Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-25
IMPOSING CEREMONIES TO MARK
DEDICATION OF ST. LOUIS FAIR

guns will announce to the world, al
noon, April 80, the close of the first
century of an inland empire that Ne
poleon sold for a song. Seldom in the
official life of a great democratic ma
ton will the pomp and pageantry OF
monarchy have been so overshadowed
as at the dedication of the interna-
tional exposition to commemorate
that event.
One of the most impressive military
spectacles of peaceful times will
sweep through the metropolis of the
Louisiana domain-a glittering dis
play of American arms and the men,
at the zenith of the republics power.
Kings, emperors and potentates send
their ambassadors to swell the hom-
age 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 diplo-
matte corps leaves the capital on a
special train to travel into the heart
of the nation. The presence of the
president of the United States, his
cabinet, congress and the supreme
court, at the head of the armed col
umn, is intended to symbolic a gov
eminent by the people and its achiev-
ments. Orders have been issued by
the war department to mobilize in the
vast buildings of the exposition, 4
600 battle-scarred regulars. The pow
erful monitor Arkansas is ascending
the historic river, once claimed by
De Soto in the name of his Spanish
sovereign.
Governors of states are picking
their crack militia regiments for a
brave show. Ten thousand stalwart
types of the Mr.. Volunteer of the fu-
ture are Furnishing their weapons
for this day Of dignitaries. Through
all these preparations runs the quick
ened spirit of newer "argosies of
commerce" the dawn of yet undream-
ed wonders of science and coming
triumphs of civilization. The univer-
sal exposition is the mouthpiece of
this vague unrest; its christening,
with glory of military panOply, state
" ceremony and reign of fire by
night, is the opening page of the
fairy book. That the national gov
eminent might be interpreted as
stamping its approval on an enter
prise that has cost it more than six
millions of dollars, Maj. Gen. Henry
C. COrbin will marshal the parade
from its starting point in st. Louis
to the palaces of the Ivory City.
Estimates by the passenger depart
ments of % railways converging at
ST. Louis Indicate the attendance at
the dedication of 100000 to 100000
visitors, mainly from points in Mis-
souri,, Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas and
Oklahoma. Arrangements for trans
porting the 100000 persons who are
expected to view the parade and the
dedicatory review on the exposition
grounds present a schedule of Is
seconds between the delivery of Wis
itors at the gates of the exposition
This work has been undertaken by
the street railway systems. Loops
constructed especially for the dedi-
cation have been laid at the en-
frances, of which there are eight, dis
posed at various points on every side
of the worlds fair site, in order to
avoid congestion.
Three days will be crowded with in
cident. National day falls on April
so; the president dedicates the world S
fair. International day follows on
May 1. Addresses by the French and
Spanish ambassadors and a reception
to the diplomatic corps are the feat
ures. State day, May ?, concludes the
celebration. Gov. Benjamin b. Odell,
of New York, and Gov. y. NJ. Dock
cry, of Missouri, make addresses, a
great civic procession moves over the
route of the military parade and the
cornerstones of state buildings are
laid. Dedication night and the even
ing of May 1 the Pains will mOnopo-
lie the heavens. Their display of
pyrotechnics, under their contract
with the exposition, calls for the ex-
plosion of $4,000 in burning powder.
Leo Stevens, the Stanleys, of London,
the Baldwin brothers will manuipu-
late several mammoth gas baoons at
a great altitude, where the most
startling fireworks exhibition is to be
given.
The monitor Arkansas, herald of
the coming dedication; will anchor on
the river front of st. Louis April &c,
lying there until after the last day
of dedication. The largest war vessel
that ever assembled to the worlds
fair city will be visited by thousands
of persons who have not seen one of
the fighting navy. The blue jackets
and marines aboard will take part in
the military pageant.
Several days before the dedication
limited States troOOS and state mill
tia will begin arriving from various
posts and cities to take up their
quarters in the exposition buildings.
Provisions for housing 10000 have
been made. The exposition pays the
transportation and the rations, which
will be served hot.
President Roosevelt arrives the
night preceding dedica ton. He has
promised to speak at the choral en-
tertainment for raising funds to build