Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-05-17
WILL HAVE
A LARGE
EXHIBIT
Homer DavenpOrt'S Bird Col
lection at The Fair viii
Be Interesting

out in the world to make his way. lie
had made some pictures on the old sta
bic door and he had Il taste for draw.
| ing. Leaving his home on the farm
near Silverton, he went to Portland and
became associated with a local paper
as it's artist. Later he went to San
Francisco, and in a few years became
the leader Of newspaper artists there.
Later still he was summoned 10 New
York, the Mecca Of successful newspa-
per men. There in the course Of a few
years he established himself as the
greatest cartoonist Of the country, IL
not Of the entire world. His name and
fame became known to every person
who reads a newpaper, and his cartoons
on questions Of national Importance ex-
erted strong influence.
During all this time the spirit Of the
farm was with him II took the form
of passion for fancy breeds Of poul-
try and animals. Every rare bird he
could hear Of was purchased by him,
and he made many long pilgrimages in
quest Of rare species Of fowl. lie was
also successful in getting hold of an
Arabian horse, n rara avis TO the Occi.
dent. Gradually his collection increas.
ed until it began attracting attention,
as wide as his pictures had attracted
II soon reached such Dimensions that
a large acreage had to be provided for
its maintenance. The owner purchased
ranch at Morris Plains, New Jersey.
All his spare time was given to study.
ing the habits Of his collection, and his
observations resulted in many impor-
tant additions to existing knowledge
on the subject One day he got TO fig.
uring mp what his collection had cost
him. The total was trihe better than
$4,000.
Mr.. Davenport is coming back to Or.
egon. He is going to bring his farm
with him. No part Of il will be left
behind, from the Arabian steed to the
Angora goats or from the vulturine
guinea fowls Of Africa to the Red
Dorkings Of Sussex.
Recently, the experimental gardens
were thrown open TO amusement fea.
lures, and Mr.. Davenport was awarded
the choicest site Of the Exposition
grounds, as well as the largest Of any
individual exhibitor. Mr.. Davenport
then placed the matter in the hands of
his friend, George l.. Baker, the we'll
known theatrical manager, and under
Mr.. Bakers directions plans were
drawn up for the new Davenport farm.
He argued that farm typical Of the
Western country was preferable to an
Eastern farm, and this idea has been
worked out into picturesque farm in.
closure and farm buildings
There is variety enough TO the col
lection to afford interest to all classes.
The portion of the exhibit that win
probably attract the widest attention
is the pheasant section. Mr.. Daven.
port is generally conceded to have the
biggest and finest collection Of pheas.
ents in the world, Tie possesses a
number of these birds which are the
only known members Of theiK species
in existence.
Mr.. Davenport has 36 varieties Of
pheasant. Each variety has its pecu.
liarities. There are Impeyan pheasant
from the high ranges of the Himal-
layas; green Java pea fowl from In
dia and Java; Versi-color pheasant,
also from Japan ring neck pheasant
from China; English pheasant, Cheer
pheasant from Asia; Bornean Fire
back pheasant from Borneo; siamese
Frebaek pheasant from Siam, and so
on through the whole list, in which
every section Of the globe is fttingly
represented.
However, the pheasant exhibit is
only one portion of the farm and by
no means the largest. There are all
kinds of jungle fowl, from jungles all
over the earth. Then there are Trago,
pans, FIVE species of them, all from the
high ranges of Eastern and Central
China. These rare birds are, in them
selves, a study, OF them all, the Sla.
ters variety is the most peculiar.
In a separate part of the farm Mr..
Davenport has his waterfowl eollec-
tion. A great deal of work and no end
of pains will be necessary for the in
stallation Of a suitable habitation for
these birds at the Exposition, but Mr.
Baker has set about the task, and he
intends TO have every provision for the
collection, which is the best in Amer
ca, containing as it does 10 varieties
~ wild oaasa ont off the OK snacies