The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-30
ST. LOUIS FAIR
OPENED AT NOON

ST. LOUIS. April 3O.-Under fair skies
and in the presence OF an immense au-
dience. containing Representatives from
every corner of the earth the Louis
lana Purchase Exposition was opened
formally today at noon.
To be exact, at three minutes past u
there was a sharp click of little in
strument in the Electricity and Manu-
-facturers' Building and the flash of a
spark as the electric current. set in mo-
ton by the fingers of President Roose-
Welt was shot over the thousand miles OF
copper wire and galvanized into life the
gigantic mass of machinery that forms
part Of the great fair.
Many Thousands Present.
1t was an impressive sight An i'm
mense throng-estimated at over $4,000
people-had passed the turnstiles early
in the day. They gathered in the plaza
OF ST. Louis, the plaza Of ST Anthony.
and spread out over the spacious ave
nues from the Palace Of Liberal Arts
even to the Grand Cascades. '--s
Many were out of sight of the stately
Louisiana Monument towering 10 feet
above the ground. and more were out OF
hearing of the speakers who stood at its
base. But all were patient. There was
three SOLD
hours Of speechmaking.
But the eventful moment came at last
the fruition of six years Of tireIess. pa
tient, indomitable work on the part of
officials and people President Francis.
bareheaded, watch in hand stood be-
tween Secretaries Taft and Moody. His
eyes were fixed upon the distant hall Of
festivals. The seconds licked away
slowly. Was there hitch some place?
Had something gone wrong at the other
end of the line?
Set in Motion Here.
President Francis frowned. then his
face lighted. a flag was slowly rising
on the stan Of the hall OF festivals.
Little flags were breaking out on q thou
sand little fiagstafs on thousand caves
and cornices OF the big palaces. all set
in motion from Washington
simultaneously there came the whirr.
roar, and creak Of pulleys and wheels
and flying belts as the hugh pieces Of
machinery started. found themselves,
and sprang into motion. And upon the
grand cascades there was a rush OF
water and fash OF flame. The colon
made OF the States became a mass Of
lights. Water rushed out Of myriad
crifices in The terrace 4 thousand foun-
tsins began 10 play.
The immediate throng stood silent a
moment. impressed by the beauty of
the scene and then cheer-such a cheer
arose and spread out over the grounds
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition was
accomplished-it was a fact.
Incomplete in Detail.
True there remains much 10 be done
before the big show is complete In every
detail All the main buildings are fin
ished, but workmen are busy. on the
pike and viii be for two weeks. Many
OF the State buildings are IN the hands
of the carpenters yet.
In machinery hail and IN the varied
Industries and fine arts buildings every
thing is complete In the other palaces
many exhibits have yet to be installed
But what IS in is well worth the ad-
mission. and before one can see IL an
the remainder will be completed
The exercises which preceded the ac-
tual setting In motion or the machinery
were impressive. The officers and di- !
rectors Of the exposition. the board OF
lady managers. representatives Of for
elgn governments, officials OF States and
Territories and representative Of the /
army ana navy assembled at the Ad-
ministratiOn building and marched 10 [
the plaza Of St. Louis
The lady managers marched too They
wanted carriages, but the hard-hearted |
exposition officials, who were forced BY |
Congress TO give up 900 10 the lady /
managers 10 be used by them TO enter
tain their friends, told the lady man
ayers TO walk or hire their own car
riages. They walked.
Prayer Is Offered.
In the shadow Of the monument Of !
Saint Louis after whom St Louis was.l
named, the officials and guests mounted |