CHICAGO'S FAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 150, 28 June 1933, Page 9

CHICAGO'S FAIR.

CENTURY OF PROGRESS LIT BY LIGHT OF STAR. NOVEL CEREMONY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO, June 17. The Century of Progress Exposition has been opened in Chicago, and on the first niglit the whole vast show was illuminated through a ray of light from a star. The actual opening was without ceremony. The clicking of the turnstiles was*followed by a day of pageantry, including an official dedication by the Postmaster-General, Mr. James A. Farlev, representing President Roosevelt. As a climax science at night diverted a ray from the star Arcturus to turn on the switch which lighted all the 'buildings of the vast enterprise. Through enormous telescopes of leading American observatories, tlie rays of Arcturus were ensnared and conveyed to venerators. Directly the first seiics of ravs were caught and entered the generators a faint whistling was heard in San Francisco over the radio. As each succeeding series of rays came into the mechanism, the whistling increased in volume. When the last rays were ensnared the whistle was extremely loud and tlie generated electricity caused the borrowed rays from Arcturus to switch on a light on a central tower in the Exposition, which at the time was in complete darkness. The series of thousands assembled at the World's Fair saw the tower light manipulate itself, lighting in turn supernumerary electric lights, until the whole of the exposition was in a blaze of brilliant light, lighter than daylight. It was supposed that these rays of 1 irrlit commenced coming from Arcturus to Chicago when the Columbian Exposition was held in tne Windy City back in the last century and had been on their way all through the years until the Century of Progress opened its show to ihe world in the year of grace, 1933.

Facts of the Fair. The latest Chicago exposition represents an investment of 37,500,000 dollars on the part of the fair corporation, exhibitors and concessionaires. It is a showcase, covering 424 acres, and has 82 miles of free exhibits, valued at 0,000,000 dollars. There arc 120 buildings on the grounds. The visitor can get about on land, water or in the air; 'by bus, wheel chair, motor boat or gondola, and over the lagoon via the rocket care of the "sky-ride." Officials- estimate that it would require three weeks for the visitor to see thoroughly all the displays. All the States and 17 foreign nations are officially represented. Concessions number more than 200. Construction was financed with no taxation, no drain on any public funds and it was four years in the making. During the first three days over 300,000 people passed through the gates, and before the closing on November 1 it is hoped that the total attendance will be 50,000,000.