The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1915-02-25

Ehid n group Of CALIFORNIA; native
..obs." President Wilson pressed an
oIectric button placed exactly in the
tshtre Of the Capitol rotunda today
nd thus sent Geographic flash to|
Ihe Golden Gate which formally opened
fhe Panama Pacific International EN-
: 4osition
BESIDES the President many diplo.
1na fists legislators and other promi-
fcnt men were guests of the Califor
ninns. Ky an ingenious plan, devised
~ Frederick Buckley Hyde, the head
4f the Washington California, the
5ash which the President sent to the
tsposition. at the same time lighctd up
iH electric flame: "The Exposition Is
LOW open." In many cities throughout
tle country and this message was also
sent to all the territories and pos
81 sions of the United States including
Alpska. the PHILIPPINES, Porto Rico
-Ifawaii Samoa, Guam, ana thepauama
4pnal Zone.
Franklin X. Lane, Secretary Of the
Ihterior, Is in San Francisco at the
1pcning ceremonies today as the per-
anal representative of the President.
'he choice of Mr. Lane is II happy one,
tInce he Is Californian by adoption,
81 not by birth, and Is popular ON the
N5ast.
The Washington group of Califor-
rians have on their schedule several
celebrations in honor Of the opening Of
fhe exposition including big banquet
San Francisco Feb 20.-A flash
nom President Wilson in Washington
foday formally opened the Panama
1iAcihc Exposition. the greatest
Hord's fair Of all time.
Not only the magnificent two and-a-
tplf mile stretch Of the exposition
tIpunds along the hay. hut the whole
~ San Francisco is gay with flags
ID other elaborate decorations, while
Be crowds in the streets are unprece-
aented
All California is giving itself up to
q gala day Throughout the state
&feat enthusiasm Is manifest. If the
ceiling Of the coast proves contagious
~ the rest of the country the success
u CALIFORNIA; big undertaking is as.
bred
There are elaborate ceremonies to-
10y in honor of the opening of the
Exposition. These include much
fpcech-making and several large ban
fiets.
Visitors to the exposition grounds
no had seen several other worlds
fhirs were unanimous i'm praising the
ffforts of the promoters. Never he
bore has a great exposition opened with
% few details Of the promoters. Never
before has a great exposition opened
fith so few details of the complete
ehoe still awaiting the hand of the
Carpenter and the decorator.
As to the effect of the war on the
air, it will be felt only slightly, I'M
Die direction of diminished European
attendance and European exhibitions.
But these will be more than compen-
tated for by the increased attendance
from the Western world. The great
rmy Of tourists which every summer
fours across the Atlantic, Californians
know, will march, this year, to the
fiolden Gate for its holidays.
The exposition consists of 250l
buildings. in three main groups, lying
IN garden plots and sunken pools. I'll
Stretches In a glittering band half nj
sAile wide, along the southern shore of
San Francisco bay.
1t has cost S50O00,0O0. Of this |
S12, 100000 was raisel 10y this city,
S5,000,00 by the State ~ California, |
nnd $2,5OO,0OO by the fifty eight Cali /
bornia counties. The foreign and
ktate participation represents g'0tCn-
200, the amusement zone Sl10nr0OI
an. the outlay by in4iviluIl exhibitors
.nother $1,000 J00.
There are $4,000 individual exhibit
ors represented, with displays ranged
along forty seven miles of exhibit
sisles I'm eleven of the main exhibit
Il palaces. There are other miles Of eX'
bibits in the buildings of the states
and the pavillions of the nations and
a niIie-acre horticultural garden, a
part from the five across In the Palace
Of Horticulture.
Forty-five foreign nations are repres-
ented, many Of them having increased
their space since the war. Forty
three Of the states and territories are
represented. OF the nations partici-
patton ranges from the S1,IO0,OO0 ap-
preparation Of the Argentine Republic
10 $4,000. OF the state, outside Of
California, New York leads with ap-
appropriation Of New York City for
a building and participation. Twenty
eight states and territories have official
buildings. Twenty-four foreign
nations have pavillions. In addition
10 the representation by nations and