The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-04-30
OPENING OF ST. LOUIS
 WORLDS FAIR TO-DAY
'HTRTK THOUSAND MEN PUT ON
 THE FINAL TOUCHES.

Worked Until Dawn to Get Grounds, ' Buildings, Sidewalks and Exhibits in Perfect Shape = Decorations PrOfuse and BeautifuI-The Exercises To-day 4 Will be More Serious Than Resplend- N ant-Opening at Noon.
 ' St. Louis tonight is prepared for the sreatest day in her history. To-mor- bw at noon her great exposition, upon shich the city has lavished millions of ony, to which her people have devot- years of their best endeavor. and for hich they have labored with infinite htience, will be thrown open to the orld
 At the exposition grounds SO,OOO men bye worked all day, putting the final &uches upon the grounds, buildings, Adewalks, cleaning buildings, removing $affolds and arranging exhibits This fork will continue until dawn and it is snfidently expected that when the fair Rens tomorrow everything will have len done to advance the work to the irthest limit of preparation. In the ! wn town districts and in the residence slstricts the decorations are profuse < Nd beautiful. The exercises tomorrow $2bll be more serious than resplendent. r here will be comparatively little of ae glittering pageant that marked the ldication exercises a year ago, but the remonies preceding the formal open g will be none the less interesting. I& 9 a. m. all the high dignitaries of l se exposition will meet at the admin Eration building and, headed by a Ind, will march to the plaza of St. Puis in the center of the exposition punds. Representatives of foreign vernments will meet at the hall of ngress at the same hour and will time eir parade to the plaza so as to ar fe at the same moment the exposition icials march in from the opposite di- etion. At the same time representa- es of state and territorial govern ents will enter the plaza from a third enue, having previously formed at United States building.
 After the gathering has been formally led to order by President Francis, W. Frank w. Gunsaulus of Chicago 1 deliver the invocation. At the con- sion of the prayer, Director of Works ac s. Taylor will deliver the keys of buildings to President Francis, who turn will transfer the buildings to aderick J. V. Skiff, the director of libits. The chorus, Hymn of the est, the words by Edmund Clarence Edman and music by John Knowles Ene, will then be sung and addresses
 be made by the following gen. hen: Mayor Wells of St. Louis, Hon. bmas T. Garter, president of the na- hal commission; Senator Henry B. rnham of New Hampshire, in be- t of the United States senate; Con- ssnlan James A. Tawney of Minne- D, for the national house of repre- tatives; Commissioner General AL b R. Nuneo of Mexico, in behalf of foreign commissioners; E. H. Har- an of New York, for the exhibitors.
 last speech of the day will be by retary of War William H. Taft, and ts conclusion the signal will be given President Roosevelt in the White lse, the golden key will be pressed,
 cascades will send their floods, the nsands of banners will be unfurled,
 the great Louisiana Purchase ex- ition will be open to the world.
 is expected that an enormous crowd
 attend the exposition as excursion ms are coming in by the score and morrow will be officially declared a holiday by Mayor Wells. Among A NJ distinguished visitors to arrive to- ' were Secretary of War William H. It, who represents the president, and 4eral A. R. Chaffee. They reached
 city at o'clock tonight and were
 by General Bates, President Fran Rnd other officials. The special con- Bsional train bearing 400 persons, in ing the committee from the house of Fesentatives appointed to attend the hing exercises also arrived tonight
 Hid governors from number of les and several notable foreign vis- lring the day the United States boat Nashville and the torpedo boat
 rover Lawrence, which will repre-
 the navy at the fair arrived in St. is harbor. Although the boats ar d at an hour somewhat unexpected
 eh caused disarrangement of plans
 more elaborate demonstration by
 sands who had planned to go down
 river to meet them, the greeting to
 craft was nevertheless fitting. As
 ships came into the harbor they greeted with chorus of whistles
 shouts of welcome from crowds on
 rsion steamers. Salutes were fired which a delegation of worlds fair ials left their yachts and boarded
 Nashville. Commander John Hub
 received the party and after com ashore, went to the city hall, where Eas formally received by Mayor
 Is and the city worlds fair officials. er Commander Hubbard was receiv-
 y President Francis.
 Connecticut River Rising.