Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-30


ternoon. amidst the tolling Of bells,
the crash of bands, the chorus, Star
Spangled Banner" sung by thousands
of voices, and the cheers Of the great
est throng ever assembled in ST. Louis,
the Louisiana Purchase exposition
was formally declared open.
Just as Secretary Of War Taft con-
cluded his address President Roose-
welt Touched the golden key at Wash
ington. which started the vast ma
chincry in operation. released thous-
andS of banners on the various build
ingS and started the rush Of water
down the cascades.
Touched Hutton at I:I4 I-2.
Washington, April 3O.-President
Roosevelt at 1:14% today pressed the
gold key. by which an electric cur
rent started the gigantic power of the
ST. Louis exposition. At the same
time the battery of artillery stationed
on the grounds at the Washington
monument fired the national salute of
81 guns. The president and President
Francis exchanged congratulatory
messages.
Day Opened Fair.
81. Louis. April 3O.-Thc morning of
the opening day of the Louisiana Pur-
chase exposition was bright and warm.
Long before 9 o'clock. the official hour
fer the commencement of the eXer-
Cises. the grounds were well filled with
people. Officers and directors of the
exposition. members of the national
commission. board of lady managers.
and Representatives of foreign gov
ornmcnts and states and territories
marched from the administration
building to the plaza in the center of
the grounds, where the following eX-
crcises were conducted:
The Program.
As>cmhlagc called To order by Pres
ident ID. Il. Francis.
Invocation-Rcv. Frank NJ Gunsau-
lus. Chicago.
Addrrss-Prc~idcn Francis
Delivering keys of the exposition to
Mr. Francis by Isaac :. Taylor, direc-
tor of works.
Address-Frederick j. V. skin. di-
rector of exhibits.
Grand chorus. Hymn of the West"
sung by the choir, the words Of which
were written by Edmund Clarence
Stcdman.
Address of welcome-Mayor Rolla
Wells. of st. Louis
Address-Hon. Thomas ii. Carter.
president of the national commission.
Address-Senator Henry Z. Burn
ham. of New Hampshire.
AGdres>-C Congressman James H.
Tawney. of Minnesota.
Address Edward H. Hartman.
president of the New York state com
mission. on behalf of domestic exhibi-
tors.
AddrcsS-Michel lie Grave. commits
>ioner general of France. on behalf of
foreign exhibitors.
Chorus. America"
Addrr>s-Hon William H. Taft. Sec
rctary of war, acting as representa-
tive of the president of the United |
States.
Rush at the Last Moment.
All of yesterday and all of last night |
the people had worked with desperate !
energy TO accomplish the thousand ard |
one things that always remain To- I've !
done at the last moment. At the cN- |
position grounGS 3o.c0O men worked |
all day putting the final touches upon /
the grounds, building. sidewalkiug. |
cleaning buildings removing scaffolds !
and arranging exhibits. This work |
continued without ceSSatio until dawn /
of today. and when the fair opened at |
noon today everything humanity posi- |
ble had been done TO advance the work |
to the farthest limit of preparation.
Cftv n. ProfuseIv Deeorafed
In the downtown streets and in the |
residence districts the decorations are |
profuse and beautiful The exercises |
today are more serious than reSplend- |
ent- There is comparatively little OF /
the Glittering pageant that marked the |
dedication exercises year ago. but |
the ceremonies preceding the formal |
opening were none the less interest |
ing.
GREAT CROWDS IN THE CITY