The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-02
Celebrates Centennial Of
Opening of Oregon by
Lewis and Clark.
PRESIDENT GAVE
SIGNAL MILES AWAY
Fairbanks, Cannon and Others
Speak, and Immense Crowd
Cheers Lustily-Aged Mayor
Of Portland Picturesque
Figure Bright Pros
pect for Show.

(By Associated rress.)

(By Associated Press)
PORTLAND. ORE, June with the.
touch OF the hand on n gold telegraph
instrument, President Roosevelt from the
White House at Washington to-day gave
the signal which formally opened In
Portland, more than 5000 miles away, the
Lewis and Clark Centennial I5xposition,
monument to the memories OF Captains.
+ Merriwether Lewis and William Clark,
s who one hundred years ago blnzed the.
trail which opened 10 the world the
Oregon country. a more auspicious day
for the opening of the exposition could
not have been desired. The programme
was carried out with few changes. The
playing OF America" on the Ginning
"a bells in the government building was
omitted. the electrical apparatus By
a which the chimes operated being tempor-
{ ariy out OF order.
To-day.s celebration was participated
In by the President of the United States
and his personal representative Charles
w Fairbanks, representa- uves OF the
State and OF the House Of Representa-
tives OF the National Congress- OF the
4 army and navy, together with the Gov
crnors and STATS Of the States OF Cali
5fornin. Idaho Washington and Oregon,
and multitudes OF people from far and
near.
All Portland was decked in her best.
business was suspended, and the holiday
spirit was everywhere In evidence.
S4 The States OF Oregon. Washington and
Idaho in which June list had been de-
clared a legal holidayIn In honor OF the
centennial. sent thousands OF visitors.
I, The trains OF yesterday brought the van
guard of the excursionlsts, and to-day
the railroads ana boat lines entering
4 Portland have been taxed to their ut
most. Never in the history Of Portland
y has this city been called upon to care
for Sc many people.
Military Pageant.
The prelude to the actual opening.
ceremonies at the exposition consisted OF
the parade. grand pageant OF militar-
ism. led by Vice President Fairbanks. the
congressional party, visiting Governors
and other dignitaries, and the exposi-
ton officials. With martial music con-.
stantly playing. this immediate fOrerun-
ner OF the actually was greeted with
continued cheering along the entire line
= Of march from the new postoffice and
through the business and residential sec
tions Of Portland to the fair grounds.
AS the troops passed. the mass of sight,
seers. Ranking the column, fell In behind.
and when the exposition grounds were
reached, there was stream OF humanity
miles long following In Its wake. Thous-
ands In the meantime. anticipating the
onward rush. had packed themselves
around the speakers stand and occu-
pied every point of vantage. and late.
comers had to be content with being
within seeing distance. AS the parade
swung into the grounds, the vice-presl-
+ dental, congressional and fair parties
were detached from the column and
were escorted by the cavalry between
long lines Of cheering thousands to the
New York State building Almost stimuli
X taneously bodies OF troops took their po-
sition on the esplanade extending from
the rear OF the speakers stand down to
the lake front. Grand Marshal OF the
day, Colonel Z. z. Steever. Fourth Cav
4 airy, u 8. A., had distributed the SOL
diery about the grounds to hold the
crowds In check and preserve order gen
sraly.
Everything being In readiness. at 1l:45
o'clock President Fairbanks and
party emerged from the New York
State building, receiving the vice-presi-
tentaYs salute of eighteen guns. Flanked
on either side of a line of troops, the
party walked to the speakers stand. AS
the word was passed that the party was
coming. an air Of expectancy settled over
the crowd, which gave way to tre-
mendous outburst of cheering and hands
clapping as tho official party ascended
the speakers PLATFORM
Promptly at 10 o'clock noon, President
II. w. Goodo, of the exposition. arose.
and. gaVel In hand, announced the be-
ginning OF the ceremonies. which meant
the realization OF Portland dream. The
announcement was received with tremen-
dous cheering, which echoed back and
forth through the crowd for several
minutes. AS the echo died away the Rt.
Rev, David y, II, Moore, bishop OF the
I Methodist Episcopal Church, stepping TO
the front of the platform, raised his
hands and invoked the divine blessing,
A perceptible stiffness prevailed In the
vast throng as the prayer was spoken.
Oregon's Welcome.
The Impressive silence which followed
the prayer was broken MS the Inspiring
Imperial Oregon" march composed
by Inness and dedicated to the memory
Z OF Captains Lewis and Clark, and In
scribed to the people of Oregon. was
played by the band. While the last notes
Of the music reverberated through the
grounds, and before the great applause
whicl, created the rendition Of tho piece
had subsidized, President Goode again
arose m to address tho people. Ills ap,
pearance on the rostrum was the sigma
4 for renewed cheering, which continued
for several minutes, Finally. In responhf
to his appealing gestures. the president
was permitted to begin his address. II
welcoming the people Of the "Old Ore,
gon" country and the people of the
j United States as the guests OF the expo
sition, Mr.. Goode said In part; $
.,The States OF the Pacific border to-day
piye hearty welcome TO tho world to share
With them in tho fellciations upon the
triumphal achievements on these shores by
AGGRESSIVE American civilization and the
signal Victories OF peaceful conquest.
l3 S"The people of the Pacific Northwest de- y
sire 60 give Lewis and clark heir yeneratea
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