Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-04-26
Catered ut tho Newport News Va. Postofnce
az second .claM matter.
FRIDAY, APRIL &c, 1907.
OPENING OF THE EXPOSITION.

Il OPENING OF HE EHPOSII ION.
When the sun this morning showed
itself over the horizon Of the broad
eXpanse of the Atlantic beyond the
Cnpes there began new and greater
page of history for Underwater Viz
ginin. With the coming up of that
sun there was ushered into actual life
an event that VIII always be written
lin the pnges of history as one of the
most important in the annals of Vir-
ginia-the opening of the Jamestown
(. Deposition.
The reasons for the holding the EX.
4 position are SO well known that 1t
lis not necessary at this time to dwell
upon them at any length. 1t Is q
celebration to commemorate the real
beginning Of the greatest republic on
earth and one OF the leading nations
Sof the world. There had been pre-.
vious settlements, but it was the one
that was located at jamestown that
Laid the real first foundation and it
was from that foundation which las
made possible tho Exposition which
Z will be formally up ennd ro,lay under
the emost suspicious circumstances
which hive ever attended the begin.
ming Of great international fair.
May hack in the fifties New York
had Il big fair, but the first ESposi-
tion of any great consequence ever
held in this country was that which
took place in Philadelphia In 1876 to
celebrate the Tooth anniversary of the
! signing of the Declaration OF the In.
dependence. 1t was 81 years later
that the Worlds Columbian Exposi.
sstion was held in Chicago to celebrate
the landing of Columbus and that
4 was really the beginning of the big
fairs in this country and from that
3Atime all that have been held have
I had their own distinctive purpose in
view. The Columbian Exposition had
for its chief attraction its bigness
and novelty and 10 give due credit Ia
a Its promoters, the Chicago idea
+ still prevails in all fairs to more or
! less degree The Pan American at
Buffalo was held to show that unity
prevailed among all the republics on
this side of the world and was q pro
nolineed success until the assassina
tion OF President Mckinley occurred
ST. Louis stood for what it was held
for expansion--and Portland showed
IS what progress had been made on the
Z Pacific coast since Lewis and Clarke
II had cut their famous trail across
the then unknown continent James
town will take all OF these features
in and stands today as the most
unique fair ever held in the United
States. None Of the big fairs tha
s have been held could have been made
y possible had 1t notSbeen for the even
z which will be celebrated at Sewall',
z Point for the next seven months. II
is true that the Chicago fair was hell
to celebrate the landing of Columbus
and while it is a matter of vast his
torical Importance. still such a cele
bration could not have occurred hat
IL not been for the progressive spiri
IA that was implanted by the settler
at jamestown.
Our Tercentennial will measure thu
porgress Of the American nation from
It's real beginning, and to cover sucl
(, wide scope means Just what the fai
n is selectiye Opposition From
the beginning the Exposition author
ties have made quality paramount t
asiantity and the result Will be tina