The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-01


Vicksburg, Miss.-The Dedication
Exercises to BE Held on May 90.
BUFFALO, May President Nc
Kinley pressed an electric button at
Vicksburg. Miss, at $3.50 o'clock this
morning and put in motion the Inachin-
cry OF the Pan-Anerfcan Exposition
which viii continue to move fer the
next six months.
The formal dedication of the Exposi-
ton viii take place on May 20 when
there VIII be speeches and an appro-
pirate musical programme. the storm Of
two weeks ago having necessitated a
change in the plans Of the managers. It
was originally intended that the great
fair should be formally opened today.
When Mr.. Mckinley reached Vicks-
burg this morning everything was in
! readiness for the act by which he was
to send the electric current that should
start the Exposition machinery in this
city. TIE President entered the teIe-
graph Office, placed his hand on an op-
orators key, and closed the circuit that
caused the power to begin its work here.
The man who heard the click here was
W. / Buchanan, the director general,
and as it fell upon his ear. the wheels
began to move and several Of the foun-
tains began TO send their crystal
streams skyward.
The hour at which the President
touched the button in vicksburg was
too early for a crowd here and there
were comparatively few persons at the
Exposition grounds. Besides, day
more like the middle of March than the
first Of May greeted RuffaIcniaEs when
the Exposition gates were unostenta-
tiously thrown open. The air is raw
and cold and a brisk wind blows from
the lake Nevertheless, there are many
strangers in the city and indications
are that there win be a large attend
ance by this afternoon, notwithstand-
ing the fact that the admission fees
have been increased for an incomplete
display. Although 1t was not intended
to make any special display today. mer-
chants and citizens decorated their
houses literally with flags and bunting
and the streets have a holiday appear
ance
A programme that contains several
unique features has been arranged for
this afternoon. Il provides for the for
nal opening of the Government Build
ing with a salute Of forty-five bombs,
one for each State. Shortly after 3
o'clock there viii be a fight OF three
thousand carrier pigeons The birds
are from all parts Of the United States
north OF Georgia and east OF the Mis-
sissippi River. Each viii bear q mes
sage announcing The opening Of the
fair.
Concerts will also be given BY the
Sfxty-fifth and Seventy-fOurth Regi-
ment bands during the afternoon The
Exposition viii remain open until II
O'Clock tonight and there VIII be an IL
l,Irnf1ation Of all the buildings COM
pIeted as soon as darkness falls
There IS no point of the appearance oE
the Exposition which Is the subject Of
more talk than the eoIors used The
snowy. whiteness of the buildings Of the
Chicago Fair IS missed. and with it de-
parts the kind Of effectiveness which
was gained by that means The place
has net that Iightness and briIliancy
which the Chicago Fair had. Nobody
excfaIms. as so many did in Chicago,
that it is ike a Fairy City" some
times the coloring is in good taste and
effective, and sometimes it is rather
crude and heavy. In general it helps
the appearance Of single buildings more
than that of the collection Of buildings
looked at altogether.
But whatever the Exposition lacks or
loses by day it makes up by night The
evening view OF the collection of build
inss is a marvel of beauty. And it is
also beautifuI-it might be said espe-
ciany beautiful-when seen at dis
tance- Then the whole form Of the Ex-
position is seen marked out IN fire. And
the high electric tower. the triumph Of
the fair, by day or by night, rises over
it ali. a glowing and shimmering pillar
gf pure white light It is a glimpse OF
distant fairyIand in the darkness, what
ever It is in the day. And this is a
sight which nobody who comes to the
fair need miss Neither Paris nor Chi
cago could show anything like 1t, and
what iIiuninations they had were
shown only on certain evenings But
all the brightness Of this Exposition
viii be displayed every night, and 1t
will be a picture to be treasured up
and remembered by all who come.
Lieutenant Commander Hobson, who
arrived yesterday, took charge Of the
United States naval exhibit and viii re-
main here until the close
Lieut. Juan L AtweIl, Naval Attache
to the Argentine Legation at Washing
ton and Commissioner Of that Republic
TO the Exposition, is also here and
hopes 70 complete the installation Of the
exhibit by this afternoon. Il includes
samples of cereals, hardYoods. miner
ais. onyx, and marble. a feature Of the
exhibit will be forty different charts
showing at & glance the commercial
status OF the country.
Only a few places on the Midway will
be open for business today, but It is
thought that many persons will avail
themselves Of the days between now
and May % TO become familiar with the
locations and not lose time when nearly
all the sights may be seen
1t is not claimed that the Exposition
is complete IN some respects L does
not approach completion. But the
Worlds Columbian Exposition was not
complete when it was opened by Presi-