The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-14
NJ. Loubet to Inspect the Structures
and Respond to NJ. MiIIerand's
Inaugural Address.
SPLENDID STREET
VIEWS
WHAT THE PRESIDENT WILL SEE AT
THE SHOW THIS AFTERNOON.
Alexander Bridge to Be Declared
Open-FormaI Opening of the
Great Exposition on Sunday.

PARIS, April 13.-The exposition authori
ties are making a strenuous effort to pre-
pare the show for the Inauguration to-mor-
row, but an examination of the grounds
and buildings to-day shows the task is
impossible. The buildings are filled with
debris, and the exhibits are only partially
installed. The Sale des Fetes, in which
the inaugural ceremonies are planned to
take place tomorrow, has an army of men
clearing the floor space and arranging the
seats. The work will continue all night
and close to the hour when the invited
guests arrive. The hall is a magnificent
structure. beautifully decorated. and is a
great tribute to French architecture and
decorative art. In order to facilitate the
labor of clearing the grounds thousands of
soldiers have been utilized.
The ceremonies are timed to begin at 2
o'clock. when M. Millerand. the minister
of commerce. will make the inaugural ad-
Gress, to which President Loubet will re-
Fly. The President will then walk through
portion of the grounds. and afterwards
embarking on river craft he will go down
the River Seine to the new Alexander III
bridge, which he will formally declare
open. The exposition grounds will be closed
for the remainder of the day. the formal
opening to the public taking place on Sun
day
The whole exposition space Is covered
this evening with fiickering lights and
hordes of workmen are busily engaged in
clearing away scaffolding, packing cases
and debris of every kind, which still litter
all the arteries of the exposition. This
work is only to prepare series of tableaux
for the President tomorrow. as he will not
enter the exposition buildings proper. but
only inspect the edifices from the outside,
for the excellent reason that the buildings.
where finished, are thus far mere shells,
with scarcely any exhibits to be seen any
where. After NJ Loubet's visit tomorrow
these scaffoldings will be rebuilt and the
interrupted work of installation will be re-
sumed. The success of the inauguration
ceremony will depend largely on the wealth
er tomorrow, which happily promises to be
fine. Otherwise the exposition grounds will
become veritable slough Of despond.
Despite the incomplete condition of the
exposition, President Loubet will be able to
enjoy three splendid views. The first is the
view down the Champs de Mars from the
Trocadero to the Chateau dEau, with ar
tistic palaces on either side and with the
center bestrode by the immense arches of
the Eiffel tower. The second is the vista
from the Champs Elysees across the new
Alexander bridge to the Hotel des Inval-
ides with the gilded dome of the tomb Of
Napoleon I, rising up at the farther end
and fiariked firstly by an avenue of trees
and then by white facades of handsome
edifices in which will be collected the ex-
hibits classed under the varied industries.
These facades are being embellished by
| groups of sculpture and by huge and eff
fective paintings of allegorical subjects. The
third prospect is the scene looking along
| the Seine embankment, on which are erect
| ed the national pavilions of the foreign ma
| tions, each of which is reproduction of
some famous building typifying the ma
| tional architecture of the country 1t repre-
sents. The bright colors and diversified
styles of these structures will present an
unrivaled panoramic view to the occupants
| of the presidential barge on the voyage up
| the Seine from the Trocadero to the Alex
| ander bridge.
| NJ. Loubet has decided to celebrate the in
auguration by pardoning all army and
navy prisoners who are undergoing sem
tences for minor offenses. All sailors and
soldiers are to receive special ration of
| wine tomorrow.
| A list of about fifty decorations of the
| Legion of Honor, conferred upon French
| exposition officials, has been promulgated.
1 N Alfred Picard. the commissioner gen.
eral. heads the list with the grand cross.