Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-29
POR'HLAND'S BIG FAIR
HOW IT LOOKS TO A WASHING
TONIAN.
Maj. Myers Tells Of the. Impression
Made on Him by Visit to
the Exposition.

Maj. Herbert W. Myers Of this city, who
has been making an extended tour of the
far west. has reached Portland, 0re and
sends to The Star an interesting report of
the Lewis and Clark centennial exposition
now in progress at Portland. He says:
While the fair in many respects is SIM
liar to former entertainments of like ma
ture, it has a number of distinctive features
that rank as notable attractions. The site
itself is one of unusual attractiveness, and
the setting which nature has given 1t en-
hances it's beauty. The foothills of the
Cascade range reach down to the western
edge of the grounds. From Lakeview ter
race at the head of the grand stairway,
the view embraces the shimmering lake,
with the twin towers of the main govern
ment building reflected in it. the govern
ment peninsula with it's staff palaces clus-
tering among the trees the willamette riv-
er in the near distance. and beyond half a
hundred miles away, four snow-capped sem
tinels of the Cascade range. Mount Hood.
Mount Adams, Mount st. Helen and Mount
Rainier. The view of the fair grounds and
of the surrounding lakes and river from
Willamette Heights" by night is enchant
ing; indeed, leaving out of consideration the
CASCADE IallS at LOUIS, the efeClElCdl
effect is more -bea utiful than at that fair.
The Forestry Building.
The forestry building is in itself ex-
hibit of the forest wealth of the coun-
try. which the fair is designed to ex-
ploit Built after the manner of an i'm
mense log house, which covers half a city
block, of forest giants thick as man is
tall the building is an architectural tri-
nmpb is a Of priGp Oregon
ianS and of never-ending admira ton to
fasteners, who would not have believed
that such mighty trees grew outside of
California. nor that so handsome Il Struct-
ure could be erected from the crude prod
ucts of the forest. Words are insufficient in
an endeavor to describe the building. 1t
must be to be fully appreciated. The
logs used for the construction of the for
estry building were felled in the forests
bordering on the Columbia river, about sew
enty five miles above Portland, and rep
resent principally the fir, cedar and spruce
species. Many of these timbers are over
one hundred feet long. -
Within $50 miles of Portland one may
view some of the grandest river scenery in
that of the Alps, and vistas of rolling
prairie land smiling in wealth of agricul-
tural plenty, or he may reach the Pacific
ocean, and from the deck of a steamship
take in a panorama that includes some
wonderful views of cliffs and crags, sandy
beaches and foothills with their sides still
darkened by the virgin forest through
which Lewis ana Clark made their wearl-
some way to the Pacific. The trip UP the
Columbia from Portland is certainty one
that no traveller can afford to miss. for,
while the scenery Is grand beyond descrip-
ton, the river steamers Charles r. Spencer
and Bailey GatZert are as handsome and
as comfortable and well-appointed in every
way could wish. The journey is re-
plete with marvellous water, woodland and
mountain scenes. The steamer quickly
troy n--n fGn Iot,
| land and the place where the Willamette
and Columbia meet, and turns up the lat
ter stream, breasting the strong current
which disputes the passage. From this
point on the way is characterized by q
| never-ending procession OF wonders. On
either side huge precipices tower skyward
while more than twenty graceful, crystal
| clear cascades fall hundreds of feet from
] the mountain side, now appearing in great
| err volume, and finally vanishing in a cloud
| Of mist.
| In this country Of many surprises the
eastern tourist not only sees attractions on
| the Trail for 10 cents and bits t25 cents)
| which he paid 80 cents to see at ST. Louis
| but 1t Is no uncommon sight to see airships
| flying over ones head here at the fair.
Successful Balloon Flight.
Today Capt 7. S. Baldwin made one OF
| the most successful flights that has ever
| been made In his new ship, "The Rose
| Queen" A complete circle of the lakes and
| exposition grounds was made. and although
| 1t was windy day. the ship was reversed
and re-reversed, to show the immense
| throngs that had congregated on Port
| lands surrounding hills that the machine
| was under perfect control every minute. A
| six-mile trip was made, and then a per-
| feet descent to the starting point, in front
! of the American Inn. These trips are made
| three times a week, and on Tuesday next
! will he the aerial or yrbjc
! time Capt Baldwin believes he will break
| all previous records
My eastern friends will no doubt be sur
prised to learn that although | am still a
| l made an ascent Of 900 feet today to
| the region ofthe sky in an ordinary balloon
| This wonderful balloon trip, which is one
of the new features of the fair, gives the
| tourist an excellent idea of the fair and Of
| the surrounding country. and at the same
| time he is taking trip which Is both novel
and pleasing.
| Among the features of the Trail those
most worthy of mention are Homer Daven-
ports farm, the carnival of Venice, land
| of the midnight sun. infant incubators, Jap
| anese village, Siberian railroad, glimpse
of the harem, diving elks. darkness and
| dawn. cascade gardens, streets of Cairo and
! Jabour's gay Paree.
| 1 lunched with Homer Davenport today,
| and spent a most pleasant afternoon with
| the great cartoonist The Davenport farm
| contains the largest individual collection Of
| birds, fowls and Arabian horses and stall
| lions in this country; in fact. the Daven-
| port Arabian stations the only ones
outside of Arabia.
| The carnival of Venice is indeed the fnesi
| thing of the kind ever attempted at any
| exposition. the city of Venice being mi
| nutely portrayed with particular attention
| being paid to details. The stage, fifty by
! a hundred feet Is set at the Grand Cathe-
| dral square, and the cast of fifty American
| actors and actresses put up an admirable
| performance. the Venetian opera "kyrel.'
The enticing beauty of the exposition en-
| lists the enthusiasm of all. 1t is big enough
| to satisfy anybody. and, as a matter Of
| fact, its lack of enormous magnitude is a
| distinct advantage, persons who saw the
| ST. Louis exposition invariably compar ring
| the two in this respect to the benefit of the
| Portland fair.
| Mrs. Rockefeller in Good Health.
| DapiaI of reports that Mrs John n