June 23,1898
Recap of the building of the Wigwam. Ended up 83 feet high with a 30foot flagpole..... 180 feet in circumference... 4 stories covered with aheavy ducking painted to represent animal skins.
The Iowa Building occupied one of the most central locations in the tract setaside for state buildings. The building faced east and its most prominentfeature was a large and commodious porch which afforded an inviting place forvisitors during the hot summer days.
The exercises were held at the Iowa Building at 2 o'clock P.M. The speakersoccupied the wide verandah in front of the center of the building, on which wasseated also the Dubuque Choral Club, Governor Leslie M. Shaw, Governor Silas A.Holcomb of Nebraska, former Governor Alvin Saunders, the Members of the IowaCommission, and several members of the Exposition Executive Committee occupiedseats of honor.
The large concourse of people gathered in and about the building to hear theexercises, which were of unusual interest. The program was as follows:
Overture . . . . Atlantic City Band.
Invocation. . . . Rev. L.P. McDonald, Rector St. Paul's
Church, Council Bluffs
Voluntary . . . . Paul E. Cerutti - Pipe Organ
Chorus . . . . The Land We Love
Dubuque Oratorio Society.
Address . . . . By Governor S.B. Packard
Dedication. . . . By Governor Leslie M. Shaw
Acceptance. . . . By President Gurdon W. Wattles
Music. . . . . Medley Pipe Organ and Band
Exposition Ode . . . Composed and read by Major S.H.M. Byers
Quartette and Chorus. . Iowa Dubuque Oratorio Society
Address . . . . Hon. John N. Baldwin
Chorus . . . . Battle Hymn of the Republic
Dubuque Oratorio Society
Music. . . . . National Airs Band and Organ
The address of the Hon. John N. Baldwin, the orator of the day, was in part asfollows:
As I wandered through the exposition buildings and strolled over these groundsI heard orators proclaiming from the exedra, the plaza and rostrums in statebuildings the glories and triumphs of their respective states. One eveningafter a storm I stood on the bridge of the lagoon but a few feet distant fromthe spot where only a year ago we laid the cornerstone of this greatenterprise, and beholding this might monument to the skills, courage andenterprise of the men of Nebraska, I thought what has Iowa, or what has Iowadone to compare with this.
I came Nebraska Day and heard that distinguished citizen of the republic, whoseheart in love and tongue tipped with silver eloquently presented the record ofthe resources and progress of Nebraska; I came Illinois Day and heard therepresentatives of that great commonwealth give their report of the work andworth of Illinois, concluding with the claim to the undisputed title to thepossession of the third greatest commercial center of the world; I imaginedthat on New York Day Bourke Cochran would so portray the history and glories ofthe great state of New York that we should all seem to hear the sybils chantingthe springtime of the greatest empire on earth. Again I thought, what hasIowa, or what has Iowa done, to compare with all these?Reflecting on all that I had seen and heard and imagined, I venerated my officeand would have despaired of my performance had not the power of my subject mademe bold in such a presence to plead my thoughts. It would be the drivel ofidiocy, unbecoming a gentleman and unworthy of the states, should I on thisoccasion make any statement not based upon careful investigation and notfounded upon incontrovertible facts. I now and here assert, my heart beatingwith pride at the utterance, that, measured by the standard of religion,education, prosperity, patriotism, liberty, or any great principle or idea thatmakes men better, nobler, and happier, Iowa, in the union of states, is thepeer of all, superior to many and excelled by none.
We dedicated today this beautiful building to the uses and purposes of theTransmississippi and International Exposition. It is merely a type of thehabitations of our people at the present time. A few feet from here and withinyour vision stands a wigwam, which has just been opened. It, too, is a type -atype of the habitations of our people fifty-two years ago. You cannot butrecognize the significance of the change. The advancement, improvement, andprogress of the people of the state of Iowa in education, religion and materialinterests has been as striking as that in their habitations.
This great state with its wondrous destinies is now in the hands of the youngerand present generation? It belongs to us to protect, preserve and improve. Wemust take up the work where the pioneers were compelled to let it go. Theyplaced high the standard. Let us never lower it. Let us look up and listen;look forward and move. Let our every notion be prompted and performed inaccordance with that design created by one of the greatest philosophers andpoets,
"Build thou more stately mansions, Oh my soul,As the swift seasons roll.Let each now temple, nobler than the last,Shut thy view from heaven with a dome more vast,Until at last thou art free,Leaving thy outgrown shell by life's unresting sea."
I propose this sentiment: The state of Iowa, with a people possessingaffections deeper even than her soil; actuated by purposes broader even thanher prairies, and inspired by aims loftier even than her hills, she standstoday first in the union of states in general contentment, in more evenlydistributed wealth, and in universal prosperity."
The exercises were closed by a short address by Governor Silas A. Holcomb, ofNebraska. At the conclusion of the formal program, luncheon was served to thespeakers and distinguished guests by the Iowa Commission at the Markel Cafe.
At 5:30 P.M. a reception was given in honor of Governor and Mrs. Shaw, at theIowa building.______________________
DEDICATION OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY WIGWAM,
erected by the city of Council Bluffs.
At one o'clock P.M. many citizens of Council Bluffs and other points in Iowa,gathered at the building known as the Pottawattamie County Wigwam, which was apeculiar structure patterned after an immense Indian wigwam. It was dedicatedwith formal ceremony, which included prayer by Rev. G.W. Snyder of CouncilBluffs, and an address by Mayor Victor Jennings of Council Bluffs; an addressby Spencer Smith of Council Bluffs; an address by Judge Walter I. Smith ofCouncil Bluffs and music by the Apollo Mandolin Club of Council Bluffs.
