Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-07-28
: JAMESTOWN ExposlrloN.

-hC IT, f'ViiiN
condemning 1t MS incomplete and not
worth the time and expense of Il Wis
It, These reports are contradictory
mainly because each tells only Il par.
tlai truth. The exact facts are that
me jamestown Exposition is very
wen designed; that it is picturesque
~ located, comprises many handsome
buildings, which with the exception
OF the Art gallery have been com
pletcd: that the work yet to be done
is mainly in the decoration of grounds
ana the completion of roadways and
sidewalks. and that in these respects
1t is not in Il notably more unfinished
condition than other exhibitions have
been Mt Il sim lar date following the
opening. Nor is the management cs-
pccially to De blamed for this unf' N
ished condition. The chief causes of
delay have been want of ready money.
the difficulty of getting adequate and
competent labor at site far distant
from the great cities of the country.
and more especially he unfavorablc
weather conditions prcva ling for the
last three months.
The exhibition is well worth visit
1t has character all It's own. partly
from design. partly because it natur-
ally received its chief support from
the Southern States. 1t is essentially
historical, dealing largely with colou-
ial history in Il very interesting way.
and its exhibits tell wonderful sto-
ry of the Industrial growth of tho
South since the Civil War All of
the great exhibitions held in America
have had their distinctive features,
and 1T is difficult to make just com
parison between them The Ccntcn-
nal Exhibition held in Philadelphia
in 1876. was the greatest of all as
an exhibition by the nations of the
world OF their resources their indus
tries and their sociological condition.:
hut it was far inferior To later exhibit
tons in liaauty anc In amusement
features. There was only one cleo
trio lamp on the Centennial grounds
and that was exhibited as curiosi-
ty: the incandcscent lamp, sncc so
largely used for decorative purposes.
had not been invented in 1876 But
tho Centennial Exhibition was essen
tally an exhibition by the govern
mcnts of the several nations. accord
ing To uniform and settled plan: II
was only sccondarily Il fair or la
zaar. All subsequent exhibit ons
structive features incidental thereto
Chicago gave II magnificent display
of buildings. an exhibition of great
magnitude and value. 1t developed
the Illuminated white city made Of
staff Buffalo followed with much
smaller exhibition. the Pan-Amcrican.
which further developed the Chicago
idea Of making beautiful spectacle.
But buffalo provided Il color scheme
which far surpassed in beauty though
not in grandeur, the ARCHITECTURAL cf-
feet nj Chicago. st. Louis presented
an exhibition even larger than that
of Chicago. and of the same general
character. Tho landscape effects OK
cellcd those of any other exhibition.
although Chicago continued In hold
first place because OF the classic
beauty of its great court Portland
gave n smaller exhibition. also one OF
great beauty. in which nature helped
the architects to imposing effects by
furnishing background OF mountain
scenery.
In all of these exhibitions, following
the Centennial. great amusement fca
lures were introduced, the Midway.
the Warpath. In all of them also the
exhibition. mainly by merchants, was
treated by visitors as of secondary
Importance to the scenic display and
the amuscmcnts. jamestown follows
this precedent 1t Is a small cXh.bi-
ton, comparable rather to Buffalo or
Portland than to Chicago or st. Louis.
1t is in some respects ms attractive
AS any of them. but with II beauty all
its own. II has for its background
an inspiring marine view and its
buildings, though less lavishly orna-
mcntcd than the cheaper structures OF
other exhibitions, have quiet dignity
belonging to the Colonial period and
are, in fact, permanent structures OF
real value. The amusement features
equal those of the greater exhibitions.
The naval, military and electrical
displays surpass those of any other
Exposition. The exhibit is are of no
special Significance except the display
made by the Southern States. The
South has had a wonderful develop
mcnt within the last twenty years.
Its character has becn changed by the
diycrsification OF its industries, and
the lesson of this exhibit on is THAI
within the next decade the South
will become a formidable competitor
of the North IN every important
branch OF industry.
Although the site OF the exhibition
is not near great city, it is easy OF
access and provision has been made
on or near the grounds for the enter
tainment of many thousands of visi-
tors Within sight of the grounds
across the water, is the Hotel Cham
berlin at Old Point Comfort and Nor
folk, Portsmouth and Newport News
are within short distance. The cost
of entertainment does not differ from
that experienced al other Expeditions.
Extortion is pract ced upon the I'M
way. bnt the Discreet traveller can get
fair accommodations at reasonable
rates. The Inside Inn is the most
convenient stopping place for those
IN, In In