Evening journal., 1904-07-28
BIC EXPOSITION
IN THE FAR WEST
Centennial of Exploration of
Oregon Country to be
Celebrated
TO LAST FOUR ANDOKE. HALF MONTHS

BY an official act Of Congress, fol-
lowed by an invitation issued by John
Hay. Secretary Of State. there viii be
held in 1905, at Portland, Ore, an in
ternational exhibition, known as the
Lewis and Clark Centennial and Ori-
entail Fair" This centennial viii ex-
tend through a period Of four and one
half months, beginning on June ! and
ending on October Is. 1t viii COM
memorate the exploration of the great
Northwest territory to the shores of the
Pacific in 1905 1t is the first inter-
national exhibition held west Of the
Rocky Mountains, and is designed to
mark an epoch Of growth and develop
ment.
/ The Oregon country" as that part
of America was then called, ON becom-
ing a part of the United states, was
divided into the present States Of Ore
gon. Washington and Idaho. and It al
so furnished extensive areas to Mon
tana and Wyoming, adding over three
hundred thousand square miles Of rich
mineral and fertile agricultural lands
to the national domain. The eXpedi-
tion which explored this mo Mans
Land" was sent out under the leader
ship of Captains Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark, by President jefferson,
in 1903, and it reached the mouth Of the
Columbia river in 1905. The perilous
! journey, some three thousand miles
overland, was accomplished under most
| trying circumstances. The expedition
was composed Of thirty-three men.
Their way through the wilderness was
beset with many obstacles and dangers.
Lewis and Clark were the first Ameri-
cans who reached the Pacific coast
overland, and It is the centenary OF this
achievement that will be celebrated at
Portland.
AS the acquisition of the Oregon
country was one of the most important
events i'm American history. because OF
the influence exerted toward making
the United States a great nation in ter
ritorial extent, the American people in
general, and those of the Pacific coast
in particular, supported by the gov
ernment. have determined that this
centennial shall be httingly celebrated
When its gates are officially opened. II
viii represent an expenditure approXi-
mating S5.OO0,0OO and will occupy about
four hundred acres in the suburbs OF
Portland. overlooking Guilds Lake and
the Willamette river.
Portland, with 125000 inhabitants. Is
Situated 10 miles from the Pacific
Ocean, on the Willamette river, prac.
tically at its confluence with the Co
lumbia. The city has a harbor and
commercial Intercourse with the whole
world, her chief exports being lumber
-four, grain and the products Of tn,
many salmon canneries situated on thu
Columbia. Portland does a wholesale
business Of sl75. 100000 annually IT.
factories produced materials wortl
$40, 100000 last year. and it is the frs
wheat port of the Pacific coast am
the only fresh water harbor.
The centennial will provide ten ex
hibit buildings and furnish ample spac
for all displays that are offered. De
; sirable building sites wiz be allotted Z
those countries wishing to erect spe
cial pavilions Of their own. The mail
structures viii be: Foreign Exhibits
Liberal Arts and Industrial Palace
Horticultural Palace, Agricultural Pal
ace, Electricity and Machinery Hall
Mining Palace Alaskan Building
Government Exhibits Palace. Hawaiian
! Building and Oceanic Building. Ar
rangements have been made with tn
transportation companies so that ex
lADllo at 81. LOUIS may ue ulSildNeQ a
Portland with little or no extra cost o
transportation, through the opportun
ity offered by the free return freigh
rates established on goods sent 10 tn
Worlds Fair for exhibit purposes
Portland is the terminus Of four grea
transcontinental railways. and, as tn
willamette river is one of the bounda
ries Of the centennial site. ocean steam
ships also can discharge cargoes di
| rectly on the grounds.
II The United States government Off
| cially participates in the centennial
with exhibits representative Of ever.
division of governmental function an
resource. The following States hav
made appropriations in order to partici
pate: New York. Massachusetts, Vir
ginia, Minnesota, North Dakota, wy
oming, Washington. Montana. Idaho
Utah, California, Oregon and Missouri