Show MIDWINTER FAIRGround FAIR-Ground Broken In Golden Gate Park Imposing Ceremonies SAN FRANCISCO Aug 24At 2 oclock this afternoon the first spade full of earth was turned for the midwinter fair in Golden Gate park It was the occasion of a great ceremony Thousands of people were present Business was suspended in town schools were closed and the National Guards paraded A salute was fired by the United States artillery and speeches were made by prominent citizens citi-zens The shipping in the harbor was profusely decorated with bunting and the afternoon wag a general holiday The 500000 gurantee fund has been nearly all subscribed by our citizens and the work of constructing buildings and preparing grounds will proceed without interruption interrup-tion until the fair open This afternoon DirectorGeneral Da Young took the first spade full of earth which was put in a silver casket and sold at auction to the highest bidder Five hundred men commenced work immediately immedi-ately on the excavation for the site It is expected that a large part of the exhibits at the Chicago fair will be brought out here as Congress has passed a law allowing foreign goods to be brought here for exhibition purposes without payment of duty The ceremonies today opened with prayer followed by an address from the president of the day E P Hammond M H De Young presented the report ol the executive committee General W H L Barnes delivered an address as did Irving M Scott and Rabbi Varsanger During the ceremony of turning the first shovelful of earth a salute of fifteen guns was fired and a chorus of 1000 voices sang the national anthem America The fair will he opened January 11S94 and will close June 20 six months later |