Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-30

1901, appointed the national commission
OF nine members, 1t was then decided
TO open the exposition on April 30. 1904,
OFFICERS ELECTED.
officers were elected, the company
was incorporated and the site for the
exposition was chosen in Forest park,
vast national park In the southwest.
ern border of 81. Louis. Trees were
felled, some hills were leveled, the
course OF the river Des Peres, which
ran through the park, was in part
changed. and the mammoth enterprise
was under way. by the time that, on
Aug, 20, 1901. President Mckinley is.
sued proclamation addressed 10 all
the nations Of the world and extending
them an invitation to participate IN the
worlds fair. Acceptances received in
dicated the official participation Of
nearly all the civilized governments Of
the world,
EXPOSITION SITE.
The site was made ready, embracing
1,2iO acres OF ground, practically an
area two miles long ana ne mile wide,
requiring six miles of fence to enclose
II. The Worlds Columbian exposition
at Chicago embraced 633 acres, the
Paris exposition in 1900 occupied 1896
acres, the Pan-Amerlcan az Buffalo, 300
acres, the Centennial az Philadelphia,
2S6 acres, and the Trans Mississippi at
Omaha, $50 acres, The Chicago expo
sition buildings covered a total Of 200
acres, while over $50 acres are covered
with buildings at the Louisiana Pur-
chase exposition,
MAIN EXHIBIT PALACES.
The main exhibit palaces at 81, Louis
have under roof l2S acres Those at
Chicago covered So acres. at Buffalo
Is acres, and at Omaha nine acres
As the time passed and the exposition
Increased In magnitude the enthusiasm
OF the project correspondIngly in
creased. Additional appropriations for
the erection OF buildings and exhibits
were made by the United States gov
eminent; Missouri alone appropriated
81 100000, foreign nations increased
their original appropriations and asked
for larger allotments Of space for their
exhibits, and the exposition was pTac-
ideally replanned on the most liberal
basis II finally became apparent that
the immensely OF the enterprise would
preclude It's complement and formal
opening to the world on the date origin.
ally appointed, April 30, 1903 and the
time was extended one year and otliclal-
ly announced.
THE DEDICATION.
On April 30, 1908, 20 months after the
first stake for the location OF the OK
position buildings had been driven on
September g. 1903, the exposition stood
over half completed, and on that day
was Officially dedicated 20 its memorial
purpose by the president Of the United
States, Theodore Roosevelt and other
national dignltarlos and officials ar
the exposition company. Some Of the
smaller buildings had been erected,
most of the large exhibit palaces had
been completed, although Machinery
hall and the Transportation building,
two Of the largest on the grounds, had
lust been commenced and Mexico had
the only completed national pavilion on
the grounds.
In the dedication ceremonies former
President Grover Cleveland also parti-
cipated, marking an unique epoch IN
the history of the United states, when a
president and former president OF the
United States assisted In ceremonies
commemorative Of national event,
In the years additional time granted,
every effort was made TO hurry the
work OF completion Of the exposition,
and 10 collect and rush forward the ex-
hlblts to be Installed from the four
quarters OF the earth. In the exposition
grounds the force Of 5000 workmen was
constantly augmented until 10000 were
daily engaged In rushing the work 10
finished termination.
At the opening excepting IN a few
minor details, the Louisiana Purchase
exposition stands practically completed
at a cost Of almost $780, 100000
GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATION.
The United States governments total
appropriation amounted TO NO6S,0OO,
and In addition the government recent
~ loaned TO the exposition company
$4,000, 900, making grand total Of
sri $50 900 secured from the national
government. The state, municipal and
other appropriations Of this country
made q total OF almos SIOOOOOO, and to