Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-02-03
A Western Worlds Fair.
[BY Frank L. Merrickl

OF the Lewis and CLARK Exposition
which will be held at Portland. Oregon
this summer. opening June l and clos
ing October 10, is progressing rapidly
Eight exhibit buildings have been com
pleted and the installation of exhibit.
begun, while the remaining structures
are nearing the stage where the finish
ing touches will be applied. The milo
Oregon winter has permitted the WORK
to progress without an interruption
and when the President presses the
button on opening day everything will
be ready and waiting-something un.
usual in expositions.
Not only are the buildings far ad.
vanced, but the landscape pictures also
The grass is green and roses bloom in
the open air all the year round in Port
land. Thousands of rose bushes have
been set out Oh the lawns and terraces
and these, kept fresh by the winter
rains-Oregon knows few frost bites
and no sun strokes-are awaiting the
spring sunshine to bring forth riot of
color.
The Lewis and Clark Exposition, al
though not so large as other expos;
tions, will he a Worlds fair in every
sense, rejecting the progress of all par
ticirating nations, and particularly of
Western America. 1t will be quite un.
like its predecessors in that it will com. .
blne with its broad scope the idea of
compactness without crowding in the
LAYING out of the grounds and the hous-
ing of the exhibits. There will be no
dreariness of architecture to tire the
eye, no miles of aisles to weary the
limbs. All will be perfection, or at
least the nearest approach thereto ever
achieved by an exposition.
The Centennial, which is the first
international exposition ever held un-
der the patronage of the United States
Government west of the Rocky mouu-
tains, will celebrate the Tooth anniver-
sary of the exploration of the Oregon
country by an expedition commanded
by Captains Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark, and planned by Presi-
dent jefferson. The sentiment which
inspires the people of the Pacific
Northwest in the preparation of this
exposition is one in which every Amer
lean must share. The result of this
expedition, the acquisition OF the great
Oregon country by right of discovery,
extended eur frontier to the Pacific
ocean, adding vast and rich territory
to our domain. 1t was one of the direct
causes of the acquisition of California,
and the subsequent acquisitions of
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Philip
pines are related to it.
The beauty of the exposition site and
the superb view to be had from it,
coupled with the artistic grace of the
buildings in the style of the Spanish
Renaissance, will be an agreeable sur
prise to all visitors. Nesting at the
base OF the foothills OF the Cascade
range, on the gentle slopes and terraces
overlooking the Willamette river, with
an unobstructed view OF 65 miles, which
embraces the snow capped peaks of Mt.
Hood and Mt. st. Helens, the site pre-.
sents "a picture entirely original in ex-
position building.
OF the gross area of the site, 1870
acres are OH the mainland and 60 acres
form peninsula extending out into
Guilds Lake, fresh water body 22O
acres in extent and the largest mere
ever enclosed within an exposition
| fence. 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
natural park of trees and shrubs af-
fords an opportunity for landscape work
of most attractive character. In the
arrangement of the buildings thorough
consideration has been given to the con-
venience Of visitors and the attainment
OF u rich and beautiful architectural
effect. The main gronp of exhibit pal
aces, consisting of eight structures, oc-
cupies the ground bordering on the
lake, and forms nearly a straight line
with their short sides facing the water.
Around these structures on the outer
edge cluster the state, territorial and
other minor pavilions The Admins
tration building, In which the execu-
tive offices of the Fair are located,
stands at one end of the ornate colon
ade entrance, the main gateway to the
grounds.
On the peninsula in the center of
Guilds Lake is located tho United
States Government display. Here an