The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-30
WORLDS FAIR WILL BE
OPENED TO THE PUBLIC
IN ST. LOUIS At NOON
Thirty Thousand Worunen Busy
All Last Night Making the
Final Preparations.
PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY
Exercises Will Be Opened by Pres
ident Francis and Closed by
Secretary Taft.
GOLD TELEGRAPH KEY
VIII Be Touched by President,
Wheels VIII Turn and Cascades
Will Loose a Flood.
PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY
GOLD TELEGRAPH KEY

ST. LOUIS. Mo-, April 2s-st. Louis to-
night is prepared for the greatest day in
her history. Tomorrow at noon her great
exposition, on which the city has lavished
millions of money, To which her people
have devoted years of their best endeavor
and for which they have labored with in
finite patience and persistence. will be
thrown open TO the world The time for
promises and pledges has gone; the day
Of fulillment is at hand and never has any
city put forth greater effort TO keep the
spirit and letter of her pledge than has
St. Louis.
All of to-day and all of tonight the peo-
pie have worked with desperate energy TO
accomplish the thousand and one things
that always remain 20 be done at the last
moment At the exposition grounds So
900 men have worked all day putting the
final touches upon the grounds. buildings.
sidewalking. cleaning buildings. removing
scafolds and arranging exhibits. This
work will continue without cessation until
dawn and it is confidently expected that
when the fair opens at noon tomorrow
everything humanity possible will have been
done to advance the work to the farthest
limit OF preparation.
In the down town streets and in the resi-
dence districts the decorations are pro-
fuse and beautiful. The exercises to-mo--
row will be more serious than resplendeat.
There will be comparatively little of the
glittering pageant that marked the dedica-
tion exercises year ago, but the cere-
monies preceding the formal opening Will
be none the less interesting
At o'clock in the morning all the high
dignitaries of the exposition will meet at
the administration building and. headed
by band, will march TO the Plaza of St
Louis. in the center of the exposition
grounds. Representatives OF foreign gov
ernments will meet at the Hail OF Con-
crosses at the same hour and will time
their parade 10 the plaza so as 10 arrive az
the same moment the exposition officials
march IL from the opposite direction. Al
the same time representatives OF State and
Territorial governments Will enter the
plaza from a third avenue. having pre-
viously formed at the United States build
ing.
THE EXERCISES.
After the gathering has been formally
called to order by President Francis, Rev.
Frank w. Gunsaulus. of Chicago. will de-
liver the invocation. AT the conclusion Of
the prayer Director of Works Issac s.
Taylor will deliver the KEYS of the buildings
to President Francis. who WILL in turn,
transfer the buildings to Frederick j. V.
Skiff, the director of exhibits. The chorus.
Hymn of the West" the words by Ed
mund Clarence Stedrnan and music by John
Knowles Paine. will then be sung, and ad-
dresses will be made by the following gen.
tlemen. L.
Thomas Carter, president of the national
commission; Senator Henry T.. Burnham,
of New Hampshire. in behalf OF the United
States Senate; Congressman James A.
Tawney, of Minnesota, for the national
House of Representatives: Commissioners
General Albino r. Nuncio, of Mexico. in be-
half Of the foreign commissioners: r. IL.
Hartman, of New York. for the exhibitors.
The last speech of the day will be by Secre-
tary of War William II. Taft. and at its
conclusion the signal will be given TO Presi-
In fhn ha
golden key will be pressed, the cascades
will send down their floods. the thousands
of banners will be unfurled, and the great
Louisiana Purchase Exposition will be open
to the world.
BIG CROWD EXPECTED.
1t is expected that an enormous crowd
will attend the exposition. excursion
trains are coming in by the score. and to-
morrow has been officially declared a legal
holiday by Mayor Wells. Among the dis
tinguished visitors 10 arrive to-day were
Secretary of War William II. Taft. who
represents the President. and Gen. A r.
Chaffee. They reached the city at o'clock
tonight, and were met by General Bates.
President Francis and other officials. The
special congressional train. bearing 400 per-
sons, including the committee from the
House of Representatives appointed TO at
tend the opening exercises. also arrived to-
night, as did Governors from a number OF
States. and several notable foreign visitors.
During the day the United States gum
boat Nashville and the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Lawrence. which will represent the
navy at the fair arrived in ST Louis har-
Dor. Although the boats arrived at an hour
somewhat unexpected. which caused dis
arrangements of plans for a more elaborate
demonstration by thousands who had
planned to go down the river 10 meet them.
the greeting to the craft was, nevertheless.
fitting AS the ships came into the harbor
they were greeted by a chorus OF whistles
and shouts of welcome from crowds on ex-
cursion steamers. Salutes were fired, In
answer, after which a delegation of worlds
fair officials, including members OF the ex-
position reception committee, left their
yachts and boarded the Nashville. COM
mander John Hubbard received the party.
and, after coming ashore, went 10 the City
Hail. where he was formally received by
Mayor Wells and city worlds fair officials.
Later Commander Hubbard received
by President Francis.