Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-03
ST. LOUIS WILL
OBSERVE BIRTH
CENTENNIAL OF MISS0URPS
METROPOLIS TO BE KEPT
Or. Cook, Arctic Explorer, and Yelled
Prophets Will Add to Amuse-
ments of Week in Honor
of Celebration

ST. LOUIS, Oct. "A weeks cele-
bration of the centennial anniversary
of the incorporation of st. Louis VIII
begin tomorrow at sunrise, when the
bells of 444 churches within the city
limits will be rung in announcement
of the beginning of the program.
Aeroplane flights, distance races be
tween spherical balloons, speed con-
tests by dirigible aircraft, water
pageant with four vessels OF the
United States navy participating, pa
rades festival banquets, the annual
appearance of the mysterious NelIeu
prophets and several public appear
ances by DR.. Frederick A. COOK I3s Ale-
tic explorer, will fill out the Week.
Preparations for the big events nave
been going on for months.
An elaborate system of street hshl-
ing has been installed, great court
of honor erected and practically the
entire city has been decorated with
flags and bunting. .t..
Two men-Glen H Curtiss, aviator,
and Dr. Cook, eXplorer-wlll dlVlde Tue
honors to be accorded to individuals.
Mr.. Curtiss, begsAning Wednesday
will make daily flights, weather per
1nitting. from Art hill, Forest park
where a great natural amphlIhedleL
is. capable of accommodating scores
of thousands of spectators. DR.. COOK
+ivities. presided over by the Velled
nrophet, and will be rendered pubic
reception.
Will Hold Religious Services
The Sunday observances will be of
a religious and historical nature. Spe-
cial services will be held IN tne
churches and songs of praise ana
thanksgiving will be sung by thou-
sands of Sunday school chllafen' ~
the afternoon tablets marking lne
nIaoes of historical interest VIII De
3nveiled. These latter will commem-
orate all important events from the
landing of Pierre Laclede Liguest IN
1874 to the building of the new lnu-
nicipal structures, the laying OIL Miloo9
corner stones will be an important
feature of the week.
The. balloon races Will De slaIteo
Monday. Two events are on the pro-
eram the first limited to spherlcal
Air craft of 10000 cubic feet capaelty
or less and the second to larger Dal-
looms of up to $4,000 cubic feet. seven
distance and two endurance prizes are
offered for these contests.
In the evening the streets VIII pe
illuminated for the hrst time, anu 1Ie
onening band concerts will be given
Tnesday will be a period of pagean-
+rv The United States torpedo poat
fotilla, consisting of the MacDonousn,
Wilkes. Tinge and Thornton, Will Ieau
a narade on the Mississippi river, III
which scores of motor boats' river
packets and other vessels Will take
part. +ho vei1ed
pronhot arrive in greater pomp than
has been his wont for years. The hoats
of his parade will be unusually elap-
orate. and the ball with which the Gel
ebration ends will be one OF the most
brilliant functions at which he mas
ever presided.
Glen H. Curtiss is scheduled to IN
augurate his flights Wednesday 1ol-
lowing the review of a nunlclpaL pa pa
peant' bv the mayors Of 1000 American
cities who have been invited to Wit
ness the doings of the week as the
guests of the city.
Thursday 200 floats, representing the
industrial progress of century, VIII
wind through the streets.
Friday will witness series of aero
plane contests in which some startling
results are anticipated. Half dozen
inventors of the United States many
of them as yet obscure, have signitied
their intention to participate. The
prizes OF $1,000 and a gold medal and
$500 and a silver medal for the best
flights will be given to the operators
of the machines which make the long
est flights out from and back to
starting square 200 feet in dimensions
The street pageant this day viii be
a combined educational, historical and
military parade, in which students,
floats and national soldiery will appear.
Saturdays program includes a race
for dirigible balloons with Baldwin,
Beachey and Knabenshue as the chief
contestants, the release of the two
score unguided spherical balloons of
5000 cubic feet capacity, a parade Of
500 automobiles and the dedication of
Background" a new public park.
AS many as possible of the centen-
nial decorations and illuminations are
to be preserved until after President
Taft's visit later in the month.