The Washington herald., 1908-07-04

After months Of preparation-months OF
hard work and planning-the splendid mu-
nicipal building Of the City Of Washing-
ton will this day be dedicated.
On the Fourth Of Julya date Of national
significance. a date Of historic Importance
and now TO be Of greater moment to the
people Of Washington-the beautiful struc-
ture Of white-the new City HalF'-fac-
ing Pennsylvania Avenue. comes into of
fetal existance.
At O'Clock this morning the dedicatory
exercises are scheduled TO be opened. and
by the words spoken and the plaudits Of
the people, patriotic for the day and the
occasion, the magnificent building of mar
bic and granite will be publicly declared
open,
The event viii mark the Fourth of July
Of 1908 as. perhaps. the most momentous
Of that day in the history Of the Nations
Capital.
Committees OF the Chamber OF Com
merca and the Board Of Trade have been
increasingly duigent in the preparations
for the greatest celebration the people OF
Washington Will have witnessed in many
day.
AT Fourteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue the Municipal building stands
one Of the most beautiful and imposing
Of the government structures in the
United States.
Beginning Of Exercises
! The exercises viii begin with the public
singing Of The Star-Spangled Banner"
! accompanied by the United states 2Iarina
Band. After q salute Of twenty-one guns.
the new flag viii De run Up on the bunG-
ing. Simultaneously two bombs will be
| fired. which viii unfurl American flags
/ high above the structure
John Joy Edison. chairman OF the Joint
general committee of the Chamber OF
| Commerce and the Board Of Trade. will
/ preside at the exercises.
All yesterday gangs of men were hard
at work grading and levellng the parking
I in front of the building. and by sunset
/ last night they had the space where the
/ great throng Of citizens viii gather 70
/ hear the ceremonies in fairly good shape.
/ a partially covered stand has been erect
4 ed on the central steps, with a large open
I platform on the ground level before il.
/ from which the patriotic speeches will be
made.
AT the east corner Of the parking an
other stand has been put up for the
| further accommodation of the invited
guests, and the use Of the band. Around
the outer edge Of the open space seven
telegraph poles have been temporarily
placed. at the top of which are great
arc lights for the night illumination.
Similar lights have also been placed on
| the roofs Of the adjoining building. so
Z that the best possible effects may be OBJ
tanned after uishtfalI
When the flag has been hauled 10 the
top OF its staff, invocation will be offered
by Rev N Ross Fishburn. pastor OF tha
Mount Pleasant Congregational Church.
Gen. John N. Wilson, president OF tho
recently appointed District Electric Rail-
way Commission. will read the Declara-
tion of Independence. Inasmuch as the
honor Of this reading falls on a number
of the observation-disclosures Association. that
organization will meet at their hall early
this morning and attend the exercises il
a body
Address by Secretary COrteIyOu.
On behalf of the government of the
District of Columbia. Commissioner II. B.
+. Macfarland. president Of the Board
Of Commissioners. will make the first ad-
dress Of the day. Between the addresses
the Marine Band Will play national airs.
For the United States government. Sec
retRry Of the Treasury George B. Cortel-
you viii make an address in congratula-
tion OF the city on the completion Of the
efforts Of years for q home BETTING its
dignity.
= tid been expected that Vice President
Fairbanks would be present and speak.
but at the last moment yesterday Com
missioner Macfarland received a letter
from him, stating he was sorry to have
10 send the Citizens Committee word
that il would be impossible for him to be-
on hand.
He wrote:
Il had hoped that I might find my way
clear 20 Join with you IN the dedicatory
exercises. 1 have always been greatly in
terested in the construction of the new
building. and would experience particular
pleasure if il were reasonably possible
for me 10 participate ir the crowning
act.
THE Commissioners have carried out
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