June 20,1898

A team of bolted horses pulling a wagon load of brick and sand bolted,dashing from the bridge through the Administration Arch... past theservice building, where a light pole was smashed, up the north Midwaybefore being stopped near the fire station... no one was hurt...

All kinds of excuses have been made by people requesting a temporarypass, but the reward for the most remarkable goes to a lady telegrapher.She had written a letter to a friend in California... and left for workon the grounds carrying the letter and her photo pass. Her dress had nopockets, so she slipped her pass into the unsealed letter forconvenience. She later sealed and mailed the letter and not until shereached the gates did it occur to her what she had done.

The press building was opened.

A 20 foot Boa Constricter, from Hagensacks Animal Show, escaped somewherebetween the Webster St. Depot and the Expo grounds (along the BluffsTract). Residents were quite nervous until it was found by a young boy ina cave at the foot of Ohio Street.

Illinois, next to Nebraska, appropriated the largest sum for participation inthe Exposition. The appropriation of the state of Illinois was $45,000. Ofthis sum $20,000 was set aside for a state building. The Illinois buildingattracted much attention, and was one of the favorites of the group of statebuildings. Its location was at the extreme north end of the tract set asidefor state buildings near the Music Pavilion, and overlooking the broad MissouriValley. An annex to the building was erected and maintained as an art galleryfor the Columbian Exposition pictures painted by John R. Key.

The celebration of the dedication of the Illinois building was participated inby many Illinoisans who came in regular and special trains. Among others,about 100 members of the famous Apollo Club were present and their concerts inthe main court were of great interest to all exposition visitors. Delegateswere present representing the following organizations: The Union League Club;Stock Exchange; Board of Trade; National Business league, and Chicago World'sFair Directors of Chicago.

The exercises were held in the Auditorium at 11 o'clock A.M., and were of suchunusual interest as to be given extended mention.

Gathered on the speaker's stand were Governor John M. Tanner and wife ofIllinois; Governor Silas A. Holcomb of Nebraska; Honorable Clarke E. Carr,president of the Illinois Commission; Honorable W.H. Harper, chairman of theExecutive Committee, and the other members of the Illinois Commission, severalmembers of the Nebraska Commission, members of the Executive Committee of theExposition, members of the Bureau of Entertainment, and many prominent men ofthe West. The Apollo Club occupied seats on the back of the stage and the U.S.Marine Band immediately in front. The program was as follows:

Music: The Stars and Stripes Forever,
U.S. Marine Band
Prayer: Chancellor MacLean, of the
University of Nebraska.
Address: Hon. W.H. Harper, Chairman of the
Executive Committee.

Chairman Harper, in well chosen words, complimented the Exposition on itsauspicious inauguration, and spoke at length regarding the work done by theIllinois Commission.

Address: Colonel Clarke E. Carr, Presidentof the Illinois Commission.
Address: Gov. John M. Tanner, of Illinois.
Music: By the Apollo Club.
Address: President G.W. Wattles, of theExposition.
Remarks: Governor Silas A. Holcomb.
Address: Ex-Governor Joseph L. Beveridge.

Colonel Carr's Address was as follows:

When LaSalle was, with his heroic followers, exploring western wilds, soonafter leaving Lake Michigan he came to the headwaters of a river upon which helaunched his canoes and floated down with the current. The river broadened anddeepened as he advanced, and he soon became convinced that it belonged to thegreat system which drained all the vast region of the northwest. He madeexcursions upon either side and found himself in the midst of vast meadows ofwaving grass which seemed illimitable. One day the party came upon an Indianvillage and found it to be the home of a people who called themselves Illini. He called the region the land of the Illini, and he called the river upon whichhe was floating the river of the Illini. When he asked the significance ofthis name, he found it to be men, full grown, complete, or as we would say,stalwart men. From this dusky race not only that river but our great statetakes its name.

There is scarcely an attribute of mankind so universal as that of affection forthe region in which our lot is cast; the land which has given birth, or whichin maturer years has received us to her bosom. The heart of the Esquimaux,alike with the inhabitants of more favored regions, swells with the liveliestemotions in contemplating what seem to him the beauties and excellencies of hisown country. If this emotion be an universal attribute to mankind, it cannotfail to be more profound and intense in proportion as those beauties andexcellencies are real. There is no true son of Illinois"Whose heart has ne'er within him burned"in contemplating the sublime glories of his own state.

No other commonwealth can boast of more enterprising and prosperous cities andtowns and villages or of more delightful rural homes. Our great metropoliswith her magnificent buildings towering into the skies with her vast librariesalready provided for, with her university and institutes and schools, with hercharities and eleemosynary institutions, with her parks and great avenues, isdestined with the growth of architecture and the development of art to be themost respondent city on the face of the earth. Millions of revolving wheelsare forever rolling to her great storehouses treasures"Which far outshine the wealth of Ormus and of Ind",and she must very soon become the most opulent and popular city of the westernhemisphere, and finally of the world.

But it is of our complete, stalwart men that we are proud. They have shownthemselves worthy of the name they bear. Men "whose wrestling thews can throwthe world". Scarcely had the people of Illinois begun to enjoy the privilegesand appreciate the glories of full citizenship of the republic when almostimmediately after the state was admitted into the union the demon of humanslavery tried to fasten itself upon them. Though most of them were from slavestates, they met and overcame the monster, and hurled it from them, banishingit forever. A few years later, when borne down and overwhelmed with debt andtaxation, and the last hope of being able to extricate themselves seemed gone,the siren of repudiation, as she has successfully done elsewhere beckoned themto follow here for relief. They indignantly repelled here and deliberately, intheir fundamental law, put upon themselves a burden of taxation and, afteryears of self-denial, paid the debt in full, dollar for dollar. When theMexican war came, Illinois carried the banner of the republic on many avictorious battlefield, and finally assisted in dictating terms to the enemy inhis own capital. When human slavery sought to fasten itself upon Californiaand Kansas, Illinois men helped to drive it out. In the war of the rebellionIllinois men "hewed their way down the Mississippi valley with their goodswords", as their greatest volunteer leader, whose achievements have beencommerated in bronze, said they would do, and teh great river flowed "unvexedto the sea."

The names of the stalwart sons of Illinois who have won imperishable renownwould fill volumes. One of them conquered the sword of rebellion, and, withmagnanimity and generosity unequaled in history, declined to receive it, andanother is recognized throughout the world as the sublimest character of theage.

While there is a tendency to exalt military genius above all other there havebeen intellectual conflicts in which the laurels have been as resplendent asthose which deck the soldier's brow. In the great debates before the people ofAthens, Demosthenes gained renown which has brought his name down through allthe ages.

Just preceding the war of the rebellion, on the prairies of Illinois, wewitnessed a campaign of public discussion, continuing for several months. Asit progressed from day to day it attracted more and more attention untilfinally all the people of the nation became interested. The great prairieswere the audience room, the American people the audience, the constitution ofthe United States the platform, the greatest American statesman the champion,and the fate of a continent the issue.

The original fabric of government was composed of states bordering upon theAtlantic, of which the great state of Pennsylvania was appropriately designatedas the keystone. Soon the adventurous and hardy pioneer subdued the westernwilds, new states were formed and the republic expanded. By the Louisianapurchase, the conquest of Mexico and the settlement of the Oregon boundary thedomains of the republic have extended until our boundaries are the oceans. Heradamantine foundations, laid broad and deep, support the most majestic edificethat has ever been projected.

In the midst of this mighty structure so amplified and extended from itsoriginal boundaries Illinois appeared. Through the achievements and greatnames of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant and the deeds of our otherstatesmen and heroes Illinois has so risen in her central position that fromevery quarter of the union men and women instinctively lift their eyes to herand so carry out the now clearly discerned will of the divine architect. Sheunites and cements and canopies with grace and symmetry and beauty the majesticPennsylvania was appropriately called the keystone, so Illinois may beappropriately designated as the dome of the republic of the United States.

In the midst of this most splendid exposition of the world's progress that hasever been attempted and carried out in the transmississippi region, equal, inso far as designed, to the World's Columbian exposition and superior in many ofits details, Illinois has erected a building. In the work of laying out anderecting this building the Illinois commissioners, representing every part ofthe state, have taken a lively interest. It has been their desire to, withoutunnecessary outlay, have a building that would be worthy of the state which hashonored them by placing the important trust in their hands. It has been alabor of love, and they will feel amply compensated if their work is approved. For them and in their behalf, I now turn the building over to his excellency,the governor of Illinois, whom I have the honor to present to you.

In introducing Governor Tanner, it is unnecessary for me to add more than aword. Some of us have known him from the time when a mere lad he wore the blueuniform of his country. We do not always agree with him, but we recognize hissterling qualities. He learned from Abraham Lincoln to be just and kind andconsiderate, and he learned from General Grant to keep steadily on in the lineof duty, unmoved by denunciation on the one hand, or by flattery on the other,and he learned form John A. Logan, whose faithful and trusted companion he was,to never desert a friend. He is one of the Illini.______________________

The address of Governor John M. Tanner was as follows:

Mr. President of the Illinois Commission and officers of the TransmississippiExposition: It affords me sincere pleasure on behalf of the state of Illinoisas its governor and executive head, to receive from the distinguished andgenial president of the Illinois Commission this commodious and elegantbuilding, which is not surpassed, I believe in point of beauty or convenience,by any similar structure upon these capacious grounds. It is a building ofwhich the great state I have the honor here to represent may be justly proudand I trust that many Illinoisans may see it, rest beneath its hospitable roof,and share the sentiment of admiration and approval with which I view it for thefirst time.

The people of Illinois have the most cordial and sympathetic feeling for thestate of Nebraska, and its citizens. They are largely the same people, sinceIllinois has contributed so largely to populate these virgin and fertileplains. I see in this audience of brave men and fair women many a spectatorand listener who was born in Illinois, but for one reason or another has casthis or her lot with a younger community. To no other state in the union, Ithink we have given so many of our sons and daughters. We cherish the beliefthat even Nebraska can show none better. They are gone from us, but they arestill of us. Their memories are cherished by those whom they have left behind,many of whom will take this opportunity to renew old ties of affection andfriendship. It is this common blood flowing through all our veins, much of itinherited from early settlers of New England and Virginia and the Carolinas,but all of it, whether its original source was in England, Ireland, Germany orelsewhere, now thoroughly and forever American, which is the promise and pledgeof perpetual union of every portion of our common country.

The mention of our country at this moment of national peril and anxiety thrillsevery patriotic heart. It is hard for us, far removed as we are from theisland shores in two hemispheres, where our destiny is even now being shaped tosome unseen end, by the thunderbolts of war, to command our thoughts and holdthem to the peaceful scenes which at home greet our view. In imagination andsympathy we are only partly here. Our hearts are with our bravest and dearestin camp or at sea, where the children of Illinois and the children of Nebraskahave joined hands to purchase, at the cost of their own lives, if so great asacrifice is required of them, the liberty and prosperity for an alien racewhich we ourselves enjoy, and of which this magnificent exposition is thelatest and highest symbol. What a contrast! May we not derive from it thelesson that greater are the triumphs of peace than of war? War is destructivebut peace is a creative force.

As I look around me I pray for the restoration of peace, a just and honorablepeace, a lasting peace, which shall usher in for all mankind a brighter era ofhumanity and universal brotherhood. We can never be again what we have been -an isolated nation, selfishly enjoying our immunity from internationalresponsibilities. We have a duty to discharge to the world as well as toourselves, and the destruction of the Maine with its gallant crew was the rudevoice which awakened us from our dream of perpetual exemption from entanglementwith the affairs of other nations, and aroused us to a higher conception of ourduty as to the pioneers of the new Christian civilization which is tocharacterize the coming century.

But I have led away from the matter in hand. As governor of the state ofIllinois I congratulate the commission which has so well performed the taskassigned to it, of preparing and presenting a fit testimonial of our friendlyregard for a sister state, and our cordial sympathy with its noble ambitions.

I thank you for what you have done and now, in the name of this commission, andon behalf of the people of Illinois, I tender to the officials in charge of thetransmississippi exposition, this edifice for the use of all who may enjoy itshospitality, whether they be Nebraskans, Illinoisans, or from whatever state orland they may come. Let Illinois and Nebraska vie with each other which of thetwo shall give them the warmer welcome.______________________

At the close of Governor Tanner's address, Colonel Carr introduced Melville E.Stone, manager of the Associated Press, who announced the receipt of a telegramstating that General Shafter and his army had arrived off Santiago. This wasthe signal for great cheering and enthusiasm. The band played "TheStar-Spangled Banner", and men and women mounted the seats and waived theirarms in the air. The Apollo Club sang "Illinois" and at its conclusion"America", the audience joining in the national anthem. The Marine Bandrendered several selections and after the excitement had somewhat subsided,President Wattles was introduced and spoke as follows:

When the Transmississippi Commercial Congress designated the city of Omaha asthe place at which the country beyond the Mississippi should display to theworld its resources in the year 1898, and when the officers of this expositionhad been designated we naturally turned to our neighbors of Illinois forassistance and advice. We recognized as all must acknowledge, that Chicago hadfurnished the ideal of all future expositions; that none could excel and fewcould ever equal that grand achievement of human skill and genius, the "WorldColumbian Fair". In architecture, arrangement and installation as well as inthe excellence variety and magnitude of the exhibits, we realize we could onlyproduce a shadow of that which had reached so near perfection at Chicago.

It gives me great pleasure in the presence of His Excellency, the governor ofIllinois, and in the presence of these distinguished guests to acknowledge thehearty cooperation we have received from the officers of the World's FairCommission and the valuable assistance of the state of Illinois to thisenterprise. Our invitation to your state to participate in this exposition waspromptly accepted, an appropriation was made by your legislature and abeautiful and appropriate building has been erected on these grounds. I cannotrefrain from commending the efficient work done by your commissioners. Theirbuilding is one of which the state may well be proud; they have furnished itwith comforts and conveniences, and have embellished with an artist's dream ofthe "White City" in a manner which cannot fail to meet the approval of everyloyal citizen. This building is an honor to the state, Illinois, and a creditto the exposition, and for the management I accept it and dedicate it to thecomfort and happiness of the citizens and all former residents of your greatstate.

We of the vast Transmississippi region renew this day our allegiance and goodwill to the state of Illinois and acknowledge our appreciation of the presenceof her governor and distinguished citizens here on this occasion. We are proudof her history, her wealth, and of her great men, we are proud of her greatmetropolis, the growth and development of which has been an index to theprogress of the entire west. The prosperity of Illinois and of her metropolisis intimately associated with the prosperity of the transmississippi country. Chicago is the great clearing-house for the larger part of the surplus grainand stock produced in the west. The value of her yearly commerce in thenecessities of life can hardly be compared. It exceeds the foreign exports ofthe United States. It exceeds the entire annual gold and silver product of theworld. It exceeds the enormous sum of $1,000,000,000. For the product of thewest which yearly finds a market in the state of Illinois, her lines ofrailroad which radiate to all parts of this country, return annuallyagricultural implements to the value of $25,000,000, clothing to the value of$50,000,000, boots and shoes to the value of $10,000,000, and the products ofher other factories in proportion. So active have become the demands of thisrapidly developing, pushing, thriving new territory, that the delay incident tothe purchase of factories in New England, cannot longer be tolerated and thetime is not far distant when the older states of the west will supplythemselves and their sister states with all their needs. The state of Illinoisis rapidly becoming a manufacturing center for the west. The census of 1890showed an increase of 119% in her manufacturing interests in ten years. 312,198 hands were then employed and the value of the annual product of herfactories was $908,640,000. I have no doubt that the next census will show acorresponding increase.

But bound together as we are by the ties of commercial interest, there areother cords that will forever hold us as brothers. The richest heritage of thepast century is the man which Illinois has given to history. They belong tothis and all other western states. They were the product of westernenvironment. Only the boundless prairies, the free air and the blue skies ofthe west could have developed them. We have perpetuated their names in ourcounties, cities and towns, and for the greatest and best of them all we havenamed our capital city. They have made the state of Illinois renowned ineloquence, learning, statesmanship and jurisprudence. Douglas the greattribune, Baker the sweet-toned orator, Cartwright the rugged divine, Trumbullthe constitutional lawyer, Shields the hero of two wars, Drummond the eminentjudge, Logan, the "Black Eagle", who carried victory in his firy train, Oglesbythe unconquerable soldier and wise statesman, Grant the invincible leader ofarmies, the peerless hero and the greatest general of the century, Lincoln, whostood at the helm of the nation during the darkest hour of its peril and sealedits triumph with his blood. We claim an interest in them all and their memorymust forever bind the state of Illinois with bonds of steel to the youngerstates of the west.

We appreciate beyond expression this visit of your Governor and thesedistinguished Illinois Citizens at this particular time. When war was firstdeclared with Spain the managers of this exposition had some fears that itmight detract from the success of our enterprise but we have come to realizethat blessings are often given in disguise. We now know that while wardestroys it also gives new life and that every citizen is energized by the newand patriotic influences that are revived by conflict and strife. No betterillustration of the greatness and power of our country can be found than in thefact that thousands of citizens from eastern states daily visit this expositionand that while our antagonist - one of the oldest kingdoms in the world - isstraining every resource to meet in unequal combat our magnificent forces atManila and Santiago, that while the bonds of Spain are begging a market atthirty cents on the dollar, our nation's war loan will be three timesover-subscribed by our own citizens and that we will not only defeat at armsthis dying relic of barbarism but at the same time will hold here in the centerof our territory a great exposition illustrating the arts of peace andpromoting good will throughout the land.

Illinois is bound to the west by ties of consanguinity and common interest. Thousands of her former citizens are now residents of this and other westernstates, they are among our most progressive and prominent men in alldepartments of business and professional life. Her beautiful home here willrenew old friendships and form new ones. I commend the wisdom of its erection,the beauty of its design and the friendly interest which prompted itsconception. For the management of the exposition I receive and dedicate it forthe purpose for which it was designed._____________________

Governor Holcomb was then introduced and spoke briefly of the appreciation ofNebraska for the substantial manner in which Illinois has assisted in makingthe exposition a success.

Letters of regret were read from Senator W.E. Mason of Illinois, Alice BradfordWillis, president of Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, Robert T. Lincoln,Carles G. Dawes, Joseph W. Pfeiffer and Adlai E. Stevenson.

The exercises were concluded by the address of former Governor Joseph L.Beveridge, who spoke on the subject "Past and Present". His opening sentencewas "I lived for fifty years on the prairies of Illinois". He pictured withmuch feeling and eloquence the changes that had been wrought in the west duringhis lifetime. He told of the early privations and trials of the pioneers andof their final triumphs and present prosperous conditions. With tremblingvoice and prophetic language he pierced the future and described what might beexpected in the coming generations, and as he closed by chanting the Doxology,the audience broke forth in cheer after cheer, and the exercises were concludedamid great enthusiasm.

In the evening a public reception was tendered to Mrs. Tanner and the visitingladies at the Illinois building from eight to ten o'clock, which was attendedby many pronounced a most successful function.

At 9 o'clock in the evening a musicale was given in the assembly room, in whichMrs. Katherine Bloodgood, contralto, of New York, Mr. Justin M. Thatcher,tenor, and Mr. Allan Spencer, pianist, of Chicago, took part.

A banquet was tendered by former Illinoisans now residing in Nebraska, at theMarkel Cafe, to the visitors in the evening, and was one of the most successfulsocial functions of the entire exposition._____________________