The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-05
WILL OPEN ON TIMt
WESTERN WORLDS FAIR FAR AD-
 VANCED.
Exhibits Being InstaIsed-Beaufy of Site Unrivalled-LOw Railroad Rates to PORtland--A Trip to the Most Beautiful Part the United states at
 Normal Cost.
Bv Frank IL Merrick.

By Frank lh DntITlCA.
 Four full months remain before the Lewis and Clarke Exposition at Port land opens it's gates to the world. VIII 1t be ready on time? The question is R natural one, because in late years, there has never been completed ex- position presented on opening day. But the Western Worlds Fair will be diff ferent in many ways from its predeces- sors, and one of them will be it's en- tirely finished state when the President presses the button on June 1.
 An army of workmen has kept at work steadily, sturdily and strenuously all winter, the mild Portland weather permitting the work to progress with out. an interruption. Four months from opening day finds all of the ex- hibit palaces. except the liberal arts building, finished and the installation of exhibits under way. The liberal arts building is backward because it was not originally included in the plan of the fair. It is an additional build ing made necessary by the great de- mand for exhibit space, and 1t was only after the exhibits division had received application for more than 100, ,000 square Feet Of space for which there was no provision, that the management decided to erect new building. The liberal arts building which is in course of con- struction will contain 90,000 square feet of fioor space and will nearly equal in size the largest structure on the grounds. the agriculture building.
 Not only are the buildings in a finish ed state, but the landscape is equally as far advanced. Green lawns, dotted with beds of budding roses, freshened by the winter rains are awaiting the spring sunshine to bring forth a riot or color, The grass Is green all the year round in Portland and thousands of beautiful roses hold up their proud heads every day in the year, which fact Is responsible for the naming of the Oregon metropolis, the Rose City"
 The beauty of the site and the superb view to be had from it, coupled with ehe artistic grace of the buildings will be an agreeable surprise to all visitors. Nestling at the base of the foothills of the Cascade Range. on the gentle slopes and terraces overlooking Guilds lake and the Willamette River, with an unobstructed view of sixty-hve miles which embraces the snow capped peaks of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. the site presents picture entirely original in exposition building. There is no need here to build papier mache moun- tains as scenic accessories for refresh ment purposes. One may sit on a com manding roof garden and, while dining, drink in the pictorial sublimeness of real snow speaks of mountains that rival the Alps in grandeur. Of the gross area of the site, 1SO acres are on the mainland and sixty acres form a peninsula extending out into Guilds lake, fresh water body 220 acres in extent. which is separated from the Willamette River by a narrow strip of land.
 The exposition grounds are made up of hill and dale. and in one portion a natural park of trees and shrubs af- lords an opportunity for landscape work of a most attractive character. In the arrangement of the buildings thorough consideration has been given 10 the convenience of the visitors and the attainment of rich and beautiful architectural effect. The main group of exhibit palaces consisting of eight structures occupies the grounds border ing on the lake. and forms nearly a straight line with, their short sides fac Ing the water. These buildings are: Agriculture, European Exhibits, Liberal Arts, Oriental Exhibits, Forestry, Mines and Metallurgy, Fine Arts and Machi- merry. Electricity and Transportation Around these structures on the outer edge cluster the State, territorial and other minor pavilions. The administra- tion building in which the executive oftces Of the fair will be located stands at one end of the ornate Col onnade Entrance, the main gateway to the grounds. On the peninsula in the center of Guilds lake is located the United States government display. Here an imposing government building characteristic of Uncle Sam's exposi- tion structures, with two towers each 260 feet high is now in course of con- struction. Besides the main building there will be several minor structures. among them being the United States Forestry. Fisheries and Irrigation pa- vilion and the Life Saving Station.
 All of the main exposition structures are in the style of the Spanish renais- sance except the Forestry building. which is a true American type, beISg constructed of huge logs in their vir- gin state. thus exemplifying in It's composition the timber resources of the Columbia River region. The structure is 206 feet in length by 1O2 feet in width and it's extreme height is 70 feet In it's construction two miles of five and six feet fir logs, eight miles of poles and tons of shakes and cedar shingles were used. One of the mon- ster logs weighs 32 tons and many of this size were used.
 The central features of the Exposi- ton are Columbia Court and Lakevlew