The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-03
BY w. II. wehrung.

ST. Louis, Aug. s,--Althopgh sool
miles from home and handicapped b,
comparatively small state approprl'
alton, oregon has an exhibit at st
Louis that would be credit to an,
state In the union. The various depart
ments are under the charge OF cap
able superintendents and all the dis
plays have been installed In such Al
attractive manner that they never fai
to interest worlds fair visitors,
Never before have such disad'
vantages been overcome In securing
the state exhibit. and never before II
the history of oregon's participation II
American expositions have the effort:
OF those in charge OF the showings
been crowned with such success as ha;
been attained at the Louisiana pur.
chase exposition.
Oregon has had exhibits at every
celebration held in the United States
In the last decade, but her crowning
triumph has been at st. Louis, where
she has installed display that repre-
sents every branch of industry and re-
source existing within her boundaries
oregon's displays are divided into
six departments exclusive OF the state
building, which contains no exhibits
other than those generally placed II
state structures. These six depart
ments are mining, educational, agricul'
turaL horticultural. forestry and fish
and game. Each of these exhibits Il
in its respective exhibit palace.
The Oregon building itself is one o.
the most interesting state structures
at the fair. and holds high recort
for visitors. nearly 10000 having regis,
tered since the opening day. 1t wal
built at cost OF $4,000 and Is a rep
lea OF Fort Clatsop, the first building
erected on the Pacific coast by Amer
lean citizens. being constructed by th'
great explorers, Meriwether Lewis anC
William Clark. on the seashore II
northwestern oregon, a little NOR,
than 100 miles from the place wher,
the city of Portland is now located.
Lewis and Clark started on theil
long journey to the Pacific ocean from
st. Louis In 1904, and. after spending
one winter on their way. reached
Oregon and the mouth of the Colum.
bia river In 1905. They built For
Clatsop in that year and used It al
a dwelling and defense against tht
Indians during the winter of 1S05-6
starting on their return trip to tn,
states in the spring Of 1906.
In consideration of the fact thai
Portland intends TO celebrate the CEN
tennial of this memorable journey by
the Lewis and Clark exposition in the
summer of 1905. the oregon state com
mission, which has charge OF the state
exhibits, both at st. Louis and at Port
land, decided to erect at st. Louis as
the state building a reproduction OF
the famous fort and stockade. The
original, built so many years ago, has
of course long since crumbled away
and the only thing that now remains
to remind the seaside visitors of the
presence of Lewis and Clark is a salt
cairn used by the explorers to evapor-
ate sea water to procure table salt
This pile of boulders has been fenced
in and will be properly cared for by
the Oregon Historical Society
The Oregon building is made OF fir
and pine logs bought all the way from
Oregon, and is the first state build
ing this western commonwealth has
ever had at any exposition. The in
terror is finished in beautiful native
woods-fr. pine. larch, spruce and
cedar-and the long fine grain and the
absence of ugly knots in the planking
never fail to elicit favorable comment
from visitors who. know good lumber
when they meet 1t. Realizing that the
st. Louis exposition would be the
greatest fair the world has ever seen,
or probably ever will see, and that this
would be the first time the state was
represented by a building Of her own,
the commission has taken pains to
erect building to contain features of
That this idea has been car
r1ed out Is attested by the large crowds
that have thronged the Oregon build
ing ever since opening day.
The main room is filled with mag
nificent views of oregon's justly famed
scenery, Indian robes and other ar
ticles Of interest. One side is COM
pletely filed by a large fireplace that
can accommodate cnrdunnd with na 90