Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-11-19
1000 BUSY FILlPlN0S
Building o Worlds Fair Build
ins at St. Louis.


Worlds Fair.
Fifty native Filipinos, clad in their
native costumes, are working with
their native materials and tools.
Several times that number of Ameri-
can workmen are engaged in rearing
great structures and preparing the
way for the work to be finished by the
natives.
Fifty.two oirloads of building
material and exhibits from the Philip
pine Islands reached the Worlds
Fair grounds few days ago and inn
mediately the interesting work of
native construction was begun.
Already the walls of Manila are as
sumipg such form rs to give token of
what they will be when finished
This walled city" will be the main
gateway to the Philippine exhibit.
The walls will be covered with staff
in imitation Of stone, and will present
replicas of the beautiful and most
romantic entrances to tho historic
city. The basuons, gun-ports and
turrets are being reproduced with
fidelity. The wall is 90 feet high
and about 16 feet thick. 1t is not
solid and rooms in the wall will be
used for exhibiting war relics and
other objects of interests.
Excavations have been completed
for deep lake which is named
Laguna de Bay, and which is spanned
by several bridges. The most i'm
posing in appearance is the Bridge of
Spain, which, as its name suggests, is
of Spanish design. This is n copy OF
the famous bridge of the same name
in Manila. 1t is being constructed of
heavy timbers and when it receives
its staff finish will embrace all of the
striking features of the stoIe bridges
in the Philippine capital. Other
bridges, built by the natives are be-
ing constructed of bamboo.
Work has also begun ON the main
square in the Philippine reservation.
There will be a towering monument
in the center of the square and on the
four sides are being erected four large
buildings copied after the mcst inn
portant public buildings in Manila.
The Filipinos have begun the erec-
tion of their native villages. The
construction of these villages is prov.
ing great attraction to visitors. No
nails are used in the construction.
The bamboo poles, which range in
length from 40 to 80 feet, furnish the
timbers. These are tied together
with bejuco, the fire of rattan
Nipa forms the roof. Nipa is pro.
duced from the leaves Of palm pecu-
liar to the Philippine Islands. The
floors are bamboo, split into small
sections, and is so tied to the cross
sections that they form a smooth sur
face. Work has already begun on the
Moro, Visayan, Luzon and Igorrote
villages The Moro village will be
built on the western shores Of Laguna
de Bay and many Of the buildings
will be over the waters of the lake on
wooden uprights and will be access
ible only by boat.
One large building is already finish
ed. This is in the extreme western
section of the tract and will be used
for the present for storing exhibits
and for dormitories for the native
workmen. The bbilding is steam
heated and provides comfortable
quarters for the people from a tropical
climate. Rooms will also be provided
for the storage Of perishable exhibits,
The bamboo poles, as they appear
on the cars, are dirty and weather.
stained. When they are converted in
to houses by the natives, they are
scrapod with bolo blades and lacquer.
ed. They take on a fine polish and
the buildings are very attractive.
The Agriculture and Forestry build
ings in the Philippine section are
being erected by the American and
Filipino workmon together. Ameri.
cans build the frame work and the
Filipinos will cover it with bamboo
and nipa.
The entire 40 acres are being laid
out with spacious driveways connect.
ing all points Of interests There
will be market places, churches,
theatres and a full exposition of Fill
pino life, with more than 1000 native
Filipinos participating.