New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01
PRESIDENT STARTS IT.
Machinery at st. Louis Set in no
ton from the White House.

washington. April 3O.-President Roosevelt to-
day pressed the gold KEY which completed tho
electrical circuit and released the gigantic power
OF the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at ST.
Louis putting in motion the 10000 horsepower
machinery and the cascades on the exposition
grounds. The ceremony occurred in the East
Room OF the White House At precisely 114:30
o'clock. Eastern standard time. AS the Presi-
dent pressed the key the Sd Battery OF Artillery,
stationed on the grounds OF the Washington
Monument. fred a national salute Of twenty-one
guns. Congratulatory messages were then ex-
changed between the President and David r.
Francis president OF the exposition company
The ceremony was witnessed by a notable as
semblage. Among those who were guests of the
President in the East Room we're the members
of the Cabinet. except Secretary Taft. who is in
st. Louis as the personal representative Of the
President; the Chief Justice and Associate Jus
tees Of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Senator Frye, president pro tempore OF the
Senate; Speaker Cannon Of the House of Repre-
sentatives ambassadors, ministers and other
representatives Of foreign governments; the Mis-
sourt delegation in Congress and prominent peo-
pie in civil life. The Marine Band. stationed in
the vestbule of the White House. furnished
music.
Half an hour before the actual opening Of the
fair the invited guests assembled in the East
Room where arrangements for the ceremony
had been completed. The telegraphic facilities
were under supervision of Major Benjamin F.
Montgomery. Of the signal corps, chief Of the
telegraph and cipher bureau at the White
House Three circuits between the East Room
and the Administration Building Of the exposi-
ton were provided by the Postal Telegraph and
Cable Company. one was installed as a circuit
over which the President released the mechan-
zeal power of the exposition. another was en-
ployed for the interchange Of messages and the
third was held in reserve in case OF the failure
Of either of the other two to work properly.
The connections were made by insulated cables
through the switchboard IN the White House
telegraph room. The mahogany table which
supported the telegraph instruments was in the
south end Of the East Room. On Il rested
small dais covered with blue and gold plush,
to the top Of which attached the gold key
with which the President closed the circuit. The
same dois and the same key have been used on
several similar occa sHons In 1898 President
Cleveland used the key IN starting the machinery
Of the Chicago Fair and In 1898 It was used to
start the exhibit Of the American Electrical IN
stitute The key and dais have been in the
possession Of General F. s. Grcely, President
General of the Sons OF the American Revolution.
At the table, arranging the preminaries. were
Major Montgomery and e. ". Smthers the
chief operator Of the White House. The st.
Louis end of the circuits was directed by P. V.
Degraw, the Eastern press agent Of the eXpOsi-
ton. A bell circuit connected the telegraph
table with a signal bell on the roof OF the White
House. AS The President pressed the key Major
Montgomery pressed a bulb he held IN his hand,
that action ringing a bell on the roof Instantly
u oF Of efr al
corps who stood there, dropped a flag thus
signalling the battery Of artillery that the ma
chinery of the fair had been started. The salute
followed. The battery was in command Of Cap
tain Charles T. Summerail First Lieutenant z.
P. Nones and Second Lieutenant Henry p. XII
bourne.
The members of the Cabinet. members of Con-
gress and other civilian guests assembled in the
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