Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-05-20
Opening Of the Fair.

On Saturday, April SOth, the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition was formally opened
to the world. The day was beautiful one
and every large store and many of the smaller
ones in st. Louis remained closed all day In
order to give the employees a chance to see
the Fair.
The parade started from the Administra.
ton building at $50 A. M, and was com.
posed Of force Of twenty picked men from
the Jefferson Guards, the Filipino Scout
band OF seventy pieces, which played re.
markaoly well, several companies Of Fill.
plno scouts, President Francis, Director of
WORKS Taylor, Secretary Taft, and the For.
eign State Commission the Board of Lady
Managers, In carriages, and Sousa's band.
The procession halted at the foot of the
Louisiana Purchase Monument and speeches
were made and chorus OF 500 trained voices
sang Hymn Of the West" accompanied by
Sousa's band.
About 1:15 P. M, President Roosevelt
touched the key in Washington $50 they say)
and thin stream Of water tricked over the
cascades, increasing in flow until 1t began to
look as II they were going TO have enough
water flowing over them, some day, TO give
them something more than the appearance
OF mountain brook in the dry season, but
1t ls doubtful II that day ever comes. There
Is also talk of having "colored effect" but
probably the only "colored effect" will be
August LIST, Negro Day.
The flags on the buildings unfurled one
BY one and an extra amount Of black smoke
issued from the tunnels at the power house
and by these signs we knew that the Great
Fair had at last started.
About one third of the exhibits were In
place when the exhibit palaces opened, but
most OF the remainder of them were on the
grounds somewhere.
The afternoon parade began at 1:30 O'Clock
and was preceded as before by the Jefferson
Guards, followed by Wells band, of 81.
Louis, and long line OF floats bearing rep
RESERVATIONS OF the different attractions OF
the pike" troop of Boer soldiers, several
companies OF British soldiers, an Irish band,
and horses, engines and trucks of fire fight
ing show. The parade was over by 816,
and all adjourned for much needed rest.
At 7:30 o'clock all the buildings were light
ed for the first time, the thousands of mean
descent bulbs first taking on a paint glow
which gradually increased as additional dy.
namoe were cut in until all the larger build
ings appeared in "blaze of glory" The
lighting effect resembled sunrise on rapid
scale. At II p. M. the lights were turned
of and st. Louis went home to bed at the
close of her most eventful day since the
cyclone OF 90.
The main exhibit palaces are very nearly
completed and quite large number Of the
exhibits placed. Some Of the booths are
very beautiful and most OF the displays ex-
tremely elaborate.
The B. & o Railroad has a large block
in the Transportation building showing To-
from the earliest to the present
day. The Big Four has large locomotive
on turn table high above the floor. There
is 60.foot gasoline yacht completely rugged,
a train OF Pullman cars, the best the shops
ever turned out; a large exhibit of automo
bies, carriages, saddleTy, models OF ocean
liners, etc.
The Machinery Hall and the Electricity
building contain, In the former, a set OF the
largest engines in the world that are used TO
generate the enormous amount OF electricity
required to run the Fair. Some idea OF the
size of the largest one may be gained by the
statement that dozen men can get into its
cylinders. In this building is located the
large switch board used for lighting all or
any portion Of the grounds. There are ex-
hibts OF machine tools, wood working tools,
fittings, etc. In the Electricity building are
exhibits of electrical machinery, model
telephone exchange and factory in opera.
ton for the manufacture OF incandescent
electric light bulbs.
The Varied Industries building and the
Manufactures building contain gas works
machinery, fountain pens, collins, clocks,
clothing, pottery, hard ware, etc. The Lib.
eral Arts building contains road making
machinery, printing presses, lithography,
photography, soap, drugs, etc. The Fine
Arts building Is partly permanent struc'
ture, the east and west wings only being
temporary, and II contains q great many
pictures, some very valuable ones.
The Education and Social Economy build.
ing contains vital statistics, tables, rules and
exhibits Of the work of different
schools and colleges, and instruments and
books used In schools.
The exhibits will probably be all ready
by the 18th of June and good time TO see
the Fair will be from then to November.
There are hundreds of new hotels that
seem TO spring up In night, 80 rapidly are
they built. The largest one Is inside the
grounds, and If the class of It's patronage
improves land there is room for improve
ment at presently 1t will be about as good
place as any during the Fair.
About every other house 10 st. Louis has |
TOOme W EcuSy uOWCNCAp ohN suSAS eAS w |
east one hundred restaurants on the |
grounds and half as many more In course OF
The prices, however, are al
most prohibtive inside the grounds.
The Agricultural exhibit Is one of the
BEST, and some of the States have beautiful |
exhibits, Virginia, Missouri and California
being especially noticeable.
The Maryland State building Is located be.
.ween the West Virginia and Oklahoma
buildings on the Plateau Of states, and is to
De one OF the handsomest there when finish.
ID. That will not be for sometime yet, IN
ess the contractors get move on. Nearly |
Nj the State buildings are located on the |
Plateau Of States and has the appearance OF
. city of very handsome houses as they are
MI ornamented with staff work and have
arge yards.
The "Pike" contains many shows, but
very few Of them are open yet. On II is
miniature rail way with locomotives that an
lble bodied man could easily lit, but they
Zach pull SIX Cars with six people In car.
The Naval display with Its realistic battles |
BET ween model war vessels, the TyrOlean
A lbs. the Scenic Rail way, ETC., are all run
hing, but the large shows and Illusions are
Incomplete.
II the railroads can make round-trip |
rom Montgomery county for $50 the Fair
will be well worth vieit, even for those |
Who think they cannot afford it.
F. NJ. READING.
Fair Grounds, May 10, '04.