The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-21
NOTED MEN PARTICIPATE
The Severe Weather Dis
 arranged the Program.
General Holiday Prevailed Throughout Missouri and Other States Carved Out of the
 Louisiana Purchase.
Holiday Prevailed

Sr. Louis, Dec. 2o.-The first public celebration in conn sction with the Worlds Fair to be opened in St. Louis in 1903. in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, was held today, when ground was broken on the site of Forest Park. This day was selected for the event be- cause 1t is an anniversary of the formal transfer of the Louisiana Territory to the United States.
 The day was holiday in St. Louis and throughout Missouri. as well as in most of the Purchase States. whose Governors issued proclamations asking for a general observance of Louisiana Purchase Flag Day." Owing to the unusual severity oi the weather. the open air ceremonies at- tending the grornd-breaking, were trans ferred to the Coliseum. and the parade was abandoned.
 At the appointed time. the directors and officers of the Louisiana Park Pur- chase Ex position Company, General John c. Bates, Major Henry Hunter, 18th United States Cavalry, and other army officers, Governors of States and guests assembled at the St. Louis Club. Car riages were taken and the party was driven to Forest Park, where the cere- mony of breaking ground was carried out. A hugh fire had been built on the structural site of the EducationaI build ing to soften the ground. Arriving at the site, the party assembled at the place in- dicated and wielded the shovel in this order:
 x,.nmaAn~A rao.~sz xa.nu.e. rp.~o-,... xxy H. Thompson, Secretary Walter B. Stew. sns, General Counsel Blair, Director oi Exhibits siKif. Director of Works Taylor Chief of the Department of Education Rogers, and the architect of the Educa- tional building, Vice. Presidents of the Exposition Company, members of the Fix ecutive Committees representatives of ths Worlds Fair National Coinmittee, and the Board of Lady Managers and chair. men of each of the standing committees of, the company.
 As this part of the ceremony was being carried out, Battery A of the Missouri National Guard. fired sixty guns.
 At the conclusion of this part of the cerem sny. the carriages were re-entered by the party and were driven down town. Stopping at the Armony of the 1at in- fantry, Missouri National Guard, Colo nel sinclaire commanding, the party was received with military honors, and es- eorted to the Coliseum, where the re- mainder of the program was carried out
 On the platform at the Coliseum were seated officers of the Worlds Fair. mu- nicipal officials. Congressman Tawney and Governor JeM Davis of Arkansas. the orators of the day, Governor of the State, National Commissioners. members of the Board of Lady Managers, General Bates and stafr and other iRvited guests,
 Worlds Fair Commissioner John M Allen of Mississippi. who was to have followed Mir. Tawney with an address was detained in Kansas City and Gov ernor Jeff Davis of Arkansas was sub stituted. Governor Davis predicted the Worlds Fairs success. He said:
 q came from Arkansas. the greatest State in the Louisiana purchase which joins hand in hand with Missouri and St. Louis to make this the greatest fail ever held. Arkansas will make the hnest exhibit of any State to be seen at the coming exposition"