Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-04-30
Music By Sousa's Band and
Speeches By Prominent OF.
ficiaIs Part of the
Ceremonies.
WHEELS SET IN MOTION
The presiden at the Conclusion Of
Tafts Address Touches the Button
Which Starts Machinery Hall.

St. Louis Mo-, April 80 Worlds Fair
Grounds notwithstanding the fore
cast Of rain, the morning was fair and
the most was made Of it. The official
hour for opening was nine o'clock, and
long before that time the grounds were
filed with half the population of st.
Louis, and to these were added many
who came on a number of excursion
trains. Promptly at the hour set the
officials and directors of the exposition,
members Of the national commission,
and the board of lady managers gath
cred at me administration building,
where they formed procession and
marched 10 the plaza of st. Louis, in
the center of the grounds. where the
formal exercises were held The as
semblage was called to order without
delay by President Francis and the in
vocation delivered by Rev. Frank M.
Gunsauius of Chicago. President Fran
els, as chief executive of the exposition,
then delivered his address.
At !; ;04 this afternoon, to the tolling
of bells and the clash of bands. the
sweeping chorus of the Star Spangled
Banner sung by thousands of voices
and the cheers of the greatest throng
ever assembled in the city of st. Louis,
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was
formally declared open
After the rendition of the march
"Louisiana' by Sousa's band. President
Francis transferred the exposition
buildings TO Frederick J. V. Slliff, dlrec-
tor of exhibits, and Skiff accepted in a
speech. After the grand chorus sang
the Hymn of the West a poem writ
ten by Edmund Clarence Stedman was
read Mayor Rolla Wells, of St Louis,
was then introduced and spoke briefly.
He was followed by Hon. Thomas J
Garter, president of the National Com
mission, Senator Henry E. Burnham, of
New Hampshire. and James A. Tawney,
e. H. Hartman, president of the New
York Commission, followed TaWney.
The speaker for foreign exhibitors was
Commissioner General Albino Nuncio,
of Mexico The chorus of America
was then sung and Hon. VIM. K. Taft,
Secretary of War, acting as the repre-
sentative of the President of the United
States, delivered the last address OF
the day.
The conclusion of the speech by Taft
was tie signal for the opening OF the
fair. Ia the White House at Washing
ton President Roosevelt was waiting
for the signal which was to tell him
the proper moment to touch the but
ton. Secretary Taft had not resumed
his seat before the signal flashed over
the Postal wires to Washington and
in an instant returning flash from the
President set the machinery hall in op-
Grafton.
At the same instant thousands of
banners were flung to the breeze and
other features of the great fair dis
played.
The first feature of the exposition
was the concessionarles parade. This
was made up of all the different fea-
lures which will figure on the Pike
during the life of the exposition. The
Pike is to the st. Louis Exposition
what the Midway was to Chicago. The
features, though different in character.
furnish practically the same form OF
amusement. This parade, with its dl-
vers unique attractions, gave much
pleasure and delight to the crowds,
which cheered it most enthusiastically
during the entire length of the march.