The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1904-05-05
Decorations of st. Louis Down
Town Streets Were ProfuSe
and Beautiful.
o,untrnnc nnrcrnT
UISlINbUiSrtu VISIlUno TnIoLNt
The President OF the United states
Touched the Golden Button in
the White House.
The Cascades Sent Down Their Floods,
Thousands Of Banners Onfurled
and the Great Expedition Was
Opened 10 the World.

ST. Louis. April 3o.-saturday at q
noon the great exposition upon which Il
the city has lavished millions Of mon %
ey. to which her people have devoted 81
years Of their best cndcayors and FOR s
which they have lasorcd with infinite p
patience and persistence. was thrown G.
open TO the world.
The time Tor promises and pledges
has gone. the day OF. fuifiimont Is az
hand. and never has any city put forth .
greater effort 70 keep the spirit and
letter OF her pledge than has 81. Louis.
All Of Friday and Friday night the
people worked with desperate energy {
20 accomplish the thousand and
things that always remain 20 be done
nt the last moment At the exposition :
10000 men worked an day putting the
final touches upon the grounds. build
ings. isidewaiking. cleaning buildings.
removing scanolds and arrangiug cx-
hIbits. This work was continued With
out cessation until dawn. In the down
town streets and in tho residence dis
tricts the decorations are profuse and
beautiful
The exercises Saturday was more
serious than rcsplendant There was
comparatively little OF tho gliuerins
pageant that marked the dedication
exercises a year ago. but t1e~ccrem0-
niles preceding che formal opening
we're none the less Interesting
Al 9 O'Clock Ia the morning an the
high dignitarics OF the exposition mot
at tho administration building and.
headed by n band. marched TO the
plaza OF St Louis in the center OF the
exposition grounds Representatives
Of foreign governments met at thc hall
81 congresses az the same hour and
timed their parade 70 the plaza SO as
70 arrive at the same moment the cX-
position officials marched 10 from the
opposite direction. AZ the same tine
Representatives OF state and territorial
governments entered the plaza from a
third avenue. having previously form
ed at the United States building
After the gathering had been form
ally called 90 order by President Fran
els. Rev Frank W Gunsauius. of Chr
eago. delivered t-hc.invocation. AZ tho
conclusion OF the PRAYER Director Of
Works Isaac S. Taylor delivered the
Keys q the buildings 90 President
Francis. who in tur transferred the
buildings to Frederick j. ". Skin. tlc
director Of exhibits.
The chorus Hymn OF the West the
words by Edmund Clarence Stedman
and music by John Knowles Paine,
was then sung. and addresses were
made by the following gentlemen:
Mayor Wells. OF 81 Louis, Hon. Thos.
r. Carter. president OF the national
commission. Senator Henry s Burn
-. - A.. Hn.....ne-. t- H.HnHH 20
the United States senate. Congress
man James A. Tawney. OF Minnesota
for the national house OF representa-
tives: COMMISSIONS General AlhinC
r Nuncio. Of Mexico. in behalf of o.,
foreign commissioners. Il H.. Harfi
man. Of New York. for the exhibitors
The last speech of the day was b!
Secretary OF War william II. Taft au'
at its conclusion the signal was give
20 President Roosevelt in the whit
house. the golden key was pressed, In
cascades sent down. their floods. tn
thousands OF banners were unfurle
n the great Louisiana purchase e'
position was opened to the world.
Excursion trains came In by Ia
score and Saturday was ofhciall
declared a legal holiday by Mayo
Wells.
Among the distinguished visitors I
arrive Friday were Secretary OF W,
William II. Taft. who represents N
president, and Gen. A. r. Cha1e
They reached the city at s o'clock Fl
day night and were met by Gen. Bate
President Francis and other ofhcial
The special congressional train bea
Ing 400 persons, including the comm.
tee from the house OF r~epresentativl
appointed to attend the opening exc
s. oises, also arrived Friday night, as d
governors from a number OF states al
several notable foreign visitors,
81 War Vessels Arrive.
During the day the United stat
a gun boat Nashville and the torpe
boat destroyer Lawrence. which W
represent the navy at the fair. arriv
In ST. Louis harbor. Although {
III boats arrived at an hour somewhat l
expected. which caused disarrani
I'll ments Of plans for a more elabor;
demonstration. BY thousands who b
<# Planned 20 go down to the river
meet them, the greeting TO the CT
IA was nevertheless fitting. AS the sh
~ came into the har6or they were gre
~ ed by a chorus OF whistles and sho
OF welcome from crowds on excurs
~ steamers. Statutes were fred in
=< sWer after which a delegation
worlds fair omciaIs. including nj
bers OF the exposition reception G,
mittee. left heir yachts and boar
M Nashville. Cemnapder John II
bard received the party and after c.
ing ashore went TO the city han VII
ne was formally received by Ma
Wells and city Worlds fair .ofaci
Later Commander Hubbard was