Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-01
SEATTLFS EXPOSITION
Ground Broken for the Show in
1909. s,..t
TOWN IN GALA ATTIRE
Many Prominent Men in Attendance
on the Ceremonies.
BIG PARADE OF THE MILITARY
Fair is to Cost $1o,ooo,ooo and May
Be Completed in Every De-
tail by June /.
TOWN IN GALA ATTIRE
BIG PARADE OF THE MILITARY

SEATTLE. Wash, June with impress
slve ceremonies, ground was broken today
for the Alaska Yukon-Pac exposition.
which will be held here in 1909. opening just
two years from date. The day was holt
day.
Seattle presented a gala appearance, and
amid the blare of trumpets, the marching of
a military pageant inspiring speeches and
banqueting, the Inauguration Of active work
on the Pacific worlds fair was celebrated.
Many prominent men, mayors. legislators,
governors and state officials attended the
ceremonies, and visitors from nearby cities
were present. Mr.. John Barrett, director
of the international bureau of American re-
publics, as the personal representative Of
President Roosevelt, was the principal
speaker OF the day. and the guest of honor.
Mr.. Barrett's Address.
- Mr.. Barrett said in part:
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-Yukon Pacific expos-
ton. He wishes you success in your great
undertaking. and expresses regret that the
pressure Of public business prevents the
acceptance of your invitation that he
some member Of his cabinet should be
present.
II am moved to express the hope that
under the Pacific division of your EXPOSE
ton you may see fit to invite the partic-
patton of those American 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 Fran
cisco harbor. There Is impending in Cen
trail and South America new era of peace
and prosperity that will make US sit up.
rub our eyes and wonder why we have al
ways talked and dreamed the orient and
Asia, giving hardly a passing thought to the
resourceful and potential sister nations to
the south and southeast Of contented
selves.
Amounts to $5oo,oOO,OOO.
ALREADY the foreign trade of Latn-Amer-
lean republics facing upon the Pacific
amounts to $500, 900, 900 per annum, of which
the United States has too small a portion,
but which is in the merest infancy of its
possibilities. If we do not study. exploit
and master the foreign commerce of these
advancing, ambitious nations of Latin
America, Europe certainly will, and we will
be left to our own sweet singing of the
swan song, 1t Might Have Been Nay,
more. II we do not grid our loins to the
we realize it, and it will become the water
way for the Europeans and Asiatic mer-
chant fleets, rather than our own
First Spadeful of Dirt.
President John Edward Chilberg of the
exposition, after appropriate remarks,
turned the first spadefu of earth. while the
band played THE Star Epangled Banner"
and the thousands in attendance cheered.
The other addresses were delivered by
Gov. Albert Z. Mead of Washington and
Mayor w. H. Moore of Seattle.
The ceremonies started with big mill
tary parade al noon. 1t passed through the
principal downtown streets, and ended at
the railroad station. where a special train
was taken for the exposition grounds.
1t is thought by the management that two
years of strenuous work on the 100000 GOO
world fair will find it completed in every
detail by June 1, 1909. the opening day.
The purpose for which the exposition is
held is considered to be worthy of the ex-
penditure Of so large a sum.
The Primary object.
Briefly it's primary object is the exploita
ton of the resources and potentiaiities Of
the Alaskan and Yukon territories in the
United States and Canada, and to make
known and foster the vast Importance 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 Uni
versity of Washington, is go acres in ex-
tent, and borders for more than mile and
a half on Lakes Union and Washington.
TIL Olympic and Cascade mountains are
in sight, and unobstructed view will be had
of the peaks of Mount Baker and Mount
Rainier.
Now that ground has been broken. work
will start Immediately on the landscaping
and laying out of roads, plazas and cir
Giles. The administration building will be
erected at once in order that the manage
ment may have headquarters on the
grounds. The exposition plans call for
about twelve large exhibit places arranged
in a unique manner.