some part of
its journey.
4 All the public buildings and number
Hess private houses were decorated
with trophies or flags, chiefly the tri-
color. The neighborhood OF the expo
sition was especially gay with bunting,
while most of the pavilions themselves
were surrounded with floating ban
ners. Within the exposition grounds
this morning all was hustle and anima-
tion in supreme effort to clear away
all unsightly obstacles, in order to
1ileave an unobstructed road and an ex-
lternal appearance of completeness to
I the palaces for the presidential party
lin its passage thru the grounds and the
4 finishing touches We're hastily given
the magnificent Sale Des Fetes. The
4 aspect of the exposition is materially
improved from even that of yesterday,
and altho the installation of exhibits
has naturally undergone little advance,
the external effect produced by the in
cessant labors of the past couple of
days is already fine and decidedly pic
turesque.
The unfinished condition Of the expo.
lisition on inauguration day Is regretta.
BILE and perhaps misleading. II must be
borne in mind that this is only a pass
ling phase and on its completion within
4 three weeks orsrnore from now the ex-
4 position will indisputably be the most
attractive and magnificent yet seen.
Americans especially will be proud of
their country's display, for the United
States stands second only to France in
the number Of exhibitors, which are
treble those of any foreign country.
America has three times the number
|gof exhibitors France had at the world s
fair in Chicago. She occupies $500
4 square feet with her forty seven dis
l3tinct exhibition spaces, thirty-three in
4 the main exhibition grounds and four
4 lteen in the Nincennes annex, excluding
n the ground covered by our eagle sur
1 mounting the national pavilion on the
A Quai d'Orsay. American enterprise
a however. is not only shown in the size
:. of its representation, but also in the
preparedness Of her installation, COM
II pared with that of most other coun-
sItries, and it can safely be said that but
: for the dilatoriness of French workmeE
. and methods the American exhibits
]. would have been exposed in their show
leases to today's visitors. Unfortunately
French tardiness has hampered all
Il American efforts to rush matters. Thus
lin most of our show spaces everything
sl lis prepared and the glass cases are
ready to receive the exhibits, but the
American officials We're afraid to dis
play the valuable articles to the likeli-
hood OF damage by the clouds of dus,
arising from work on adjacent embry-
onic installations. The highest testi-
!. mcnial to Americanhood comes from
!, Commissioners General Picquart him
q self. After comparing the state Of
progress of the installations of the va.
rious nations, he said to Commissioner
Peck: ..It is an object lesson to us al
Ito see the American people work
thank you for your promptitude ant
!, 1.-THE advanced condition of the work ir
Il the United States sections"
Il After drive thru the exposition
grounds Loubet and party arrived al
! the Sale des Fetes. where the forma
!, Iopening ceremonies We're to take place
The spectacle inside the building wa:
brilliant with color and animation. The
immense circus-shaped hall Is deco
rated with magnificent frescoes, repre-
senting allegorical subjects by famou:
French artists. Every inch OF fool
space was occupied by an assemblagt
, representing French arts, letters, sci.
, ences, and incluring military. nava
, and political men of France. Presiden
Loubet as he stood in the presidential
. tribunal, surrounded by members OF hi:
cabinet and household. opened the ex
position with the words: II declar,
the exposition of 1900 open" Whe1
I the president finished these words ther,
were cries of "Vive Loubet" and .viv,
la republlque" from the assemblage.
Millerand and Loubet were the onl,
speakers at the ceremonies today.
The Paris Universal exposition 10 To-
!, Gated almost In the very heart Of tn,
: city. The grounds cover about 36
acres. OF which 26S acres are covered
with buildings and landscape garden
ing. Thoae who remember the Whit,
City which Chicago built in jackson
park will notice that the Paris exposi