THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 13

THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION

The Pan-American E:spoMtion at Buffalo was formally and mo-t &ucce". a fully opened en May 20. The Vice-president (Mr Roosevelt) Mas the 0110=1, of honour, and rHsiineiuibhed men fiom almost every country of the world were present. The city vsvs bright with flags and bunting, and the parade of i\\e occasion was memorable Two thousand tioop^ led the way, and were folio-wed by cr.rr'ages with the di^linojui^hed guests 1 and ocncessionaii'P-. Fully 40.000 people were massed in the esplanade of the Evpoeition grounds, and these made up a magnificent picture. All the American Republics were represented, and t!>e military attaches and concessionaire'- were given a prominent place. The finest of the ceremonies on the grounds was the flight of 10,000 homing pigeons. These were suddenly released from captivity, aiftl rose in a great cloud, circling round and round the towers of the buildings, and risin£ higher and higher, until gradually ai they got their bearings they darted away, first in pairs and then by scores, until they had disappeared to t'^e four points of the compass, bearing their announcing the opening of the Exposition. At the Temple of Mu&ic, as the strains of the "Hallelujah" chorus died away, Bishop Fowler offered an opening prayer. Telegiams and cablegrams from all parts of the world were read, including a congratulatory address from President M'Kinley in San Francisco, and congratulations from the vernor-General of Canada and others. Vicepresident Roosevelt delivered an able ad-dre-.5, which was received with the wildest enthusiasm. An elaborate exhibition of day fireworks followed. The admissions to the grounds for the day were considerably over 100,000. Wonderful electric light effects at night are a leading feature of the Exhibition. California has fine exhibits of canned food, wines, native woods, grain, ores, etc.. A model of a combined harvester commonly used on great grain ranches of the State excites the wonder of Eastern farmers, who gaze incredulously, being accustomed to prodiicing their crops on quite another scale. Nevada has sent a magnificent exhibit of ores, and Oregon and Washington have taken especial pains to show what they can do m tho same direction.

The greatest r.ource of natural power in the United States, the Niagara Falls, is but 20 miles from Buffalo, and this power has been harnessed to great turbine wheels, and made to transform part of the prosaic, though handsome, city of Buffalo into a scene of myntic beauty, peopled by picturesque Turks and Arabs, and by the more familiar folk in holiday garb. Many lands have sent of their brightest and best to make this American city for one summer a dream of beauty and wonder, even as they . gave their aid to the glorification of Chicago a few years ago, and even as they are already preparing to glorify for a time the city of St. Louis in 1903.