Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-07-09
GOV. STUART TALKS
ACROSS CONTINENT
ISpeaks Over Telephone to
Party Gathered in
Richmond
EXCHANGE MESSAGES
Mrs. Hamilton Smith Sings Garry
Me Back to Old Virginia. Whicl.
is Distinctly Heard.

Richmond, July 9--From the Viz
ginia Building on the Panama-Pac'-
ic international Exposition grounds
at San Francisco Governor Henry
Carter Stuart yesterday afternoon
might in Richmond) sent his greet
ings to the people of Richmond and
! the State at large over the trans.
continental telephone.
In the auditorium Of the Jefferson
Hotel more than 400 people, including
Lieutenant j. Taylor Ely
son and many other prominent cltl-
zens Of the city, heard the voice OF
The Governor as distinctly as if he
| were speaking to them from the EX-
ecutive Mansion. Each of his listeners
! had an ordinary telephone receiver
! at the ear, and many extended congra-
/ tulations upon hearing for the first
time of the great success OF the Flr-
ginia Day exercises.
Not only was this the initial trans
continental telephone demonstration
attempted with the eastern terminus
; south of Washington. but for the first
time the singing voice of woman
was heard across the continent. M"&"
, Hamilton Smith, who is a talented
contralto, sang, Garry Me Back e
! Ole Virginy" into tranSmltter y,
ihb lct*nrsos au,litnri"m
When the last note Of the popuia'
melody had reached the Pacific Coas;
, the Governor thanked Mrs. $mltf
ION behalf Of the Virgnians in Sa
Francisco for the beautiful song. The
executive of the State. $500 miles
away added:
I'VE heard you perfectly.
! It was. ) 80 o'clock in San FranclSca
and $50 o'clock in Richmond, wheh
jit:' was announced that the telephone
! circuit : across the continent VA:
ready :. =
: The arrangements for the coaSt-t"
coast telephone conversations were
made by J. E.: Boisseau, publicity
manager of the Chesapeake and Poto-
mac Telephone Company. who preS'-
dcd over the gathering at the RlcH'
mond end. j. w. Crews, vice pres:
dent of the company, was the first Z
sneak to Governor Stuart. He CON
! graduated the Governor upon the safe
: arrival of himself, his staff and the
Richmond Light Infantry Blues at
| San Francisco, and wished the Firgin!-
ans Il safe return to their home Stale.
| Mr.. Crews invited Governor Stuart
to tell his friends assembled in Rich
mond of the trip to the Pacific Coast
and of the success of Virginia Day
at the exposition.
After thanking Mr.. Crews for the
courtesy of the Chesapeake and Poto'
mac Company in anording him the
opportunuity to talk to his Virginia
friends from across the contlrent'
the Governor reviewed briefly the
Journey from Richmond TO San Fran
cisco. and said that Virginia Day hao
created more interest than any other
feature since the exposition opened
that the program had been carrlcl
out splendidly, and that every mem
her of the party which left Richmond
last Friday afternoon was well, ah'
sent through him their greetings t'
the folks "at home.
Speaking in an easily rccognlzao!'
. tone. the Governor said:
"The trip was delightful and with
out any particular incide1t. We weF'
several hours late in reaching Sai
Francisco. due principally to the he&'
heavy traffic to and from the expos:
ton. The officials Of every road owe
which we have travelled have exten
{ ded us every courtesy. and every at
5 tention was shown us on our west
: ward Journey We have been mos
courteously and generously treated
Every member of the part is we
and happy, and is having delight
full time"