New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-30
THE FAIR OPENS TO-DAY.
GRE4T DAY FOR ST. LOUIS.
Visitors Throng the City-President
Will Start Things Going.


St. Louis. April 29-The great exposition.
upon which this city has lavished millions OF
money. 20 which her people have devoted years
of their best endeavor. and for which they have
labored with infinite patience and persistence
win be thrown open TO the world tomorrow at
l.oon The time for promises and pledges has
gene. the day Of fulflment il at hand. and never
has any city put forth greater effort 10 keep
the spirit and letter Of her pledge than has St
Louis.
All to-day and tonight the people have
worked with desperate energy to accomplish
the thousand and one things that always re-
main to be done at the last moment. At the
exposition grounds thirty thousand men have
worked all day putting the final touches the
grounds. buildings and sidewalks, cleaning
buildings. removing scaffolos and arranging ex-
h.bits. This work viii continue without ces-
sation untu dawn. and IL is confidently expect
ca that when the fair opens at noon everything
humanity possible will have been done to ad-
vance the work to the farthest limit OF prepara-
s.on
In the downtown streets end IN the residence
districts the decorations are profuse and beau
t{ful The exercises tomorrow will be more
serious than Respondent. There VIII be COM
paratively little OF the glittering pageant that
marked the dedication exercises a year ago, but
the ceremonies preceding the formal opening
VIII be none the less interesting. At 3 O. m.
all the high officials Of the exposition VIII meet
nj the Administration Building, and. headed by
a band will march 10 the Plaza OF St
Louis IN the centre OF the exposition grounds.
Representatives of foreign governments will
meet at the Hall Of Congresses at the same hour,
and VIII time their parade TO the Plaza so as
TO arrive at the some moment, marching IN
from the opposite direction from the exposition
officials At the same time representatives, OF
State and Territorial governments viii enter the
Plaza from third avenue. having previously
formed at the United States building.
After the gathering has been called 70 order
BY President Francis. the Rev. Frank ". Gun
saulus. OF Chicago, viii deliver the invocation.
At the conclusion Of the prayer, Isaac p. Taylor.
the director OF works. VIII deliver the keys OF
the buildings TO President Francis, who will in
turn transfer the buildings to Frederick J. y.
Skiff the director Of exhibits. The chorus,
Hymn OF the West" by Edmund Clarence
Stedman with music by John Knowles Paine. will
then be sung, and addresses Will be made by
Mayor Wells Of St Louis; Thomas II. Carter,
president Of the national commission; Senator
Henry E Burnharn OF Hampshire, in be-
half OF the Emitted States Senate; Representative
James A. Tawney, OF Minnesota, for the Ma
tional House Of Representatives; Commissioner
General Albino r. Nuneo OF Mexico, in behalf
Of the foreign commissioners and z. H. HaT-
riman OF New-York. for the exhibitors.
The last speech OF the day win be by Secre-
tary Taft. and at its conclusion President Roose-
welt. in the White House. will press the golden
key the cascades will send down their floods.
The thousands Of banners will be unfurlcd and
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition will be open
70 The world
Il is expected that an enormous crowd will
attend the exposition. excursion trains are
coming in by the score. and tomorrow will be
officially declared a legal holiday by Mayor
Wells Among the visitors to arrive to-day
were Secretary Taft, who represents the Presi-
dent and General a. r. Chaffee. They were
met on their arrival by Geperal Bates, President
Francis and other officials The special Con-
gress train, bearing four hundred persons, IN
Guiding the committee from the House Of Rep
resentatives appointed TO attend the opening eX-
ercises. also arrived tonight, as did Governors
from, a number OF States and several foreign
visitors.
The United States gunboat Nashville and the
torpedo boat destroyer Lawrence. which will
represent the navy at the fair arrived in the
hs,l5or to-day. Though the boats arrived at an
hour somewhat unexpected which caused disar-
ranEements Of plans for more elaborate dem
onstration BY thousands who expected TO go
Gown the river to meet them, The greeting TO the
c~aFt was enthusiastic AS the ships came into
the haTbor there was chorus Of whistles and
shouts OF welcome from crowds on excursion
steamers. SdluIes were HIeu ~ allSsN " "ItSi
which q delegation of Worlds Fair officials in
cluding members Of the exposition reception
committee. left their yachts and boarded the
Nashville.
Commander John Hubbard received the party
and afterNard went TO the Ci-y Hail. where he
was formally received by Mayor Wells and the
city Worlds Fair officials. Later Commander
JiU bbard received by President Francis.
Miss Julia Ten Eyke McBlair, OF Washington
hostess Of the woman's board, was badly injured
today at the fair grounds by being run over.
Miss McElair, who is making her home at the
building "
az Of the cafes short distance away. She
was walking. and a runaway horse attached 10
runabou struck her ana threw her TO the walk
injuring her foot badly. Miss McBlar was
h.ken Nrs Samuel ManninR,s hnrne-