Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-01
ON THE JAMES RIVER
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPOSE
TON IN 1907.
To Commemorate the First Settlement
Of English-Speaking People
In America.

Mr. Hugh Gordon Miller, assistant United
States district attorney at Norfolk, is in
the city comforting with members of the
Virginia delegation in Congress relative to
the exposition which is to be held near
Norfolk in 1907 In Commemoration OF the
first settlement at jamestown. The expo
sition is projected by the business men and
commercial associations of Norfolk, New
port News, Hampton and the other cities
near the site of historic old Jamestown.
1t is claimed that the jamestown exposi-
ton is the most significant and patriotic
exhibition proposed since the world s fair
at Chicago II is designed to commemorate
the first settlement of English speaking
people in America While Virginia is the
prime mover, it is expected that all of the
original thirteen states will take hand
in the celebration.
EXPIRES. Cleveland's Endorsement.
The exposition is receiving hearty APP
prevail from prominent men throughout the
country Former President Grover Cleve-
land has just written to Mr.. Miller ex-
pressing his deep interest in the project.
The letter follows:
After reading the prospectus of the
jamestown Exposition Company, and Civ
ing more thought TO the project II has in
keeping, ! am thoroughly convinced that
the surfeit of expositions which have some
what afflicted our country ought not In the
least to interfere with the success of the
exposition planned for the celebration of
the first white settlement upon the domain
now embraced within the limit of the coun-
try we proudly call the United States.
I'VE have fittingly celebrated the 400th
anniversary of the discovery of America.
The Booth anniversary of the settlement at
jamestown is hardly less worthy of COM
memoratiOn. A great nation cannot bring
TO mind its small beginnings, and its stu
pendous growth through such celebra-
ton the jamestown Exposition Com
pany contemplates, without stirring in the
hearts of its people the best patriotism
and the sinCereSt devotion to the principles
which have made their nation great. And
such patriotism and such devotion so COM
pletely underlie American institutions that
their soundness and strength are absolute
ly necessary TO our strength and perpe-
tuity. / hope therefore, that nothing will
be lacking to make the exposition success
full as an agency for the stimula ton of our
national pride and the Increase of our
faith in free Institutions"
Proposed Naval Display.
In speaking OF the plan of the exposition,
Mr.. Miller said:
"A leading feature Of the exposition will
be great naval and marine exhibition IN
Hampton Roads We expect to have the
greatest assemblage ever seen OF monitors,
battle ships, armored cruisers gunboats,
navy and army transports. torpedo boats
and torpedo boat destroyers, submarine
boats and every other class of ship for sea-
coast defenses or for naval warfare; also
great assemblage of private yachts, to-
sether with q large number of launches,
sailing craft OF all descriptions. Not only
the ships of our own navy, but of foreign
nations will be present.
THE jamestown Exposition Company
with the cooperation of the Association for
the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
nrODOSeS 10 rabliild q Ppnsidara
OF jamestown as IL was in Colonial days
In 1907 visitors may there see reproduce
ton of the scenes of the early conflicts and
struggles of the infant colony. Indian VII
ages will be located on the outskirts and
employees In charge will be dressed in CO.
lonial costumes.
Site for the Exposition.
"A site for the exposition. embracing $50
acres Of beautiful high land fronting about
5000 feet on Hampton Roads, at Sewalls
Point, Norfolk county. Va. has been &C.
CURED, and the work Of preparing IT for the
erection of the exposition buildings will be-
gin soon as the organization of the conf
pany is effected according to the terms OF
the charter. The site selected is by far
the best, not only by reason of It's accessi-
nlnty, but because the world renowned
Hampton Roads offers advantages for ma
rine and naval displays far in excess of any
place on this continent where an exposition
has been held.
THE determination on the part of the
company to purchase and own In fee SIM
pie the land upon which the exposition Is
to be held is a departure from what has
been done in the past by other expositions.
This determination. however has not been
taken unadvisedly, but with the idea of
thereby saving much that has been de-
stroyed or wasted by other eXpositions Sc
curing permanent benefit to the state and
safeguarding the interests of the stock
holders. The exposition in Its scope will be
International, and its features will be his
torical. industrial and naval