The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-18

Portland, June 17.-The Lewis and Clark
exposition, which opened June l, is now
in full swing The people of the Pacific
northwest who, Portland people say,
have pushed the fair because they thinB
it means business for them, and settlers
for undeveloped regions, like their show
first-rate They are coming by special
train, by boat, and even on horseback,
and they take as much delight in the
show as a small boy does In county
fair or a circus. These people live sc
far from St. Louis and Chicago that most
of them attended neither of the big fairs
held in 1893 and 1904. and what they see
is all novel and interesting.
There is a good deal to be seen that
is attractive even to the resident of the
east and the middle west, who has seen
everything since Chicago" The exposi-
ton has the advantage of site far
more beautiful than any previous worlds
fair has had, and the management has
taken advantage of the fact TO produce
triumphs in landscape gardening. The
fair is compactly laid out, with the
buildings close together, and every va
CdHl SpOl 10 a. 6idSS Pivts CT :
roses everywhere, and roses seem to
blossom more luxuriantly in Oregon than
in any other state.
Portland is a live town of about 140,-
600 inhabitants, situated on tho VILLAIN
cite river about 100 miles from the Pa
cife ocean The town occupies prairie
on both sides of the river, and spreads
out into foothills of the Cascade range
The exposition grounds are fifteen min
utes' ride by street car from the bust
ness center, and may be reached also
by boat, as they adjoin the willamette
river.
As one approaches the grounds he Is
IMPRESSED with the Importance of the
fair In the minds of the townspeople
for nearly every residence displays a
FURNISHED room sign, and a number of
temporary hotels have been erected to
accommodate fair visitors. These build
fngs. by the way, are substantial struc-
lures. for lumber is so cheap in Port
land that a man can AFFORD to build
we'll. There are candy and peanut
, hooths for two blocks before the en-
trance is reached, and on either side of
the short street which leads from the
street car terminus to the gates, the
houses have been tunneled under to
make room for stands.
The Administration and Fire Depart
rnpOf buildings Sldiu at cllhti 5ibt VI
the main entrance gates, and wings from
each of them project like pointing fingers
toward the turnsties. About hundred
yards hack is colonnade. 1t was origi-
nallv intended that the admission gates
should he between the pillars, but this
nlan was abandoned when the fair cast
ar the swaddling clothes of local en-
ternrlse and assumed the garb of real
worlds fair. The exhibits buildings and
ether structures. almost all of staff and
huiIt after the style of the Spanish
renaissance, occupy a space quarter
of mile wide and perhaps a mile long,
between the colonnade and Guilds lake,
the water feature. The lake Is spanned
hv bridge, called the Bridge of Ma
tions which leads to the Government
raninsu1a. on which Uncle Sam has five
haautifuI buildings. The shows Of the
Tail the gaiety boulevard. occupy the
mar end of the bridge and part of the
,,ainIand shore at either side Of 1t. The
leu, from Lakeview Terrace. which is
tha central feature of the fair, Is won
darfnlIv beautiful The blue waters OF
The really beautiful lake lie below. with
| the green slope of foothill to the west
a,hile across the water the twin towers
| Of the main government building pierre,
! the sky line.
In general, the exhibits are attractivel,
arranged and housed. and those which