The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-07

ideas as saws, will be reproduced IN the
Midwinter Fair on large scale. The orr
ginal buildings have suffered from too
much familiarity with modern tourists,
who would insist on taking the queer Rus
sian spikes that served as nails. The
spikes won't be duplicated, as Sonomans
want their building 10 stand. but such
things as 'shakes" for roofs and boards
chopped out with hatchets will be fastened
together in imitation Of Russian archi-
tecture-a la Fort Ross.
E. T. Sweetser OF the Sonoma County
Commissioners went over the exposition
grounds yesterday with Engineer
O'Shaughnessy and selected location for
Sonoma County's building in which will
be placed the concentrated exhibit of the
county. The clumsy structures will form
a striking contrast to other palaces and
pavilioDs at Sunset City, but that will
serve good purpose for the exhibitors.
Early in the present century colony OF
Russians and Indians from Alaska under
the leadership of Alexander kOsk0lf
landed at BOdega Bay and began farming
where now is the village of Bodega. Not
satisfied with this place alone, however,
they Travelled northward some forty miles
and established permanent trading post
and agricultural station near Salt Point.
the site and MANY of the buildings of
which are now occupied as the village of
Fort Ross, an AngliciZed abbreviation of
Fnerte de los Rusos, as the post was called
by the Spaniards.
The occupancy of this strip of coast
for their hold extended all the way be-
tween Point Arenas on the north and
Point Reyes on the SOuth-by the Musco-
vtes from 1911 until 1910, when they aban-
doned their station, left its impress upon
the names Of the region, and especially
clings to the prin cipal stream watering this
portion of the redwood belt-the Russian
River.
A pleasing bit of history is interviewer
with the annals of this Russian settle
ment. Tradition says that credit for the
very first attempt TO make lumber with a
saw In this region flor the Russians hewed
all their beams and plankS) belongs to John
Dawson of Bodega. Dawson was one OF
those sailors who abandoned their ship al
San Francisco as early as 1880, preferring
the free and easy life of the Californians.
LII two or three years they became citizens
under the Mexican Government and took
up granted ranches in S0nOma County,
Dawson marrying the daughter OF Span
lsh dragon officer.
She was only IA when sue went to live
as mistress of the Canada de Pogobome
and only II when she found herself the
DawsOn's lumber was cut over pits by
means Of ripsaw, which he handled
without help. Not half a century later
steam mills 10 this district are turning out
100000 feet of lumber daily.
In addition to what will be sh Town in the
old church, however, SOnoma will occupy
large space in the Horticultural build
ing. where different exhibits will be kept.
Other County Commissioners are any
thing but dilatory in their work. Indeed
rivalry. which promises good results, has
sho wn itself among them and the counties
find themselves in a fight for recognition
when the time for awards come.
C. w. Tozer of the Tulare County Com
mission was at headquarters yesterday.
He wanted space for the proposed forty
square-foot model farm. which is to Illus
trate the county's system of irrigation and
agriculture. This farm is to have no roof,
but will stand outdoors. twill be divided
into alfalfa fields. orange orchards, vine
yards and pasture land. and the bitches
and gates will be shown just as in a regu-
lar Tulare County farm. In addition to
this Tulare will have an exhibit in the
Horticulture building of the direct prod
ucts of her soil. and in other buildings of
the exposition her manufactures.
Sacramento County is entering in to the
proposition Of the northern and central
counties to have a joint building. All
these counties fully understand the neces-
sity of their making an exhibit in the
Horticulture and Agriculture building in
addition TO that in the general building al
lotted to their county combination. Placer
County is in this combination, Sonoma is
willing and Butte and Yuba counties are
also moving A definite plan for the build
ing has not yet been decided on.
MERGED County Commissioners made a
request for space yesterday. A liberal