The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-15
ILLUMINATION OF
PIER. BEAUTIFUL
Raleigh Square ii, Blaze Of Light.
When Current Is
Turned On.
BRIEF FORMAL EXERCISES
Engineers Deliver Their Splendid
Work to Government
Representative.

j a NJ ESTO w POS1TION
GROUNDS, September H--Procaimcd
BY the most magnificent electric AMI
pyrotechnc display ever Witnessed IN
the South, and strains from brass
bands, stringed Instruments and the
flute. as we'll as by orntory, the great
Government Pier at tho jamestown Ex-
position. erected Mt a cost or something
over 100000, was formally dedicated
this evening.
The whole exposition, especially Ra-
leigh Square, from which projects the
great pier, and its surroundings was
In a blaze of glory Those who OBJ
served tho display Will never forget IT.
Only Niagara has produced more bril-
liant but never has q more artistic
electric and pyrotechnic effect been
produced
Thousands--one OF the biggest night
crowds that has visited the exposition;
were present for the dedication. 1t
would have been worth the while of
other thousands to have come for 1t, to
travel even a hundred miles for this
and nothing more.
But there will be nightly scenes of
great brilllancy from this time, now
that the pier is completed, until tlia
curtain has been finally run down on
the great show, and there VIII be
other occasions perhaps when the
scene shall be equally as brilliant us
II was tonight.
Expansive Raleigh Square and
broad Willoughby Boulevard. IN front
of the State Buildings, afforded ex-
cellent viewpoints for the display. and
on these thoroughfares the multitude
was congragated. The fireworks went
o. from the endsof the great pier and
from floats In John Smith Basin, be-
tween the two arms OF IT. A reproduce
ton in fire, high in the air above the
basin, that excited the wonderment
and enthusiasm of the crowds. was
the battle between the Virginia and
Monitor.
AT $3.50 O'clock this afternoon the
Mexican National Band, the organiza-
ton sent to the exposition by the
President of Mexico. and which has
produced much of the best music heard
at the fair, commenced to play on the
lofty concrete arch connecting the OFF,
shore ends of the two arms of the pier.
and at the same time Phinney's United
States Band commenced to play on the
bandstand on Raleigh Square. The
playing OF the Mexican National con-
tinuad until Z o'clock. and that of
Phinney's until $40.
a few minutes before Z o'clock r. w.
Gaylord, representing Schofield & Co.
the contracting builders Of the pier,
turned over the pier to f. l. Wheeler.
United states engineer In charge. who
,n turn delivered it to the exposition
management. President Tucker re-
ceivcd II on behalf of the exposition.
Brief speeches marked these cere-
monies.
The boom ola cannon announced
the conclusion Of these ceremonies.
and then the illumination of the pier
was commenced Slowly the lights
were turned on until the Illumination
was complete In all OF its magnifi-
cence. Az the Illumination was in pro-
CESS the Mexican National and
Phinney's United States Bands played
the "Star-Spangled Banner. The
completion of. the illumination of the
pier was acclaimed with a hurrah. In
which 1t seemed that the waves of
Hampton Roads Joined. Many watched
the spectacle until the lights of the
exposition were turned out for the
night.
The completion of the pier and Its
illumination at night adds vastly to
the attractIveness of ar already great
and attractive exposition. If there is
one person In Virginia or anywhere
else that has not seen the exposition
for any fault they may have found
3 with 1t that fault no longer exists.