The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-04-25
THE JAMESTOWN FAM
Despite the Builders Exposition
Won't be Ready For Opening
MANY BUILDING INCOMPLETE

President Roosevelt viii Make Ad'
dress at Opening and immense Gath
erine Of Foreign Warshps Will De
There.
Norfolk. Va. April 22.-Despite tho
splendid efforts OF corps of energetic
efficient painstaking officials and
thousands of carpenters, masons, ce-
ment walk builders and landscape gar
deners. the jamestown Ter-Centenniai
Exposition will be opened this week
unready. Many Of the magnificent
structures that are to house domestic
and foreign commercial exhibits and
shelter the achievements OF the indus
trial arts are incomplete. Yet. while
this is acknowledged by the directors
of the exposition with keen regret, 1t
is with the satisfaction that the sum
of what has been done, as compared
with the unfinished work, forms a re
suit of which they are Justly proud.
In the beauty Of the water show
with its amazing gathering Of foreign
fleets. representing the most formid-
able types of naval fighting machines
of nearly every power of the world.
and in an opening program with Presi-
dent Roosevelt in the leading role,
with diplomatic. military and naval
representatives of great and small for
eign nations participating. the pubic
will have its recompense. The opening
day will be crowded from sunrise until
dusk with the ceremonies of formally
launching the enterprise and paying
fitting tribute to the distinguished Wis
itors.
Celebration is the natural sequence
OF achievement The inception OF the
jamestown Ter Centennial Exposition
sprang from a desire of people, many
of them descendant from that hardy
English stock that settled among the
Indians here 300 years ago. te>tcach 70
its brothers and sisters and display to
visitors from the older nations the ira
ditions that have been handed down
by those courageous colonists No
other exposition has attempted 10
show the world the life OF the colon
lists. the hardships of the pioneers who
opened new country after civilization
had been attained on the seaboard
and the achievements these people
worked from raw material. Into all
this has been thrown touches OF the
romantic in which students and all
history lovers of the revolutionary
period may revcl. twenty-five states
of the Union will trace their history
from their earliest days to the present
and the exhibits will be sheltered by
appropriate buildings.
Should Friday come with the sun
shining there will be presented a pic
ture long to be remembered by every
visitor. II will be a picture of art and
industry united TO produce marvellous
display Of the wealth and resources Of
the country. OF charming landscapes
Swallowed by the imposing domes Of
luxurious palaces. OF broad eNpanse
OF placid water on which are riding
peacefully the war crafts OF a dozen
naval powers. OF a military encamp-
ment and parades by United States
and foreign troops Of all branches OF
the armies, and all will be combined in
spectacle of human enterprise un-
rivalled in the world.
To the lasting picture that has been
drawn should be added something Of
the marvels of the ceremony of placing
the great seal OF government sponsor
ship upon the exposition. This will be
done by the president OF the United
States in the presence OF the joint
committee OF congress. the ambassa-
doris and ministers OF foreign govern
ments who are coming as the guests Of
the nation. as well as the exposition
management, the governors and repre-
sentatiyes OF states and territories and
delegations representing important
civic bodies. On this first day will be
fired the salute to the Union by the
assembled warships and the salute to
the president by the United States ar
tillery stationed on the grounds as he
steps on the government pier from of
the Mayhower The program Will then
Z IL. =. .1,o 1~1rr Of ife prana ration