Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-04-25
FAIR TO OUTDO ROYALTY
Tires Days Gorgeous Pageant Will Mark
Exposition Dedication.
MONAHcHS WILL BOW TO DEMOCRACY
Diplomats, Soldiers, Sailors and Poll
ticians Are to Aid President Re-
ceive Grounds and COnsecrate
Them on Behalf of Nation.

\
One of the most impressive military
spectacles Of peaceful times will sweep
through the metropolis of the Louisiana
domain, a glittering display of American
| arms and the man. Kings, emperors and
potentates have sent their ambassadors to
swell the homage Of this people to the
genius that, by bloodless conquest gave
to the country a territory one-third the
size of all Europe
For the first time in the history Of the
government the entire diplomatic corps
will leave the capital on a special train
to travel into the heart OF the country.
The presence Of the president of the
United States, his cabinet, congress and
the supreme court, at the head of the armed
column, is intended to symbolic a govern
ment by the people and its achievements.
Four Thousand Soldiers Present.
Orders have been issued by the War de-
paTtment to mobilize in the buildings of
the exposition 900 battle SCARED regulars.
The powerful monitor Arkansas is ascend
ing the historic river, once claimed by
De Soto in the name of his Spanish SOW
ereign. Governors of states are picking
their crack militia regiments for a brave
show Ten thousand stalwart types of tho
volunteer of the future are furnishing
their weapons for this day of dlgnitaries
Through all these preparations runs the
quickened spirit of newer "argosies of COM
merce," the dawn of yet undreamed won
ders of science and coming triumphs Of
civilization. The universal exposition is
the mou(hpiece of this vague unrest its
christening, with glory of military panoply,
stately ceremony and reign of fire by night,
is the opening page of the fairy book.
Estimates by the passenger departments
of twenty nine railways converging at St.
Louis Indicate that from 250,000 to 300, 900
visitors, mainly from Nebraska, Missouri,
Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas and Oklahoma, will
attend the dedication.
Arrangements for transporting 100000
persons present a schedule OF fifteen Sec
onds between the delivery of visitors at
the exposition gates. This work has been
undertaken by the street railway systems
Loops constructed especially have been laid
at the entrances, of which there are eight,
disposed at various points on every side
of the Worlds fair site, in order to avoid
congestion.
Three days will be crowded with incident
National day falls on April 30 when the
president dedieates the Worlds fair. In
ternatIonal day follows on May 1, when
addresses by the French and Spanish am
bassadors and reception to the diplomatic
corps will be the features State day, on
May 2, will conclude the celebration, when
Governor Odell of New York and Governor
Dockery of Missouri will deliver addresses;
a great civic procession will march over
the route OF the military parade and the
cornerstones of state buildings will be laid
Fireworks to Light Up Heavens.
On dedication night and on the evening
of May 1, the Pains will monopolize the
heavens. Their display OF pyrotechnies
under their contract with the exposition
calls for the expenditure of $4,000. Leo
Stevens, the Stanleys OF London and the
Baldwin brothers will manipulate seven
mammoth gas balloons at great altitude,
where the most startling fireworks exhibi-
tion is to be given.
The monitor Arkansas herald Of the
coming dedication, will anchor on the river
front of st. Louis on Sunday, lying there
until after the last day OF the dedication.
1t is the largest war vessel that has ever
ascended to the Worlds fair city and will
doubtless be visited by thousands who have
never seen one of the fighting navy. The
bluejackets and marines aboard will take
part in the military pageant.
United States troops and state militia
have already begun to arrive from various
posts and cities to take UP their quarters
in the exposition buildings. Provision for
housing %, 600 has been made.
President Roosevelt will arrive the night
preceding the dedication and has promised
to speak at the choral entertainment for
raising funds to build monument to Gen
eral Franz seigeL The president will be
entertained while in the city by Mr..
Francis
At 10 on the morning OF dedication day
the freedom of the city will be presented
to the president by Mayor Rolla Wells.
The military parade VII be assembled
under the direction of Grand Marshal Cor
bin at the junction of Grand and LndeIl
boulevards and begin to march at 10:3O,
preceded by the president and the dis
tinguished guests In carriages.
The route is two miles through the finest
residence sections and Forest park to the
Triumphal Causeway. leading from the en-
trance of the exposition grounds to the
Liberal Arts building broad asphalt
way will carry the column, between the
finished fronts of five exposition buildings,
decorated with the flags of all nations. The
president will review the parade from the
grandstand in the Court of Monuments, the
principal vista OF the fair.
Luncheon will be served by the exposi-
tion directorate at the Administration
building and at 1880 a band concert by
thirty massed bands will announce the pre-
lude to the dedicatory ceremonies The
docrJ Of the Liberal Arts building II admit
35 900 persons, TO be seated under the diree-
tion of guards and ushers. grandstand
at the north side will seat 5000 guests.
Accommodations for 400 newspaper corre-
spondents are provided Immediately be-
meath and in front Of the presidents ros-
trum. On the west side, $50 feet from
the president. a chorus OF 5000 voices,
selected from the leading choral societies
Of st. Louis and an augmented band OF
200 pieces will enlven the proceedings
with music.
Promptly at 2 o'clock the assembly will
be called to order by David r. Francis.
president OF the exposition, and Cardinal
Gibbons. in the scarlet vestmepts OF a
prince Of the Roman church. will deliver
the invocation.
win Present Buildings 20 Nation.
Thomas H. Carter, president OF the
Worlds fair national commission. will be
announced as president OF the day. ana
after the chorus has sung THE Heavens
PToclaiming." Mr.. Francis will present the
buildings TO the president Mr.. Roosevelt
will then deliver the dedication address.
Immediately afterward the chorus will