The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-01
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Closes Its Gates.
President Francis Honor Guest
at Appropriate Ceremonies.
is MADE A HOLIDAY.
st. Louis and the Whole State
Shut Up Shop.
FareWellAddreSs sDelivered from
Same Spot as Inaugural.

st. Louis, Mo-, Dec. with ideal
early winter weather prevailing; with
the gates thrown open to children and
those who were worthy but had been
unable to attend from pecuniary rea-
sons, with crowds pouring through the
turnstiles from the opening of the
gates until far into the day the Louisi-
ana Purchase exposition held forth its
last day today.
President d. r. Francis was the
guest of honor today and ceremonies
were conducted in commemoration of
the service he had rendered in making
the exposition a success and at the
same time holding the farewell to the
Worlds fair, the magnidcence and
greatness of which have been heralded
and acknowledged throughout the en-
tire world.
1t is estimated that the attendance
today was in the neighborhood of a
record breaker, but it will not beknown
until the exposition has closed and the
attendance figures are officially an
nounced. Since the exposition opened
on April 80. there have been 1s.317,45z
admissions recorded. The banner
months attendance was in September.
when the total attendance was 1851. 1873.
The largest single days attendance
was on September Is, when "St. Louis
day. was observed.
That every citizen of st. Louis might
participate in the last day Of the ex-
position and help observe Francis
day today was proclaimed holiday
by Mayor Wells. Governor Dockery
likewise had proclaimed a holiday
throughout the state, and the crowds
that poured into the city attested to
the fact that the proclamation was OBJ
served. A large number of business
houses ceased operation today and the
public schools were closed. Additional
forces of officers and guards were sta
toned over the exposition grounds to
preserve order in handling the crowds.
President D. r. Francis arrived at
the administration building early and
was met by Mayor Wells and the ex-
After brief reception President Fran
els was escorted by the Worlds fair
directors, all the officials and employees
of the exposition company and a de-
tail of fifty Jefferson guards to the
plaza of st. Louis. The procession
was headed by a military escort COM
posed of all the military organizations
on the ground, the regular soldiers
stationed at Jefferson barracks, and
other military organizations of st.
Louis.
When the plaza of st. Louis was
reached President Francis took his
place on the north side of the Louisi-
ana Purchase monument to deliver his
farewell address at the exact place
where were held the opening exercises
in April. The members of the ma
tional commission, the board of lady
managers, the members of the foreign
and state commissions and other nota-
BILE guests occupied the immediate vi
cintty of the speakers stand and
stretching away into the distance on
all sides was a sea of faces as the
mammoth throng pressed toward the
monument, simply to be in attendance
on the closing exercises of the great
exposition.
The assemblage was called to order
by Mayor Wells.
President Francis said in part, speak
ing of the results of the work expend-
ed on the Worlds fair:
Time will be required to demon
strate that the thought and labor and
the sacrifices that have entered into it
were not ill-adviSedly bestowed. The
compensation will continue to flow for
at least a generation to come. Its in
huence will be felt and appreciated in
marks a new epoch in the intellectual
and industrial advancement of tbs
world, and the dawn of new era. in
the international relations of govern
ments and peoples
Brief addresses were made by Gov
ernor Dockery on behalf of the state
and Mayor Wells in behalf of the city.
President Francis was then introduced
and delivered his farewell address. As
he arose a N ighty cheer went up from
the assembled thousands. 1t was
unanimous, rousi'g and expressive of
the heartiest good will. President
Francis told of the exposition as a
monument to the industry of the
world as a universal Institution of in
struction an das a Pat-in success
When he had ceased speaking, the
mammoth assemblage burst into
cheering and then dispersed to explore
for the last time the extensive rami-
fcations of the exposition. Drills, con-
certs and receptions generally through
out the grounds occup. I'd the latter
part of the day. PresiuCnt Francis
was rendered a general reception at
the house of the board of lady man
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