The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-05
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
 ABLAZE WITH MANY LIGHTS

Washington. D. C.. March 4-Histor- ic Pennsylvania Avenue Is ablaze with light tonight. The committee having charge of the iluminations and the merchants occupying business houses along its length, have vied with each other in producing the most brilliant display.
 One of the features of the illumin- ation is the stretching across the 109 feet of roadway a large number or electric festoons. They were placed 150 feet apart and extend from the Peace monument at the foot of the Capitol grounds. to the Treasury building. and thence to New York Avenue. a distance of about a mile anu a quarter. The effect Is wonderfully fine.
 The peace monument. itself for the first time since its erection. soon after the close of the civil war, Is being put to the use for which it originally was intended-that of a fountain. Connec- tions with the water service were made and tonight the great volume of wa ter being thrown into the air Is the focus of powerful searchlights in many ,coIors. producing a. wonderfully beau- tiful spectacle. The cornice and b~ans of the Treasury building are outlined in incandescent lamps as is the Post office building. where are displayed Tn the arches of its tower several blue green mercury vapor lamps of great brilnance. Powerful searchlights are constantly playing on the majestic dome of the Capitol and on the front of the new white marble Municipal building.
 The private business blocks for thetr mile of length are, as rule, festooneo and outlined with electric lamps. The effect of the whole illumination Is br'I' | nh ever In the history of the city. been eXcelled.
 Great Fireworks Display Approximately ai quarter of million neonie tonight gaZed with wide-eyed wonder and delight at what, no doubt was the finest display of aerial ire works ever seen at the National Capi- tai.
 The exhibition. which was given on the elhpse south of the Executive Mansion, began at 7:30 o'clock and at that hour the great open spaces Of the White Lot and the Washington monu- ment grounds were crowded by dense throng, all eXpectant and eager 10 see the really wonderful exhibition of pyro- technics. It is believed that these crowds numbered not less than 125,0O0, Then there were probably as many | more occupying the roofs and windows of the tall apartment houses and other l buildings. private and public, which | would make a total larger 1t is thought, than any ever before assem- bled in Washington on a similar oo- caston.
 The program was a long one and contained many special and unique l features of marvellous beauty and spec | tacular effect. never heretofore seen in this country. The display began hy the discharge of 1O1 aerial guns, the | National salute, and was followed by the lighting of 250 prismatic fires which changed color number at | times.
 The illumination was superb and the effect of the changing tints on the towering marble shaft of the Washing ton monument. was extremely beautt; ful. Then came the flight of 150 rocket bombs, fired from several positions SC us to blend their varied colors. and then fin rapid succession the discharge of q battery of magnesium balloons followed h va marvellous Sun Cluster and batteries of fiery cobras, and the burning of great quantities of ruby fire, which gave its red tint to every object within radius of many squares The Star Spangled/ Banner" excited tie admiration of the great throng oi spectators. It was produced by the electrical discharge of many large