The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-08-11
The Great Exhibition Does Not
Draw Large Crowds.
Fine Display of Minerals, Fruits
and Western Lumber.
But the Big Affair Is Not Ma
tiOnaI In Character.
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
A. c. Barney, who, together with
Mrs. Barney and twelve tourists from
Vipton Harbor, Michigan, visited the
Lewis and Clark exposition at Portland
on July %, says that it would take a
week really to see all that there is to
be seen at that fair. Still the great show
does not seem to be creating any very
wide spread interest. Most of the peO-
pie, who go out to Portland do SO
on account of the cheap railroad rates
that the fair season affords, and are full
" as anxious to see the other west
ern cities as they are to see Portland.
1t was German day" at the exposition,
and arrangements had been made to run
a special train from Seattle for that
occasion. Yet, even with that special
drawing card the attendance at the fair
on that day was slim. Mr.. Barney did
not think it equal to the number of peo-
pie who visit the Minnesota fair on an
average day.
The park, wherein the exposition is
located, is very beautiful In the mid
die the land is very low, and has been
flooded and an artificial lake created.
This lake is continually traversed by
ing the tourists around the entire shore,
a distance of about three miles. Reach
ing directly across the lake is wood
EN- bridge about a hundred rods long,
supported on piles, and high enough for
the boats to pass under This bridge
connects the two parts of the exposition.
At one end of the bridge is the main
fair. with its cluster of beautiful ex-
hibit buildings, at the main entrance,
where the visitor alights from the street
car, pays his fifty cents and goes in.
At the other end is the government
building, or rather group of buildings,
all connected, so that the tourist may
pass from one to another without going
outside.
1.-THE exposition is not national in its
character, but is mainly one of the Pa
cifc states Minerals, fruits and lum
Der comprise most of the exhibits. Many
of the buildings in the main fair near
the entrance are devoted severally to
various states of the west Idaho has
a most beautiful building, showing all
gem of architecture Pictures and de-
signs in fruits and grains are arranged
with artistic taste.
Nearly all of the buildings are frame,
plastered over to look like stone as is
the custom at large fairs. Washington
state, however, has one of gigantic
logs, rustic building, showing an inn
mcnse lumber exhibit from that great
lumber state All the materials produc
ed from the mighty timber regions with
in it's boundaries, from rude logs to
highly polished woods, are on display.
Washington has also magnificent dis
play of fruit. The same is true of
both Oregon and California All three
states also have profuse exhibits Of their
minerals.
The state of New York has a frame
building for the purpose primarily of
accommodating New York people. Any
body is welcome, however The most
interesting feature here is the enormous
collection of American birds stuffed. Mr..
Barney asked the Young man in charge
to show him an American pigeon, such
as used to fly in such myraids over GER
tain parts of this continent, but have
been ruthlessly slaughtered off. This
breed the care-taker could not find.
Mr.. Barney took great interest in an
exact reproduction of the home of Abra-
ham Lincoln, the only home he ever
owned, an exact copy, without and with
in, of the domicile of the martyred pres
ldent. 1t is home without pretension.
All is plain, yet neat and convenient
The displays in the government build
ing are intensely interesting. One fea-
ture that attracts a great deal of at
tention is the immense collection of
| chattels that have been sent through the
| mail and were never delivered or claim
ed. The famous mail dog, "Onie," who
| used to travel with the mail men in
many parts of this country. stands there
stuffed, wearing a great number of tags
| from different parts of the country,
showing where he has BEEN Fish and
animals from many different localities
where the stars and stripes float are on
exhibition mounted
At night the exposition grounds, light
ed up by countless electrics, over all the
| buildings, the bridge, and many other
places. present an appearance of indie
scribable grandeur.