The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-07-22
DETROIT OBSERVES
ITS I'll BIRTHDAY
Opening of Celebration Took
Place Today City Has
Had Great Growth.
(Nationsl News Association

:. DETROIT, Mich, July 22-The
Eadillaqua festival, in celebration of
the 211th anniversary of the founding
of Detroit by Antoine de la Motto Cad
dllac, the French soldier of fortune,
was ushered in today with the city
lgorgeously decorated and filed with
visitors as never before in her his
tory.
All that the rounding out of two
centuries of progress and develop
Iment, of building and expansion, of
growth in population and business, of
goals gained and ambitions realized,
iof work performed and projects COM
|pleted, Of ideals attained and problems
tsolved, of things done means to city
lis what Detroit will celebrate during
the week beginning today
1t was on July "a, 1901, that Cadil-
lac arrived at the site of the future
metropolis with fifty soldiers and fifty
Canadian traders and artisans, and es-
tablished Fort Pontchartrain on the
banks of the river. Two days later he
laid the foundation stone for ST. AIMS
church In this church, some two years
later, Detroit's first white child,
The French called the new settle
ment La Vile detroit" The popula-
ton of the village was increased in
1749 by the arrival of half hundred
immigrants, who came in response to
proclamation of the governor-gener-
al of Canada offering a subsidy to new
settlers. Later there were more arri-
walls, including large parties of exiled
Acadians.
Growth of the City.
The population of Detroit reached
500 in 1895, and ITO in 1910. In 1910 it
was 9,192, in 1850, 1,019, in 1870, 49,
577, in 1890, 205,876 and in 1900 1885,
704. The latest census taken in 1910,
gave Detroit a population of 465,766,
an increase of 60 per cent. in ten
years.
In 1774 the first civil government
was provided by the British for De-
troit and the surrounding territory. In
1876 the town came into the posses
sion of the United States and was oc-
cupied by American troops. The town
was incorporated in 1902 and three
years later it became the seat of the
territorial government of Michigan.
The first paper printed in Detroit ap-
peared in 1909. On August 6, 1912,
General Hull surrendered Detroit to
the British and they retained posses
sion for little more than a year. In
1918 the first steamboat arrived here
from Buffalo. In 1912 Detroit was
chartered as a city and John r. Will
1iams was elected as first mayor.
During the gala week there will be
daily pageants on land, on the water,
and in the air. There will be athletic
events and amusements of every des-
Icription. Notables from many cities of
the United States and Canada have
accepted invitations to be guests of
the city of Detroit.
One Of Big Events.
One of the big features of the weeks
program will be great historical pa
geant depicting the voyage Of Cadil-
lac and his landing in Detroit. More
than 1000 persons CARRIED in the dress
of the period will first be seen resting
in their camp along the St. Clair Riv-
err AS Cadillac completes his voyage
he will be met by fleet of vessels.
The fleet will be made up of several
United States revenue cutters, six YES
sells of the naval reserve and many
private yachts.
On setting foot in Detroit the French
explorer will be met by United States
regulars from the United States reve-
nue. cutters and the naval reserves,
who will escort him to grand Circus
Park. He will be met at the park by
band of Indians, the chief of which
will present him with pipe of peace.
He will then be formally received by
Governor Osborn of Michigan and the
rofficial representatives Of Detroit.
One night Of the week is to be Civ
rade, with floats representing the pro-
gress of the various manufacturing
and mercantile interests of the city.
Then there will be an automobile pa
rade In which 5000 motor cars will
take part, the object being to call at
tention to the fact that considerably
more than half the automobiles made
lin America are built in Detroit.
In the hope of making their city the
future water-sports center of America
the committees have arranged an ella
fborate program Of aquatic sports.
Yacht races, power boat races, canoe
races, swimming contests and hydro
:, plane competitions will fill in the
week.