The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-01

Washington, April 30.-President
Roosevelt to-day pressed the gold key
which completed the electrical circuit
and released the gigantic power of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition at st.
Louis, putting in motion 10000 horse
power machinery and the fairy-like
cascades on the exposition grounds.
The ceremony occurred in the East
Room of the White House precisely at
1:141s O'Clock, Eastern standard time.
AS the President pressed the key the
Third Battery of United States Artil-
lery stationed south of the White
House, fired a salute of twenty-one
! guns. Congratulatory messages then
We're exchanged between the President
and David r. Francis, president of the
exposition company.
The ceremony was witnessed by a
notable assemblage. including members
of the cabinet, justices Of the supreme
Court and members of the diplomatic
Icorps Three telegraphic circuits be-
tween the East Room and this admins
tration building of the exposition were
provided by the Postal Telegraph Com
pahy.
The table which supported the tele-
graph Instruments was located in the
East Room On it rested a small dais
covered with blue and gold plush, to
the top of which was attached the gold
key with which the. President closed
the circuit The same dais and the
same key have been used on several
similar occasions.
speech of the President.
A fanfare OF, trumpets announced the
approach of President Roosevelt. AS he
entered the East Room, with Mrs.
Roosevelt on his arm, the Marine Band
played Hail to the Chief" AS the
strains of music died away the Presi-.
dent delivered a brief address, saying:
Il wish to greet all present and es-
pecially the representatives of the for
eign nations here represented in the
name Of the American people and to
thank these representatives for the
parts their countries have taken in be-
ing represented in this centennial an
niversary of the greatest step in the
movement which transformed the
American republic from a small con-
federacy of states, lying along the
Atlantic seaboard, to continental ma
ton.
"I appreciate your having come here
on this occasion, and in the presence
of you, representing the American gov
ernment, and the governments of the
foreign nations, here open the Louis
lana Exposition"
Then Pressed the hutton.
AS the last words fell from his lips,
the President stepped to the table and
closed the key. A second later the first
gun Of the national salute doomed out
over the monument grounds.
spontaneously the spectators broke
into hearty applause. Secretary Shaw,
Representative Bartholdt OF st. Louis,
Ambassador Cassini and others offered
congratulations.
BY direction of the President the fol-
lowing telegram was sent to President
Francis:
IT congratulate you and your asso-
ciates on this memorable occasion. l
wish we'll to all who have joined in
working for the success of this great
enterprise; and on behalf Of the Amer
lean people greet the representatives
Of foreign countries who come here to
cooperate with us in celebrating in
appropriate fashion the one hundredth
anniversary of the event which turned
US into continental nation.
Theodore Roosevelt
A congratuIatory response was re-
ceived frcm Mr.. Francis.