Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-04-26
TOday's Telegraphic News
JAMEsTowN EXPOSITION.

jamestown Exposition urohnus, W.,
April 26.-Three hundred guns at sun
rise, five hundred at nine o'clock, q
prayer, speech, golden key pressed
by the President of the United States,
thousand flags unfurled from the roof
tops of new Magic City, then more
guns booming from the sides OF visiting
battleships, from the clean cut hulls oi
the American fleet, ard from the walls
Of Fortress Monroe. Thus Was the expo
sition begun which celebrates the three
hundredth anniversary of the first Eng
lish settlement in America, and Is de-
signed to demonstrate TO the world the
progress the country has made in art and
science, in commerce and Invention,
since The followers of Captain John
Smith blazed the trail through the
wilderness and laid the foundations OF
the Virginia Commonwealth.
For the last two days the throngs OF
visitors have been pouring into Norfolk
and nearby towns in one steady, stream,
and now, it is safe to say, there isn't a
room or bed unspoken for within ten
miles of the exposition grounds. In
spite of the efforts that the exposition
people have been making during the
past fortnight to clear up the grounds
and get the exhibits 10 shape, there re-
mains much to be done. Many of the
structures are unfinished. and many OF
the displays will'not BE completed until
after the middle oil May. The transpor-
tation facilities to and from Norfolk and
Old Point are not all that could be desired
but the exposition managers assure the
public that more cars will be ruu on the
railroad and more boats on the water
routes within short time, and the
present congestion relieved.
The Norfolk Light Artillery Blues
started the exposition day with three
hundred gun salute from the exposition
grounds. The arrival of the Presidents
yacht May flower, from Washington,
was the second event of importance to
be recorded, and as soon as she came
into view and she joined the fleet OF
United States and foreign wsrships,
every vessel fred presidential salate OF
twenty -One guns. The Presidents re-
view Of the fleet consumed about one
hour and as soon ~ the Mayhower had
made her journey around all the war
ships, the yacht came TO anchor and the
President gave his reception 10 the officers
of the fleet. Surrounded by a brilliant
gathering Of gold-laced officers, the
President stood on tho deck and shook
hands with each officer as he came over
the side. The officers we're received
in the order of their rank. BY 10
o'clock the reception was ended and the
visiting officers returned to their ships.
The President Was allowed little time
for rest before the exercises began on
land, but he was soon on the move again,
going ashore in the Maydower's launch.
The President was met at the end oil the
pier by military escort. and "a he en-
tered the exposition grounds, was given
another lwenly-One gun salute by the
Uniten States artillery. 1t lacked few
minutes OF 1890 when tho President
was escorted to the reviewing stand, on
Lees Parade, in the rear of the Andito-
rum Building, where the opening exeT-
cises were to be held.
This 10 the programme that was follow
ed at the formal opening of the EXPOSE
ton:
/. Opening prayer by the Right Rev
erend Allied Msgill Randolph, Bishop
of the diocese of Southern Virgins.
2. Address and introduction of the
President of the United States by Hon.
Harry st. George Tucker, President of
the jamestown Exposition Company.
3. Address by Theodore Roosevelt,
President of the United States.
| 4. Opening of the exposition by the
President of the United States.
AS soon Gs the President pressed The
gold button which WAS To turn on the
electric current throughout che exposi-
ton grounds, every wheel in the new
city began to turn. At the same mo
ment thousand flags were unfurled
from the roofs of all the buildings of the
fair; all the ships in the harbor contrib
uted their share Of firing salute; every
band on The grounds burst forth with
"The Star Spangled Banner" and all the
troop, attending tho exposition present
ed arms. The jamestown Exposition
was open.
But that was only The beginning. The
military review came next, and for near
ly an hour the President stood In front
of the stand to receive the saber and
ride salutes Of the troops led by Maj.
Gen. Frederick ID. Grant. Behind the
soldiers and sailors came the men from
the foreign warships. Many ofthe Gov
ernors of Slalea, who came to the expo
sition grounds with military escorts,
helped swelI the most imposing process
sion of armed men that has been seen
south of Macon and DixOn's line since
the civil war.
On the reviewing stand with the Pres
ident we're most of the members OF his
Cabinet, the Vice President, the Speaker
of the House, the officers and directors
of the jamestown Exposition Company,
many members of Congress, the United
States commissioners to the exposition,
about twenty governors, mayors and
municipal officers OF the cities surround
ing Hampton Roads, aud last, but far
from least, the diplomatic representatives.
of thirty-four foreign powers. Eight Of
the. nine powers that have ambassadors
at the capital, wer represented by those
distinguished officials In person, and
practically all the ministers and charge
dsffsirs who have their headquarters