The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-08-31
The Interstate Fair Opened.

III WAS tL uOOD IOuds, NhOh, 0'"N
ing on a platform in the main build
ing the governor, who two weeks ago
dedicated the fair from the same
stand, made brief address declaring
the Northwest Interstate Exposition
open to the world and touched a
small electric button that set IN
motion all the whirling wheels IN
machinery hall.
Previous to this action there was a
monster street parade. 1t started at
10 80 o'clock with Governor McGraw
and his staff riding at the head. In
the procession were all the civic and
military organizations of this and sur
rounding cities, the Tacoma City
Troop of cavalry with it's waving yell
low plumes, two companies of state in
fantry, the order of Elks with an I'M
mense tame elk at the head, the Turks
and Egyptians from the Turkish VII
lage with their camels and donkeys,
representatives from all the different
countries that are exhibiting at the
fair. each in national costume and
scores of other features.
Tacoma was in carnival array for
the occasion. Blue, white and yellow,
the Interstate Fair colors, were every
where. The city was decorated as it
never was before. Not a business
house was there that had not made a
display.
The fair grounds were brilliant with
gonfalons, flags and bunting of all
sizes and description. From the l5O
foot flag pole in the grand court float
ed the largest American flag in the
United States.
Entering the main building from
Tacoma avenue another scene of gaily
colored bunting meets the view, flags
and banners hang from the walls and
ceiling. Entering, the first exhibit
seen is that of Seattle. 1t is a COM
posite exhicit of Seattle's manufacture
ed products. Beyond it is magnifi-
cent carved wooden East Indian
screen, fronting the foreign sections.
There are sixteen of these foreign ex-
hibits as follows: India, Turkey,
Egypt, Russia, Austria, Italy, Spain,
France, Germany, Norway and Sweed-
ed, England, Scotland, Ireland, Cana
da, and Japan and China. The for
eign department occupies the center
of the great hall. Outside of them
and extending all around the wall are
series of exhibits from the famous
manufactures of the United States.
Passing from the main hall to the
machinery hall one finds in the latter
department an interesting collection
of machinery of all kinds. Then jour
neying to the second floor two great
halls are found filled to the brim with
attractive exhibits. In seven large
rooms devoted to the art department
is gathered together the finest exhibit
ton of pictures ever brought to the
Pacific Northwest.
On the second floor of the main
building straight across the front runs
a series of long rooms in which are in
stalled the chronological exhibit and
further on the educational. The eth
biological department contains exhib-
it's illustrating the manners, habits
and life OF the Indians of this country.
There are many photographs and
paintings of famous chiefs notable
among them being a life size oil paint
ing of Chief Seattle, painted by Raph-
ael Coombs, large pictures of Chief
Gavory of Spokane, Peter Stanup and
others of great interest are on the wall.
Indian women are to be seen in the
department weaving their unique bas-
kets and maAs. A war canoe fifty feet
long and several smaller canoes are
foo+,,roo &c &l>o o-I:L;x
Near by is taxidermy exhibit con
tanning specimens of every wild ami
NAL that inhabits this region in addi
ton to sdecimens of one thousand ma
tive birds.
The famous illusion of Pharoah'.
daughter where a statute turns from
stone to life in plain view of the audi
ence is to be seen in a room off machin
cry hall. At the other end of the mair
building are five other illusions.
In the mineral dewartment is seen ,
miniature Washington coal mine il
which miners are seen at work.
Leaving the main building and pas
sing down the broad stairway one en-
tiers the grounds. On the right nea
the stairs is Edwards Brothers Wild
Animal Show. Next comes what an
pears to be an Egyptian Pyromid. I
contains the wonderful Mirror Maze
which one enters only to find himsel
bewildered by the multitude of his ow,
reflections and to discover his inauilit,
to navigate the mysterious paths O
the little building.