Arizona republican., 1900-07-04
THE DAY FOR PATRIOTISM
Glorious Fourth Given a Good and
 Noisy Start.

To announce that this is Indepen- dence Day may be far from neces- sity, but the assertion that the day was not given an suspicious start would certainly be a base and unpa- triotic prevarication. From sundown last night until early dawn this morn
 ing it would not have been hard for a blind man to imagine himself at Mafeking hidden away in one of Baden-Powell's bomb proofs There was a considerable amount of deSul- tory firing carly in the night. and the sound as of musketry and Maxims was only a mild introduction to the fusilade at midnight. From 6 o'clock until F there was no intermission in the racket, but the early nOise was not fit to be compared with the grand climax at the start of the new day. After 1 o'clock there was some semblance of quietude, but before 4 o'clock the juvenile populace was at it in earnest and will not stop until it's money is gone and its fireworks exhausted to- night. Dealers in fireworks all report unusually large sales in Fourth of July supplies and the celebration to- day promises of a certainty to bear th5m out. Nearly all the stores will close at noon and several of them even earlier The official programme is to commence at 9:15 o'clock, with the band concert at the court house plaza and the reading there of the Declara- tiOn of Independence. From 10 to F o'clock the fire department will give an exhibition on Washington street, between Fourth and Center streets, and after the noon internission the band will give another concert at the court house. The bicycle race will start at Fourth avenue, on Washing | ton street, at ? o'clock, and end at Clnter street. The foot race will be next and will start at Second avenU.l- on Washington street, the sack race occurring at the same point. At 2:40 o'clock the cannon at the city hall plaza will be unveiled by the c; A. R. and band concert there will prs recede the chief drawing card of the after noon-the balloon ascension. This event will occur from a lot on Washington street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, at $40 o'clock. At 7:38 D. m. the bf- cycle parade will start from the board
 
 prominent residence streets. disban'l- ing in time for the grand finale of the day, the big fireworks exhibition oI; West Washington street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues.
 Reports from surrounding towns and the country assure q large crowI in the city, and q number of people drove .u last evening. The aeronauts who will make the ascension arrived yesterday morning and had completed last night all arrangements for the ascen- sion. Many business houses have. been handsomely decorated for the day and some of them are elabordtaly adorned.
 The bicycle parade promises to be an Interesting feature, as a great many riders have called for lanterns and are decorating their wheels with the in- tcntion of competing for the prizes. The judges are Judge W. H. StilweI. Vernon l.. Clark and .IIs. NJ. F.. Han. TEe prizes are $1O for the bes, deco- rated lady's wheel and $1O for the best decorated gentleman's wh- el. Lan- terms can be had at Mansfield & Rhodes store or at the office uf the secretary of the Phoenx Bicycle club, "com Gooding building. The parade VIII form on Center street, and start ing promptly at o'el9ek, will pass over the route given. All are requested 70 be at the board of trade rooms as near 1:SO o'clock as possible.
 The judges of the bicycle race are Hugh Creighton, Claude Berrymil and L. T. Mansfield. MT. Henry George will act as starter. Those desiring to enter the race and who have not yet given their names to the secretary of the bicycf club should do so as soon as possibid as entries close at F o'clock. ThF race is open to all riders and the pc fe is SIC.