Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-05-06

secretary laIt was IHe SlSlal loT lHe
opening of the fair. In the White
House President Roosevelt was wait
| ing for the signal which was to tell
him that the moment had arrived to
touch the golden key that would open
the fair in earnest and set its mani
fold machinery in full operation.
Machinery Started.
Secretary Taft had not turned to
resume his seat after concluding his
speech before the signal had been
flashed to Washington over the wires
of the Postal Telegraph company. In.
stantly there was flash which start
ed 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 we're on
the watch for the flash from the White
House, and as quickly as 1t came they
touched the keys which released the
fastenings of thousands of banners
that were secured to the staffs 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
Of the grounds was perfect Every
banner apparently caught the same
breath of air and unfurled and floated
out as one. At the entrance to the
lagoon was the place for the cascades.
This portion of lns ceremonies had
greater interest for the people than
other features Of the opening. Hun
derds of thousands of eyes were focus
cd on the lagoon basin. The appear
ancs OF white foam at the summit Of
the incline was greeted with tre-
mendous cheer, Which deepened as the
great food of water came Splashing
down to the lagoon below. 1t was a
sight full of beauty, and the great
crowd which witnessed 1t appreciated
and applauded to the full. Simultane-
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 coneessionaries' parade. This
was made up Of all the different feat
ures which will figure on tho pike
during the life Of the exposition.
The pike is to the st. Louis exposi'
tion 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 it's diverse
unique attractions, gave much pleasure
and delight to the crowds, which cheer
ed it most enthusiastically during the
entire length of its line Of march.
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,Uvv 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 81
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 Pres.uent Roosevelt:
To the President Of the United
States: In response to the signal
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