Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-05-04
BIG FAIR IS NOW Open.
The st. Louis Exposition Is Ready
for the Public.
TOUCHES THE BUTTON.
President Roosevelt at Washington Gives
Signal Formally Opening the
Great Fair.

Worlds Fair Grounds, st. Louis, Mo-,
April 3O.-At :O4 o'clock this afternoon,
to the tolling of bells, amid the crash
of bands, the sweeping chorus Of the
"Star Spangled Banner" sung by
thousand voices, and the cheers of the
greatest throng ever assembled in the
city of st. Louis, the Louisiana Purchase
exposition was formally declared open.
Notwithstanding the prediction of the
government forecaster, who prophesied
rain for the latter part of the day and
lowering skies for the morning, st. Louis
put forth her best and bravest effort to-
day in honor of the opening Of her great
fair The morning, at least, was bright
8nd the most was made of it.
Great Crowd Present.
The official hour for the commence
ment of the exercises was 9 o'clock.
Long before this time the grounds were
filled with nearly half the population of
the city of ST. Louis and the remainder
apparently was thronging to the exposi-
ton grounds. To the many thousands of
the local population were added many
more who came in on excursion trains
last night and this morning. The crowd
was fully as large as that which filed
the grounds one year ago, when the ex-
position buildings were dedicated with so
much pomp and ceremony.
Promptly at the hour set the officers
and directors of the exposition, the men,
bers of the national commission and Of
the board of lady managers were gath
cred at the administration building,
where they formed into a procession and
marched to the plaza of st. Louis in the
center of the grounds, where the formaI
exercises OF the opening were conducted.
As the column from the administration
building entered the plaza, q long line
formed of representatives of foreign gov
ernments, which had assembled in the
hall of congresses, came pouring into the
plaza from another avenue. A third
column came shortly afterward, formed
of representatives of the states and terri
torial governments in the Union.
Assemblage Called to Order.
The assemblage was called to order
without delay by President d. r. Fran
els of the exposition, who requested the
audience to rise while Rev. Frank M.
Gunsaulus of Chicago delivered the invo-
cation. President Francis, as the chief
executive of the exposition, then de-
hyered an address.
Taft Speaks for President.
The chorus of America" was then
sung and William H Taft, secretary Of
war, acting as the representative of the
President of the United States, delivered
the last address Of the day.
President Presses Button.
The conclusion of the speech Of Sec
rotary Taft was the signal for the open
ing of the fair. In the white house, at
Washington, President Roosevelt was
eli key that would formally open the
fair and set its manifold machinery in
operation.
Secretary Taft had not turned to re-
sumo his seat after concluding his speech
before the signal had been flashed to
Washington over the wires of the Postal
Telegraph company Instantly there was
returning flash, which started the ma
chinery in machinery hall in operation.
Flags Are Unfurled.
Strictly speaking, this was all that
was accomplished by the Presidents
touch on the button at Washington. AS
quickly as the response came the oper-
ators here closed the keys which released
the flags secured to the stats
the work, as far as could be
seen from any one section was perfect
Every banner apparently caught the
same breath of air and they unfurled and
f1oated out as one. AT the far end of
the lagoon was the place for the cas-
cades. This. portion of the ceremonies
had greater interest for the people than
apparently any other feature Of the open
ing. Hundreds Of thousands of eyes
were focused on the three white inclines
that extend from the colorado of states
to the lagoon BASIN
Rush of Water.
The first CLINT Of white foam at the sum-
NIT Of the inclines was greeted with a
tremendous cheer which deepened as the
great flood Of water came splashing tu-
multuously down the lagoon below. It
was sight full Of beauty and the great
crowd which witnessed it appreciated and
applauded to the full.
simultaneously with the rush of the
water all the bands burst forth at once
into the strains of the ''Star Spangled
Banner" Every man in the great crowd
uncovered and when the last strain of the
martial song had died away the exer-
cises were finished and the exposition
proper had commenced.
Opening of "The Pike"
The first feature of the exposition was
the concessionaires parade. This was
made up of all the different features
which will figure on ''The Pike" during
the life of the exposition.
The Pike is to the st. Louis exposition
what ''The Midway" was to the Column
bian exposition at Chicago. The features
though different in character, furnish
practically the same of amusement.
There We're in this parade some who had
actually been present upon the famous
Midway, eleven years ago, and many
which had not been seen or heard of at
that time. This procession, with it's d-
verse and unique attractions gave much
pleasure and delight to the crowds, which
cbeered it most enthusiastically during
the entire length of its line of march.
urnr,YoY re ruDOu1N At nr11M