New-York tribune., 1906-11-21
JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION.
Not TO BE Held at JamestOzcn, "a,
but Forth Miles A7Uay.
To the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: VIII you kindly lend the aid Of your col
urns TO the correction of what appears TO ne a
widespread misrepresentation concerning the loca-
ton OF the approaching jamestown Exposition .?
There Is a popular idea that the official celeora-
tion or the Sooth anniversary of the planting OF the
nrst permanent English speaking colony IN tne
Ne" World at Jamestown Va, which VIII occur
on May Is. 1907, will take place az jamestown
This is an error The exposition is TO be held On
q" acres OF land acquired by the jamestown Ex-
position Company at Sewell's Point, on Hampton
Roads about seven miles north OF Norfolk. Inis
IS about forty miles from jamestown. The writer
visited the exposition grounds week and found
the preparations well under way and promising an
interesting exposition. He also visited again the
wonderfully interesting historic site of Jamestown
and confirmed tie opinion that no preparations are
being made for any part OF the exposition there.
The common impression that the Jamestown Ex-
position is to he held at Jamestown has even
penetrated the official departments at Washington.
as appears in the following advertisement cut from
The Richmond CVa) Times Dispatch OF Nover1-
her ::
Treasury Department Office Of the Supervising
Architect, Washington. d. C, November !. 1906
Sealed proposals will be received at this office until
states government buildings Except the life say
Ing station at the Jamestown Exposition, James
town TOW Va. IN accordance With drawings and speci-
JAMES KNOX TAYLOR.
supervising AFCnlISCl-
The buildings referred to in the above advertise
ment are to be erected the Sewells Point
grounds. If the SO0th anniversary landing at
Plymouth Rock should be celebrated in 1920 with
Plymouth Exposition" at Provtncetown on the
tip end Of Cape Cod. it would be fifteen miles
nearer the site OF the event commemorated than
the Jamestown Exposition at SewelPs Point will
be jamestown.
Visitors the exposition who desire to visit the
~ler @ IiI9 mS @ nav
visit jamestown by James River steamer or by
taking the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad from New
port News 70 Williamsburg and driving eight miles.
VISITORS 10 jamestown should remember tnat al
though the federal government has been urged for
four years by the American Scenic and Historic
Preservation Society to take jamestown Island for
so. and that the island is private property. The
island COMPRISES 1900 acres. and is owned by Mrs
vest end which she and her late husband gave TO
the Association for the Preservation OF Virginia
It Is difficult TO believe that the federal govern
ment will let this important anniversary pass with
itself The island should be acquired as public
@ @ moe ony 1h@r evetE a. sT b ada
quately protected from stream erosion and that II
may be excayated scientifically under dlrectlon OF
Inc smithsonian Institutlon mere IS ne autnetL-
tic plan Of ancient jamestown extant and there Is
much obscurfty about the extent or TINS nrsL Eng
newly discovered and partially uncovered founda-
fewer than six widely separated parts OF Mrs
Barney's property. and cursory exploration with a
HerCuianeum or our own. Vita!ly connected WIZ
the very birth OF national eXiStenCe-a book
deposits OF time, awaiting the space OF lne sclell-
tific explorer for revelation and elucidation.
give this historic island the people OF the nation
a memorial In grateful remembrance OF the hardy
planted English speaking civilization IN the New
Tt4 qEId + ~ EgaTs PY OF THE AMERICAN SCENIC
AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY.
New York. Nov %. 1906.