The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-03

ton increased in magnitude the enthU-
siasm Of the project corresponding1y
increased. Additional appropriations
for the erection of buildings and ex-
hibits were made by the United States
government; Missouri alone appro-
priated $1,000, 900; foreign nations in
creased their original appropriations
and asked for larger allotments OF
space for their exhibits, and the Expo
sftion was practically re-panned on
he most liberal basis. 1t finally be-
came apparent that the immensely of
the enterprise would preclude it's COM
pletement and formal opening to the
world on the date originally appointed.
April 80, 1903, and the time was ex-
tended one year and Officially an
nounced.
On April 80, 1903, twenty months after
the first stake for the location of the
exposition buildings had been driver
on September 8. 1901. the Exposition
stood over half completed, and ON that
day was officially dedicated TO it's me-
mortal purpose by the president of the
United States. THEODORE Roosevelt. and
other national ~dignitaries and officials
of the Exposition Some Of
the smaller buildings had been erected.
most of the large exhibit palaces had
been completed, although Machinery
Hall and h Transportation building,
two Of the largest on the grounds had
just been commenced, and Mexico had
the only completed national pavilion
on the grounds.
In the dedication ceremonies former
President Grover Cleveland also par
tlclpated, making an unique epoch in
the history Of the United states when
a president and a former president of
MES commemorative of a national
event.
In the years additional time granted.
every effort was made to hurry the
work of completion OF the Exposition,
and to collect and rush forward the
exhibit to be installed from the four
quarters Of the earth. In the EXPOSE
ton grounds the force of 5000 workmen
was constantly augmented until 20
900 were daily engaged in rushing the
work to a finished termination
At the opening, excepting in a few
minor details. the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition stands practically cOmplet-
ed at a cost of almost $50, 600, 900.
The United States governments to-
tai approximation amounts to s7,O63,-
600, and in addition the government
recently loaned ITO the Exposition COM
pany' 81, 10000 making a grand total
Of $11, 663 600 secured from the national
government The state, municipal and
other appropriations of this country
made a total of almost $1,000, 600. and
to this is added the s1O,000,O 900 from st.
Louis and her citizens. The balance
Of h total cost of the Exposition was
expended by the Other nations OF the
world.
No previous exposition has had a
more beautiful site. The Chicago Ex-
position had Lake Michigan stretching
into the distance as a Background, but
the st. Louis Exposition is bordered
by verdant hills and charming vistas
formed by shallow valleys involving
landscape features embraced by no
previous Exposition, and surrounding
the main picture as a vast natural
an ohitheatre.
The Architecture of this universal
Exposition is majestic In the great iv-
DRY white exhibit palaces, historical In
the foreign and state buildings, and
universally COSMOPOLITAN and unique
in concession structures.
The main picture comprises ten great
palaces, arranged in fan-shape in their
location. Surmounting a hill. n 200
feet from the top of the building to
the level OF the exposition grounds be-
low, stands Festival Hall, overlook
ing the cascade Gardens. These three
cascades ara the largest waterfalls ever
constructed, and ninety thousand gall
Ions of water a minute pour down in
three magnificent torrents, at night
being Illuminated by electricity. AT
their bases stretches the lagoon which
winds it's way through the main portion
of the exposition picture n traversed
by gOndolas. The cascade Gardens
ually from Festival Hall to the main
level of the grounds. Each side Of this
crescent shaped hill is thanked with :
wide stairway, and its crown, sur
; mounted by Festival Hall, is covered
J by the Colonnade of States. The
Court Of Honor stretches from tn
+, main entrance to the lagoon, contain
, ing monuments typically comme9nora
tive of the louisiana Purchase. chic
Of which is the Louisiana Purchas'
; monument, 100 feet high with shaft 1
feet in diameter, surmounted by tn,
statue of Liberty, facing the city of 81
Louis and looking out to the world,
guiding star to the scuiptural group
symbolical of the twelve states and tw'
territories formed % the Louisian
Purchase, which are Socated at tn
other end Of the Court Of Honor. 1
the Colonnade o. states surmountin
the crescent shaped hill and fankin
Festival Hall, n of the most ornat
Exposition structures.
The main portion of the ExpOsitio
grounds is occupied by the ten larS
exhibit palaces. as follows: Liber;
Arts, Mines and Metallurgy, ManufaC
lures. Education, Agriculture an
Horticulture. In addition to these,
the group of permanent stone strue
lures erected for the display of art g
a cost of 81, Ola 900. located at the rea
of the Cascade Gardens behind Fest
val Hall; the Washington Univers
" buildings in the western BART of tn
grounds which cost s1.0o0,0Oo and al
utilized by the Exposition until i
close when they will be turned over
washington University; the Forestr
! Fish and Game buildings, and I'll
| buildings of the different government
! of the world.
In the eastern portion OF the grounC
are located all the state buildings, tt
Missouri state buildings standing {
he brow of the plateau and overlcOl
/, ing the main portion Of the groun
, below.
The administration building. in whic