Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-06-07
GROUND BROKEN
FOR YUKON FAIR
Ceremony at Seattle, Where Exposition
VIII Rise in Two Years-S1o,o 100000
VIII Be Spent

SEATTLE. Wash, June with i'm
today for the Alaska Yukon-Pacific expo
sition which will be held here in 1909,
opening just two years from date.
The day was a holiday. Seattle pre-
scented a gala appearance amid the blare
OF trumpcts, the marching of a military
pageant, inspiring speeches and banquet
ing. the inauguration Of active work on
the Pacific worlds fair was celebrated.
Many prominent men, mayors, legiSla-
tors, governors. and state officials attend
ed the ceremonies and visitors from near
by cities were present.
Barrett Represents President.
John Barrett, director Of the Interna-
tlonal Bureau of American Republics, as
the personal representative of President
Roosevelt, was the principal speaker of
the day and the guest of honor. Presi-
dent John Edward Chilberg, of the expo
sItlon, after appropriate remarks, turned
the first spadeful Of earth, while the
band played THE Star SpangIed Ban
ner, and the thousands cheered. The
other addresses were delivered by Gov
Albert E. Meade of Washington, and
Mayor W. FL. Moore of Seattle.
Greeting from Roosevelt.
Mr.. Barrett in his address said:
The President of the United States sends
sincere greetings to Seattle and the great
northwest on the occasion of ground break
ing for the Alaska Pacific exposi-
ton. He wishes you success in your great
undertaking and expresses regret that the
pressure Pre- OF public business prevents
the acceptance OF your invitation that he or
some member of his cabinet should be
present
l am moved to express the hope that IN.
der the Pacific division of your exposition
You may see fit to invite the participation
of those LatinAmerican states that border
on the Pacific ocean and whose growing
ports can be easily and directly reached
by vessels sailing from Puget Sound, the
Columbia river and San Francisco harbor
If we do not study, cXpcit and master the
foreign commerce of these advancing am
bilious nations of Latina merca, Europe
certainly WILL and the Panama canal VIII
become a waterway for the European and
ASiatlc merchant fleets rather than for our
own.
Spend $1o,0oo,o 900 on Fair.
The ceremonies started with a big
military parade at noon. 1t passed
through the principal downtown streets
and ended at the railway station where
a special train was taken for the expo
sition grounds. The exercises on the
grounds began at 2 o'clock and ended
with banquet to John Barrett at the
Rainier club
1t is thought by the management that
two years of strenuous work on the $1O,-
100000 worlds fair will find it complet-
ed in every detail by June, 1909, the
opening day.
The purpose for which the exposition
is held is considered to be worthy of
the expenditure of so large a sum.
Briefly its primary object is the explota-
ton of the resources and potentialities
of the Alaska and Yukon territories in
the United States and Canada, and to
make known and foster the vast impOr-
lance of trade on the Pacific ocean and
with the countries bordering on it.
The exposition site, which embraces
the unused portion of the campus of
the University of Washington is 250
sscres in extent and borders for more
than & mile and half on Lakes Union
and Washington. The Olympic ana
Cascade mountains are in sight, and I'M
INSTRUCTED views had of the peaks Of
Mount Baker and Mount Rainier.
Now that ground has been broken
work will start Immediately on the land
scaping and laying out of roads, plazas
and circles. The administration build
ing will be erected at once so that the
management may have headquarters on
the grounds. The exposition plans call
for twelve large exhibit places arranged
in q unique manner.