Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-05-07

Gu the machinery in machinery hall
In operation. Strictly speaking. this
was all that was accomplished by the
| presidential touch on the button at
washington. Operators here were on
the watch for the fash from the White
House, and as quickly as it came thew
touched the keys which released the
fastenings OF thousands of banners
mat We're secured to the stats on the
roofs of all the large exhibition pala.
ces. This portion of the work as far
as could be seen from any one section
or the grounds was perfect. Every
banner apparently caught the same
breath of air and unfurled and fioated
out as one. At the entrance to the
| lagoon was the place for the cascades
This portion OF me ceremonies had
greater interest for the people than
other features of the opening. Hun.
derds or thousands of eyes were focus
ed on the lagoon basin. The appear-
ance OF white foam at the summit of
the incline was greeted with a ire
great flood OF water came splashing
down to the lagoon below. 1t was q
sight full OF beauty, and the great
crowd which witnessed it appreciated
and applauded to the full Simutane-
ously with the rush of the water all
the bands burst forth at once into the
strains Of the Star Spangled Ban
ner." Every man in the great crowd
uncovered, and when the last strain
OF the martial song had died away the
exercises were finished and the expo
sition proper had commenced.
The first feature of the exposition
was the concessionaries' parade. This
was made up of all the different feat
ures which will figure on the pike"
during the life Of the exposition.
The pike is to the ST. Louis exposi-
ton exactly what the midway was to
the Columbian exposition in Chicago.
The features, though different in char
acter, furnish practically the same
form of amusement There were In
this parade some who had actually
been present upon the famous midway
II years ago, and many who had not
| been seen or heard OF at that time.
This procession, with its diverse
unique attractions, gave much pleasure
and delight to the crowds, which cheer
ed it most enthusiastically during the
entire length Of it's line of march.
HAr Ahi+a
President Roosevelt pressed the gold
en- key by which the electrical circuit
was broken releasing the gigantic
power of the worlds fair at ST. Louis,
putting in motion the 4O,OUo horse pow
er machinery and the fairylike cas-,
cades Of the exposition grounds. AS
| the president pressed the key the
Third battery OF artillery, stationed
on the grounds OF the Washington mon
ument, fired a national salute of q
guns. Congratulatory messages were
then exchanged between the president
and President Francis of the exposi
ton.
Messages Exchanged.
St. Louis, April 30-The following
message was sent by President Fran
els of the fair to Pres4uent Roosevelt;
To the President of the United
States: In response to the sigma
flashed by the president Oh the United
States, the Louisiana Purchase expo
sition has been opened. The sky is
cloudless. The people assembled fill
the great plaza The grounds and
buildings are complete. The exhibits
are in order. Nothing has occurred to
mar this most suspicious occasion: In
behalf of the exposition, 1 wish to ex-
press to the chief executive OF the
nation our most sincere thanks for the
honor done in formally opening the ex
position.
d. R. FkANCIS.
The following reply was received:
Hon. David R. Francis, ST. Louis:
congratulate you and your associates
on this memorable occasion. | wish
we'll to all for the success Of the great
enterprise. and on behalf of the Ameri-
lean people | greet the representatives
Of foreign countries who have come
here to cooperate with us in celebrat-
ing in an appropriate fashion the one
hundredth anniversary OF the event
| which turned us into a continental ma
ton.
IT.