The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-12-27
GROUND Breaking DAY.
Official Ground Breaking For the
St. Louis Worlds Fair q
Cool Proceeding.
EXERCISES At THE SITE WERE BRIEF.
The OniciaIs, Speakers and Guests
Where the Programme 81
Speeches, Music, Etc. was Car
rIcd Out-Salute by Battery A.

ST. Louis, Dec. 20.-The breaking OF
ground at The Louisiana Purchase
exposition site was celebrated by the
board of directors, who assembled at
the 81. Louis club at 1880, and took
carriages for the site. After the
ground the party started
for the coliseum. Upon reaching the
armory the First regiment joined
them, acting as an escort the rest OF
the way. At the coliseum the pro-
grammc prepared for the grand stand
ut the site was carried out without
change.
The decision not to carry out the
programme originally drafted. pro-
yiding for procession, in which the
leading organizations OF the city
were to have participated, was
reached Thursday, when those who
had many features of the days work
in hand made trip to the site to
be sure that everything was in readi-
ness. At that time the thermometer
registered three degrees below zero.
The impracticability of holding an
open air ceremony was instantly per-
ccived. A report Of this fact was
made 10 the ceremonies committee,
resulting in meeting OF that body,
at which the changes were decided
upon. Battery A, however, fred the
salute. as originally arranged.
In addition to the board of di-
rcctors who met at the st. Louis
club, Gen. John c. Bates and his aid
de-camp, Lieut.. John McClintock,with
other members of his staff, joined
them and made the trip TO the site.
DR.. :. j. Nichols was also of the
or cold. an Invocation should be pro-
nounccd upon the beginning of the
big enterprise, and that he would per-
form that duty, according 10 the re-
quest made Of him.
Director of Works Isaac S. Taylor
had big fires built over the earth
where the ground breaking was to oc-
cur. so that the frost was removed
before the party arrived. The vei.i-
Gle with its four white horses to haul
away the earth played its designated
part.
At the coliseum President d. X.
Francis made the opening speech. in
Producing the orator Of the occasion,
Congressman James \. Tawney. of
Minnesota, who spoke in part as fol-
lows:
"A more propitious time for pro-
foundly impressing upon the world
the importance and glory of our
achievements, a more favorably OPP
portunity for displaying the splendor
IL our institutions, exhibiting the
tangible evidences Of the prosperity
Of our people, Of our supremacy as a
nation, and the vast extent of our
commercial and territorial expansion
has never before been presented to
the American people. Here the ma
tons OF the world will exhibit, for mu-
tual pleasure and profit. some of the
things they produce, those which will
oest typify and Illustrate the results
4 their civilization. their progress
and material development in every
thing thar can contribute or is essen
tal 10 the bettermcnt of mankind.
Thus will the world profit immeas-
nrabiy by this commemoration Of one
~ the greatest historical events in
the life IT one Of its youngest repub-
lies.
The Importance Of this exposition
ms means Of educating ourselves and
other nations in the knowledge of
these things that make us the fore
most nation Of the globe. can not be
overestimated. 1t will be important
and beneficial. too. in that IL will give
10 our social and industrial fabric n
moral and an intellectual significance
mat is the pride of America and the
envy Of the world One Of its chief
values. however. will be in the on
portunity for strengthening and cml-
iivating more intimate social and in
dustrial relations between the states
ana between the United States and
foreign countries.
Another great object TO he accom-
plisied. one that transcends all 9th
ers, Is in the fact that this exposi-
ton Is intended and will commence
rate the first centennial Of the great
est international event in our history
The one that marks the beginning Of
mat national policy that has made us
world power, without which our
present industrial and political SUI
Fremacy could never have been
achieved
National Commissioner John M. AZ
zen made the closing speech. followed
oy an invocation by Archbishop Kahn.
The Meridian (Miss) military band
rendered musical selections for the
occasion.
~ the banquet given at the South
ern hotel at night $50 guests sat I
down.