People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1894 — THE SUNSET CITY. [ARTICLE]

THE SUNSET CITY.

California’s Midwinter Exposition Formally Opened. Great Enthusiasm Characterizes the Exercises, an Outline of Which Is Here Given—Over 72,000 Persons in Attendance. • IX FULL BLAST. San Francisco, Jan. 30.—The Midwinter fair has at last been opened. Thousands of people from all parts of the state witnessed and participated in the dedicatory ceremonies, and the greatest and grandest enterprise ever seen west of the Mississippi river is finally in full swing. It was a holiday in San Francisco. The shops were closed and business was neglected and abandoned. Buildings in every part of the city „were lavishly decorated with flags and bunting, and the whole population thronged the streets and gave to them an eminently festal appearance. Thousands of visitors were here who are residents of Los Angeles and the distant southern part of the state,

of Oregon, of Washington, of Navada, of Arizona and of British Columbia. The whole Pacific coast united to celebrate the inauguration of the enterprise which means so much to every part of it The exposition itself is beautiful, and its beauty was thoroughly appreciated by the throng of visitors. Everyone agreed that never before was seen a more charming collection of tasteful buildings. Shortly after 10 a. m. Saturday the parade, under command ot Gen. Dickinson, started for the fair grounds. In the procession were four regiments of the national guard, the regular army troops from Presidio, Gov. Markham and staff, the fair officials, civic societies, and many of the concessional features to be seen at the fair. Golden Gate avenue, the main drive to the park, was thronged with spectators, who listened to the stirring music of numerous bands, and cheered as the long line of men marched by. Shortly after 12 o’clock the procession reached the fair grounds, and assembled on the recreation grounds, where a huge grand stand had been erected near B’estival halt The order of exercises was as follows: Medley of the airs of all nations by the Midwinter Fair band; introductory address by the president of the day, James D. Phelan; prayer by Bishop Nicholas; grand chorus, “America,” sung by the Midwinter Fair chorus of 300 voices; address by Gov. Markham; music by lowa State band; address by Director General M. H. De Young declaring the exposition open; oration on the general benefits and permanent results of the Midwinter exposition, by Gen. W. H. L. Barnes; music by the Austrian band. At the conclusion of his address Director General De Young declared the exposition open and Mrs. De Young pressed the electric button which set the enormous machinery of the exposition in motion amid the shouts of the great gathering, the waving of thousands of flags and banners, salutes of a battery of artillery and the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the five bands. The vast audience, wildly enthusiastic, gave vent to their feelings in cheer after cheer. Such a scene has never before been witnessed in Golden Gate park and it was some time before comparative quiet was restored for the concluding •zeroises. -k . • At night the buildings were ib leminated and the opening dhy festivities closed with a grand, pyrotechnic display. Official figures from midwinter headquarters show that 72,248 persons passed through the turnstiles Saturday, opening day. Of this number over 60,•00 persons paid the regular admission fee of fifty cent*. So far there has been little or no agitation to close the fair on Sunday, and 1 Werjthing on the grounds was wide I

open. In the management of concessions and the general conduct of the exhibition there was nothing to distinguish Sunday from the opening day, and though chaos still reigns in machinery hall and all of the exhibits in the other buildings are still in a state 4>f disorder, thousands of people visited the grounds.