The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-15
EARTH IS TURNED
IN SP ABE OF GOLD
Guns Boom Salute and Milk
White Doves Are
Liberated.
TAFT CENTRAL
FIGURE
Panama. Exposition Is
Under Way, and San Fran
cisco Celebrates.

Especial 10 The Times Dispatch.l
san t!dnc!scoi Cal. Uclooer IL
Wnen Pres!uent TAFT, win spade OF
GOA, turned up c!oG OF earth IL
strucuve work ON t-e Panama PacinC
Exposition. wnlch is to open III 1919
was In!tlatea. from now on the i'm
mense talr grcNAuS, lying IN the most
picturesque part OF >in Francisco, on
the Glue aClhc. VIII tahe tangible form
Ii tie prophecies OF Governor john
son ana Carries c. Moore, president
OF The exposition come true, the expo
sit!on OF 1915 VII! be The most gigantic
the world has seen.
a Gala Occasion.
All California entered with zeSt inJo
the occasion, and san Francisco Was
crowded with rolliCklng, eXuberant
ttarong, bent upon making q gala time
Undertaking that san francisco has on
its hands, II must be said that the
event to-day was filled with spirit
that cannot fail TO iinp>rt energy to
the whole enterprise. INe Panama
Pacific Exposition starts with swing
that assures signal success 10 agrees
sive California which worked SO hard
TO bring It TO this city.
PROBABLY 100000 strangers were III
town to-day to participate in the fes;
tiviles- They thronged the streets
and. with san F'ranciscans. cheered
President Taft as he rode through inc
Streets 10 the huge StGQlnn in Golden
Gate Park In the serratcd seats OF
The stadium were $4,000 people. and
down in the tremendous pit below
stood fully 10000 more. II was an
impressive sight the like OF WATCH
san Francisco has never witnessed be-
fore
The rich gold of brilliant sun shone
down upon The vari-colored gowns of
CALIFORNIA; fair daughters. The hills
beyond gave charming background
r1f
Before the President dug up the
spadeful CT earth, there was a song
by Madame Norotca, whose clear. sill
very tones rang out upon the mellow
10 the President. ana President Moore,
of the exposition, told of the debt
pf gratitude San Francisco felt in the
Presidents act in deciding upon San
Elton. Briefly. Governor Johnson dwelt
upon the Importance TO the State in
getting the exposition, and then came
The President with a spirited speech
the Panama Canal to the commercial
interests OF the Pacific coast and 10
the whole country
Exposition started.
And now" remarked the President
concluding, Il am here TO start your
exposition. TO turn a spade OF earth
with spade OF gold. and II is time
to do it,
An ear-spltting cheer went UP as
the President stepped from the grand
stand to the greensward The Presi-
dent stopped TO hoist an American flag
to the top OF q naepole and then. tax
ing the golden spade handed him by
President Moore, plunged it far into
the ground 4 generous spadeful oil
earth was tossed TO one side, and at
the same moment 100 carrier pigeons
and milk white doves. with tiny flags
tied to their necks, were released War
vessels in the harbor, and guns OF the
mountain battery doomed out the presi-
dental salute. Rockets went into .ho
air and exploding sent forth wonder
full national colors
The exposition was launched and
tremendous, vibrant cheer went nm
from the esctatic crowd.