Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-12-26
Uncle Sam at
The Coast
Splendid Building To Be Erect,
cd By The Government AT
Lewis & Clark Centennial

PORTLAND, Dec. 2i,-Uncle Sam
is now preparing an extensive dis.
play for the Lewis and Clark EN.
position which viii be held at Port.
land. Oregon next year, Opening
June / and closing October Is. Con.
~struction work on the Government
buildings Is well under way and the
Government Board is now arranging
for the transfer Of the cream Of the
st. Louis exhibit to Portland.
The United States Government has
appropriated $4,000 for its particl.
patton at the western Worlds Fair
and as the exhibit already on hand,
which will be largely supplemented,
is worth more than $500, 900 it's sec
ton Is equivalent to $500, 900.
Tho Government building wh:c!. is
now in course Of construc ''on stands
on a peninsula in the center of Guilds
Lake, a fresh water body 200 acres in
extent which Is the natural Grand
Basin" Of the Exposition. The PENN.
sula is reached from the mainland by
an ornate bridge, called the Bridge
Of the Nations" This setting for an
exposition structure is entirely new
and the view to be had from the pen.
insula surpasses anything of its Kind
in exposition history. The building
faces the mainland whe"e the rrin'
cipal exhibition palaces are located
on the terraced hillsides leading
down to the shore of tie lake. The
foothills covered wi h tail 'ir trees
makes an admirable background for
the towers, spires and minarcts OF
the white palaces. An excellent view
may be had Of the Grand Stairway
which lead; from Columbia Court,
the main plaza of the exposition, 10
the lake front, and the beautiful
flower gardens which FINK u. In
The distance, no matter which way
n may look, one aan gaze on the
capped peaks Of the Cascade range,
with MI. Hood and Mt, st. Helens
most prominent.
The main government structure IS
an imposing edifice. characteristic
Of all of Uncle Sans exposition build
ings. Two towers. each $50 feet
high, viii grace the structure. In
these towers viii be placed a set Of
musical chimes and 1t Is now the plan
of the electrical experts to have PICS.
ident Roosevelt press a few buttons
in Washington on the opening day
which will set these chimes playing
America The main portion of the
structure is thanked on either side by
swinging peristyles which connect
with the territorial building on one
side and the fisheries building on the
other. A commodious structure TO
hold the government forestry exhibit
will be erected to the right of the
main building. while a model life
saving station to house a crack crew,
which win give exhibition drills dur
ing the fair. will be located On the
shore of the lake.
The government building will be
surrounded with beautiful flower
gardens and a sunken garden with an
artificial lagoon in its center will
grace the space In front of the struc-
ture. The broad avenue which runs
along the lake front Is called "Roose-
welt avenue" the only street at the
exposition named after a living Amer.
lean.
1t is the intention of the govern
ment board to make the exhibits ex-
coed in interest and variety those
shown at st. Louis. There will be
fully as much floor space occupied at
Portland tby Uncle Sans exhibits as
there was at st. Louis.
The Philippine display will be al
interesting feature the same as 1t
was at the worlds fair. A compre-
hensive showing will be made of the
industries. history. modes Of living,
etc. of the island peoples. In the
federal exhibit will be shown a dis
play of woods, fibers. tobacco and 9th
er products of the archipelago. Vii
lagos including not less than $50 ma
tives of the visayan, Iggprotte, Neg
ritoe and other Characteristic tribes
will add a touch OF the picturesque.
One hundred Filipino scouts will be
detailed, for eduty at the sexpositionl
and will give daily military drills. y