The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-02-23
TERCENTENARY
CELEBRATION A
GREAT FEATURE
NEW YORK CITY WILL GO AHEAD
AND COMMEMORATE CHARTER
OF THE COMMERCE OF THE
PORT AND PRACTICALLY OF
NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT
BEGAN 800 YEARS AGO.

BEGAN 800 YEARS AGO.
New York, Feb. 22.-It is announced
as definitely decided that New York
city will go ahead and celebrate this
year. Notwithstanding that such large
projects as international celebrations
of one hundred years OF peace between
English speaking peoples and the OPP
ening OF the Panama canal and nu-
merous lesser ones have been launch
ed, New York proposes to commerno
rate the fact that the chartered COM
nerce Of this port, and, in fact, prac-
tically that OF the North American
continent began 500 years ago. Com
bined in this celebration, which will
continue FORE six months, will be fea-
lures to commemorate numerous
phases of the whole country's progress
including the practical completion OF
the canal and the peace centenary.
Although the public has not vet been
aroused to the celebration pitch, the
date OF commencement of festivities is
almost at hand. The opening date is
Friday, March 81, when the program
calls for a great universal religious
service Oh praise anu lAIdIlhS5AN 4I5 A1I
the blessings of three centuries OF pro-
gress" and another large mass meeting
al which the keynote of the long Cele-
bration to follow shall be sounded. The
date of March q is the 30oth anniver-
sary Of granting Of the first general
charter for regular commerce with
what is now New York by the states
general OF the United Netherlands.
During April and May the celebra-
ton will be confined 20 commemorative
exercises in public schools and high
er institutions Of learning, including
comparative exhibition Of CONNER
cial education in American and foreign
cities and with the hope entertained
by the tercentenary COMMITTEES that
impetus will be given to scholarships
for the exchange of commercial stu
dents with foreign schools.
During June, July and August it
is proposed to hold a series of exf1i-
billions OF the material resources of
the various states Of the union. There
will probably be four or more sep
arate exhibitions, each representing a
group Of states. such as the Eastern,
Northern, Southern and Western
states.
The contrast between the days of
the early voyagers who believed that
China and today when the practical
completion of the Panama canal has
provided what nature failed to do. will
be the basis of exercises which will be
held in the fall. The holding Of a
Pan-American congress in New York
for discussion of the trade relations OF
the American republics is part of the !
program.
The celebration will assume another |
broad phase during the week of Sep !
TENDER a with a musical festival on !
a large scale 20 commemorate the Cen /
tennial of Peace between the English |
speaking peoples.
The latter part OF September win |
he given over to a series Of parades. |
There VIII be a pageant of states, IN |
which every state will be represented |
by a float representing its history or |
its resources, merchants and man |
nfacturers' parade in which all of the |
business houses of New York will be |
represented, an automobile parade. a |
pageant Of cities, and a unique naval /
parade which will not only include i
men from the warships OF the United |
states and foreign navies, but from |
passenger and merchant ships IN the |
harbor. as well.
The last named parade will be held |
in conjunction with the laying of
cornerstone OF q permanent memorial |
of some kind, suggestions for which
have included a great permanent re-
viewing stand of marble a public au-
ditorium OF unusual size, or an indus
trial museum.
Interspersed in the progrom are ar
engagements Of various local features,
including celebrations at all OF the
cities along the Erie canal, the Hud- +
son river and the southern tier of
counties in New York state. Il
The celebration will close on Octo-
her Il, the S00th anniversary OF the /
granting of the first special charter for
trading to New Netherlands. This date
falls on Sunday and VIII be given Il
over to religious observance of the an
niversary.
The COMMITTEES having ARRANGEMENTS II
In hand is headed by Cornelius Van Il
derbilt as president. Herman Ridder
as first vice president, and Edward H
Hall as secretary, and includes as
members more than a hundred proTni-
nent citizens Of the city and state.