The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-06-10
PORTLANDFAIROP open
PRESIDENT PRESSES KEY TO
START MACHINERY.
Vice President, Senator's, RepreSen.
tafiveS, Army, Navy and State
Officials Participate In Ceremony
at Portland High Government
Officials Present at white House

Portland, Or, June 2.-By the touch
of his hand upon golden telegraph
instrument, President Roosevelt, from
the White house, gave the signal that
formally opened to the world the Lewis
and Clark Centennial Exposition,
monument to the memories of Captains
Merriwether Lewis and William CLARK,
the pioneers who a hundred years ago
blazed the trail which opened up to
the world the "Old Oregon Country"
A more suspicious day for the OPEN
ing could not have been desired.
The literary exercises which proceed
ed the formal opening were Of extraor-
dinary excellence. Seldom has such
an array of orators gathered on the
same platform. and certainly never in
the history of the Pacific Northwest
have its people been privileged to hear
in few short hours such eminent
speakers as Vice President Fairbanks,
Speaker Joseph Cannon of the house of
representatives, Senator Clark of Wy
oming, Congressman Tawney Of Min
nesota, 81. A. Taylor, assistant score
tary of the treasury; Gov. Chamber
lain Of Oregon, and Mayor Williams,
Of Portland.
The program was carried vut with
but few changes from the original
idea. A feature which was looked for
ward to with great expectancy, the
playing of "America" upon the chin
ing bells Gin the government building,
was unavoidsbly omitted, the cleo
trical apparatus by which the chimes
are operated being found out of order
at the crucial moment.
Signal Is Given.
When all was in readiness for Presi-
dent Roosevelt to give the long-awaited
signal from the White House, Presi-
dent Goode Of the exposition forwarded
him the following telegram:
President Goode Of the Lewis and
Clark Centennial Exposition extends
greetings to the president Of the United
States and has the honor to announce
that the exposition management awaits
President Roosevelt's pleasure>in trans
hitting the electric energy to ring the
chimes in the United States govern
ment building and start the machinery
Of this exposition"
Almost instantly, through the thou
sands Of miles Il wire, flashed the SIN
gle "olick" which formally opened the
exposition, releasing hundreds Of flags
to the breeze and setting the ponderous
machinery in motion. Almost by in
tuition the great throng knew that the
exposition was opened and one wild
cheer after another echoed among the
immense buildings surrounding the
sunken gardens, at the head Of which
the speakers platform had been
erected.
neSSaae to President.
Following the receipt Of the presi-
dents signal, Mr.. Goode forwarded the
following telegram to President Roose-
ve;t:
In response to your telegraphic Sig
nal, the Lewis and Clark Centennial
Exposition has been declared opened in
the presence Of a vast assemblage Of
distinguished and enthusiastic speota-
tors from all parts Of tho globe. The
exposition management desires me to
express our heartiest appreciation Of
the honnorc onferred by the chief ex-
ecutive ct the whole nation in formally
inauguratiag this centennial celebra-
tion Of the important historic achieve
ment which resulted In our great coun-
ty's remarkable continental develop
ment.
Reply from Roosevelt.
Further clicking Of the telegraph In
strmuent and Mr.. Goode was handed
the following telegram from President
Roosevelt.
81 congratulate you aud those asso-
dated with yo1 In commemorating
this occasion. hope and trust that
the great enterprise you have under
taken will be fitting memorial 10 the
sturdy explorer who in the service Of
their country faced tho perils and
hardships Of vast unknown territory.
I send greeting - the representative
Of forsign countries Who are co-ope-
rating with - IN Attingly cslebeatine
the ono hund1sdth annivs1sazy q thio