Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-11-26

June ] and closing October 10, will be
in many ways an unique exposition.
While smaller than several OF its pre-
decessors, it will nevertheless contain
almost if not all that was worthy in
former worlds fairs and many things
that will make it stand out in a class
by itselfg
The exposition will commemorate the
journey of Captains Meriweather Lewis
and William Clark, who with a party
of hardy followers, crossed the noun
tains in 1905 and explored the Oregon
country, thus giving the United States
the power to make the only acquisition
of territory by right of discovery.
Work on the exposition begun almost
two years ago, and has progressed rap
idly, and now four of the main exhi-
bition palaces are ready for exhibits
and others are nearing completion. The
work on the grounds is far advanced,
and as the mild Oregon winter permits
work to be continued uninterrupted,
the completion of the fair on the open
ing day is assured beyond doubt.
The exposition will represent an ex-
penditure approximating $5,000,O00.
The site, by all odds the most beautiful
ever utilized for such a purpose, occu-
pies 420 acres, and adjoins the princi-
pal residential district of Portland, be-
ing distant about fifteen minutes ride
from the business center of the city.
The site comprises a natural park, and
the principal exhibition palaces, nest
ling among the trees, overlook beauti-
full little lake, called Guild IS lake, and
the Willamette river. In the center of
the lake is peninsula which looks
from the mainland like a verdurecovered
island, while in the distance rise four
mighty snow-capped mountains-Mount
Hood, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams
and Mount st. Helens.
The principal admission gates will be
! between pillars of an ornate colonnade,
which is within a stones throw of
Columbia court, the central plaza of
the exposition. The court consists of
two wide avenues, between which are
beautiful sunken gardens, and which
are fanked by the Agricultural Palace
and the Liberal Arts building. On
either side of these buildings, with
their short sides facing the lake, are
situated the other main exhibition pal
aces, which bear the names Foreign
Exhibits, Forestry, Mines and Metal
lurgy, Fine Arts and Machinery, Elec-
trieity and transportation. The build
ings, all covered with ivory-white staff,
are built on one general architectural
scheme, embodying free form of the
Spanish renaissance.
Leading from Columbia court to the
lake is a broad flight of steps known as
the Grand Stairway, while on either
side the slope is terraced, affording a
delightful resting place from which to
listen TO the band concerts and watch
the pyrotechnic displays on the lake. In
the western part of the grounds con-
siderable part of the site has been left
almost in its natural state, forming
Centennial Park, and beyond this park,
in little valley, are situated the ex-
detrimental gardens, where all manner
of Western farm and garden products
will be displayed as they actually
grow. Astor Drive, named for John
Jacob Astor, separates the Experiment
al Gardens and Centennial Park, and
leads to the Bridge of Nations, which
spans two thousand feet of water, and
connects with the Government PENN
sula. On the end of the bridge ad-
joining the mainland, the width is $50
feet for a distance of 500 feet, and the
bridge here is called the Trail. This
will be the amusement street of the
| fair.
The United States government, al
ways lavish in it's display at world 8
fairs, will have an exhibit on the Gov
ernment Peninsula which will represent
an aggregate expenditure of 100000.
The main building, which win cover
three acres, will be fanked by two
towers each 260 feet high, and ornate
peristyles will lead to smaller struc-
! lures which will house the Forestry
and Fisheries exhibits, a third smaller
building being used as a life saving
station.
State and foreign participation in
the Lewis and Clark centennial will be
extensive. The state Of Oregon has
appropriated $45O,OOO, which is equal to
nearly a dollar for every man, woman
and child in the state, Other states
which have appropriated sums ranging
from $4,000 to $4,000 are California,
Montana, Utah, Missouri, Washington,