Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-05-07
FAIR IS DEDICATED
s. LOUIS CELEBRATES THE AN.
NiVE3SARY OF LOUISIANA
PURCHASE.
GORGEOUS MILITARY PARADE
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND Ex.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
SPEAK.
WEATHER CAUSES DISCOMFORT
DAYS CEREMONIES CLOSE WITH
GREAT DISPLAY OF FIRE.
WORKS..

St. Louis, May 1.-The buildings of
the Louisiana Purchase exposition
yesterday were dedicated with all pos
sible pomp and ceremony. In every
way the exercises were success, but
the weather was bad. The wind blew
fiercely from the west, sending great
clouds of dust whirling into the faces
of the troops as they marched past the
president, and at times so nearly
blinded the president that it was we'll
nigh impossible for him to see across
the street in which the troops were
marching Added to the discomfort Of
the wind and dust was temperature
which sought for the marrow and gen.
orally reached it. The women who, on
the strength of the warm weather Of
Wednesday, came in summer dresses
to the receiving stand, suffered keenly
although the officers commanding the
guard around the reviewing stand, pro-
vided them with blankets. Both Presi.
dent Roosevelt and Former President
| Cleveland remained in the reviewing
stand,
Exposed to the Icy Wind,
until the end of the parade, although
their faces were blue and their limbs
were stiffened by the cold.
At the head of the military parade
was Gen. Corbin, grand marshal, and
his staff of seventy-eight aides. The
regular army had the first division.
commanded by Maj. Gen. Bates of the
department of Missouri. The second
brigade. commanded by Gen. Fred d.
Grant son of the famous old soldier.
was also made up of regulars.
The militia division was next, COM
manded by Maj. Gen. Reeve of New
York Almost every state in the
Union was represented in this divis-
ion The parade was five miles long.
The dedication ceremonies PROPER
were held in the liberal arts building.
The effect OF the cold on the speakers
was evident in all the speeches. The
police arrangements were excellent.
and every consideration was shown to
the great crowd which numbered in
round figures $4,000. The parade in
the morning was somewhat /.
Longer in Passing y
the president than had been expected,
but for all of that he was only fifteen
minutes behind schedule time when he
was escorted into the liberal arts
building Tho ceremonies here were
handled with all possible dispatch.
OF the speakers President Roosevelt
alone was able to mako his voice
carry more than fifty feet from the
platform. BY far the greater part of
the assembly could hear nothing and
were nearly freezing to death.
Promptly at p. NJ. President
Francis led Cardinal Gibbons to the
rcstrum. He made the opening
prayer President Francis next intro
duced Senator Thomas H. Carter,
president of the national commission,
as chairman Of the day. Mr.. Carter
gave the history Of the Louisiana
purchase. This was followed by
Beethoven's Creation hymn. rendered
BY g trained chorus of $500 voices.
Then President Francis stepped to the
front, and. facing President Roosevelt.
presented the exposition buildings to
the United States.
, President Roosevelt Speaks.
After Mr.. Francis short speech,
| President Roosevelt turned to the as.
) sembly and delivered his speech.
The chorus then sang Gounod's
unfold Ye Portals" and Chairman
, Carter introduced ex-President Cleve-
land
, When the applause that greeted Mr.
Cleyeland's speech had died away the
l chorus began America" The Ma
} rine band took up the refrain. The en-
tire assemblage arose. "My country.
, tits of thee -" the heavy voices of
the male chorus rang through the
arches of the colossal building.
Bishop R. E. Hendin then offered
the closing prayer. A moment later
I Bishop Henry c. Potter of New York
was pronouncing the benediction. the
t centennial salute of 100 guns doomed
9 out and the first day of the dealcat1on
ceremony was over.
/ After leaving the hall the president
8 was entertained at dinner in the ad
i ministration building. from the win
. dows of which he witnessed the
e gorgeous display OF fireworks until Id
O'clock when ha entered his train