The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-03-24

The st. Louis Exposition will be
the greatest fair tina. has ever been
planned" said o. G. Traphagen yes
terday. Mr.. Traphagen has just re-
turned from the mainland and during
his absence spent sometime on the
Exposition grounds just outside OF st.
Louis, making observations as to the
best site for the Hawaiian building.
II understand the legislature is con-
sidering the making of an appropria-
ton of $50 1000 There should not be
less than $4,000 or 100000, in my
opinion. The building for Hawaii
will cost nearly 1000 and that will
leave less than $4,000 for mainte-
nance of the exhibit, furnishing the
building, employing the necessary per-
sons to look after Hawaii's interests,
together with the expense involved in
| the transportation of the exhibits.
Space has been allotted in various OF
the general exposition buildings for
Hawaiian products and exhibits. Por-
to Rico has appropriated, / think,
about 100000. Oklahoma, one Of the
newest of the territories. is to erect
a $4,000 building and has appropria-
ted $4,000 OF all the states and ter
ritories and dependencies, outside Of
Alaska, and of nearly all the nations
in the world, Hawaiis appropriation
for this exhibition would be the least
of all. | hope that the legislature will
look at the matter again and raise
the limit.
81 found great enthusiasm mani
tested on the part OF those who are
in charge of the exposition. They are
going to expend three times as much
money as was used on the Worlds
Fair at Chicago. Not only are all the
states and territories taking deep in
terest but foreign countries are equal
ly enthusiastic. While l was there
large delegation from France went
over the ground and manifested en-
thusiasm which indicates that they
will make lavish display.
"The plans which l prepared for
the Hawaiian building were compli-
mented by the director of the fair
and by Mr.. Taylor who Is in charge
of the erection of exposition build
ings The location originally assign
ed to Hawaii was not a good one. 1t
was located far away from the most
important buildings and close to the
Mexican Barracks l protested against
this location. They were, however,
very anxious to give Hawaii loca-
ton that would be entirely satisfac-
tory to the Exposition committee in
Honolulu, and they finally decided up
on two sites from which we could
make our choice-one with the states
and territories and one near the for
eign countries. The latter was an
excellent location, being In the midst
of some of the grandest buildings that
will be seen at the fair 1t was close
to the largest French building. Per-
sonally, | was in favor of this loca-
ton, but as Hawaii is now portion
of the Union, I. thought 1t was better
the building should be grouped with
the states and territories, providing II
could be on an elevation. The ex-
position officials agreed to this.
81 obtained estimates for the erec-
ton of Hawaii's building on the plans
prepared and the lowest bid was that
of John Donovant G. Co., for $40.
This company Is erecting some OF the
largest Of the exposition buildings"
"The exposition directors are anx-
ious that Hawaii shall make good
display of her products and do some
thing that will make the islands
known more generally than they are
at present. The directors gave me
every facility to look over the situa-
ton and EXPRESSED themselves willing
tn do what they could to have the Ha-
waiian islands he made prominent
with a fine exhibit"