Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-06-26

SEATTLE, June 1S.-" Barnlm in his
lifetime said he had the biggest show
on earth but the State of Washington
will have bigger show than Barnum
or miss my guess" said Ezra Meeker,
executive commissioner of the Wash
ington Worlds Fair Commission to-
day.
"Of course our exhibit will not be q
'show' in any sense OF mere amuse-
ment, yet there will be plenty in the
State building to amuse as we'll as in
struct.
"Tell us just how you are getting
along with the work, Mr.. Meeker."
"Well, I have ordered a car load OF
museum jars of uniform design in
which to preserve fruits, vegetables,
fish, etc. These preserved specimens
can he put up in such way they will
do duty many years after the exposi-
ton has closed, at Chicago. I intend
to get every variety of fruit, both cul-
tivated and native, to be found in the
State. Yes, that is big job but you
must bear in mind its a big show we
are preparin G for.
"Then we have our twelve different
varieties of Salmon alone to procure
for the fish exhibit. hope to secure
the completest fish display of any State.
think the fish exhibit next to i'm
portance if not equal to that of timber
or mining.
There is the game, particularly the
game birds, to tax the ingenuity of the
taxidermist. We ought to succeed in
getting over dozen different varieties
of the wild ducks, besides great num-
bers of .others of value and in
terest."
care you looking after the State
buildings?"
"ies, l have taken up the question
with the authorities at Chicago. We
must not only get the Director Gen.
eral to allot us the space. but also
have the plans approved before we can
build; all that preliminary work is
now going on as fast as can be done
by correspondence but 1 expect finally
before having plans drawn, to go to
Chicago to arrange for the site and
confer about the plans that will prob.
ably be approved by the Chicago au.
thorities."
what kind of building do you
think will be adopted?"
"Well, l am in favor of making the
building as plain as an elderly quaker
lady's bonnet but SO different from
anything else that it will attract favor
able attention as far as it can be seen.
The building itself will afford fine
opportunity to exhibit to advantage
much that We want to show !. the par
ticular design, is subject that I ex-
pect the architects of the State to
rack their brains over for the glory
and advertisement there is in it for
them. OF course there will be compe-
tition in this to the fullest extent but
l expect nothing to be done in this for
this year except to settle the question
of a site and plans as we will have all
OF next season in which to build"
ais the work progressing satisfac-
torily?'
"Oh yes, there is plenty of work,
notwithstanding the main exhibits will
not be called until next year; it will
take quite awhile to get fully arranged.
You may say don't need any assist
ants now. ! say this because I am
importuned by great numbe for
places as assistants, superintendents,
etc. Aside from some special work,
no assistants will be employed until
long after this time and then only
strictly upon business principles as
needed. We ought to and probably
will receive great aid from our Com
missioners for the different counties,
and expect in measure to rely on
them for their respective counties"