Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1905-03-10
BUILDINGS NEAR COMPLETION
Conditions at Lewis and Clark Fair
Ground Are Wholly Without
Precedent.
By Blaine Phillips.

lOh LAM via AhhASAi - 49,
the opening day Of the Lewis and
Clark Exposition rapidly approach
ing, it is gratifying to the officials
and the people of Portland to note
that the work has advanced to such
extent as to surpass the most tsanguine
hopes OF all.
If current reports may be accepted
as a criterion, such a condition is
wholly without precedent. 1t is uni
versally known that in the instances
of the Chicago, Atlanta, Buffalo and
ST. Louis Expositions, upon the open
ing days, much remained to be done.
There was a deplorable absence Of the
finished appearance which will prove
a marked feature Of the Lewis and
Clark Exposition.
According to an official report OF
the percentage of completion, issued
by Director of Works Oskar Huber,
the buildings and landscape garden
ing of the mainland and the decorative
work is advanced in excess of 80 per
cent. In st. Louis within three months
of the opening day, work was ad-
vanced but so per cent.
The mere fact that the Centennial is
advanced to such extent within four
months of its opening day, is in all
probability due to the ideal climatic
conditions which unquestionably have
materially facilitated the work of con-
struction.
In Portland there are none of the
climatic disadvantages which so
greatly retarded the progress OF
previous expositions. From the day
that ground was first broken, work
has continued increasingly, with the
result that little other than the install
ing of exhibits now remains to be
done.
When the gates of the Lewis and
Clark Exposition are thrown open to
the public on June 1st, visitors may
walk through both buildings and
grounds and to the most remote parts
of the fair site entirely unhampered.
All debris which necessarily accom-
panies the hurried construction OF ex-
position buildings will have been
removed, and the great exposition
commemorate of the famous expedi-
tion to the Northwest will be wholly
complete.
The large forces Of workmen which
in previous expositions were putting
forth superhuman effort to expedite
completion, and unconsciously serv-
ing to mar the gala attire which
should be characteristic of such enter
prises upon their opening days, will
not be in evidence at the Lewis and
Clark Fair.
On the mainland, the principal ex-
hibit structures are practically conf
pleted. In some of them are at present
stored divers exhibits waiting to be
assembled and installed. The Admin
istration group and the imposing
Colonnade Entrance are finished.
Those buildings which were recently
deemed necessary, inasmuch as the
magnitude of the enterprise was
necessarily enlarged and for which
contracts were let for their construc-
ton only within a few weeks, are be-
ing erected as fast as possible. Aside
from these the construction of a great
number Of state buildings has been
commenced and is being advanced
with all reasonable haste.
The work Of the landscape gardeners
Is almost finished, their efforts having
been crowned with a most worthy sue
cess, and the result will prove a very
agreeable surprise to the visitors. In
no exposition have the natural features
been 50 unusually common as they
have in Portland, and these, with the
conceptions of some Of the most able
landscape gardeners in the world, will
give the Lewis and Clark Exposition
garb that may not be equalled.
Phenomenal has been the progress
in constructing the governmentbuild-
ings on the peninsula. Little more
than two months ago this tract was
nothing more than a barren waste.
Today the structures have assumed
such proportions as to present an i'm
posing appearance when viewed from
the grand esplanade. In the course
OF another month their facades will
have been covered with staff and the
ideas OF the architects may be pre-
sented as realized. The following
excerpt from Director of Works
Huber's report gives an intelligent
idea of the progress up to date:
Per Cent
Landscaping ....,..... .............9 .9S
Buildings. $500. ....... 95
U. S. Government buildings. s........7 20
Bridge of Nations. acknowledgements so
Decorations and statuary 80
Electrical illumination ............6 so