The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-30
Everything is in Readiness for Greatest Day in the
 fys History
ROOSEVELT WILL TOUCH
 THt KEY IN WASHINGTON
At His Signal Cascade Will Start, Flags Will Unfurl and Machinery Will Be Set In
 Motion.

St. Louis. April 29.-St. Louis tonight is prepared for the greatest day in her his tory. Tomorrow at noon her great expo sition, upon which the city has lavish ed millions of money, to which her people have devoted years of their best en- deavors, and for which they have labor ed with infinite patience and persistence will be thrown open to the world. The time for promises and pledges has gone, the day of fulfllment is at hand, and never has any city put forth greater ef- fort to keep the spirit and letter of her pledge than has St Louis.
 All of today and all of tonight, the people have worked with desperate en- ergy to accomplish the thousand and one things that always remain to be done at the last moment At the exposition grounds thirty thousand men had work ed all day putting the final touches upon the grounds, buildings, sidewalks. clean ing buildings, removing scaffolds and ar ranging exhibits.
 This work will continue without cessa- tion until dawn and it is confidently ex- pected that when the fair opens at noon tomorrow, everything humanly 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 tomor- row will be more serious than resplend- ent.
 No Glitterng Pageant.
 There will be comparatively little of the glittering pageant Shat marked the dedication exercises a year ago, but the ceremonies preceding the formal opening will be none the less interesting. At 9 o'clock in the morning the high digni- taries 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 governments will meet at the Hall of Congresses at the same hour, and will time their parade to the Plaza, so as to arrive at the same moment the exposition officials march in from the opposite direction. At the same time representatives of state and terri torial governments will enter the Plaza from a third avenue, having previously formed at the United States building.
 After the gathering has been formally called to order by President Francis, Rev. Frank w. Gunsaulus of Chicago will deliver the invocation.
 At the conclusion of the prayer. Direc- tor of Works Isaac s. Taylor will de- liver the keys of the buildings to Pres ident Francis, who will in turn transfer the buildings to Frederick ]. V Skiff, the director of exhibits. The chorus, Hymn of the West" the words by Ed mund Clarence Steadman and music by John Knowles Payne. will then be sung. and addresses will be made by the fol- lowing gentlemen:
 Prominent Men Will Speak.
 Mayor Wells of St. Louis, Hon. Thomas T. Carter, president of the national ccm- mission; Senator Henry E. Burnham of New Hampshire in behalf of the United States Senate; Congressman James A. Tawney Of Minnesota, for the national house of representatives; Commissioner General Albno R. Nuncio of Mexico, in behalf of the foreign commissioners; E. H. Hartman of New York for the ex- hibitors.
 The last speech of the day will be by Secretary of War William H. Taft and at it's conclusion the signal will be given to President Roosevelt, in the White House, the 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.
 It is expected that an enormous crowd will attend the exposition as excursion trains are coming in by the score and to- morrow has been officially declared a legal holiday by Mayor Wells. Among the distinguished visitors to arrive today were Secretary of War William II. Taft, who represents the President, and Gen. A. R.. Chaffee They reached the city at 8 o'clock tonight. and were met by General Bates. President Francis and other of ficials. The special congressional train bearing four hundred persons. including the committee from the house of repre- sentatives appointed to attend the open ing exercises, also rrlved tonight as did Governors from a number of states and several notable foreign visitors.
 Naval Vessels Arrive.
 During the day the United States gun boat Nashville and the torpedo boat de- stroyer Lawrence, which will represent the navy at the fair, rriyed in St Louis harbor As the ships came into the harbor they were greeted by a chorus of whistles and shouts of welcome from crowds on excursion steamers. Salutes were fired Tn answer after which a delegation of world fair officials, including members of the exposition reception committee. left their yachts and boarded the Nash vile.