The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-06-13
For the Reporter:
The Jamestown Exposition.


Sewell's Point and enters the grounds
of the Exposition. "Sonorous meta
blowing material Sounds and the
"reign of chaos.p For on every side
is heard the sound of the saw and the
hammer, the shouting of teamsters,
the order of master carpenters, rough
roadways, dusty walks and all the
concomitants of new CITY in the
process of building.
There are a multitude of buildings
scattered over an immense territory.
Many buildings are incomplete There
are only few sidewalks. What will
eventually be avenues are mere road
ways. You are depressed by the
thought that too much has been at
tempted, and that the Exposition
ought not to have opened for wear.
/ These facts have led some facetiously
to call it the Jamestown Imposition.
Yet this is not the deepest impression
made on the visitor or the impression
which remains as one leaves Virginia
The grounds are very large and the
major part of the buildings are incom
4
back of all this tumultuous confusion
The longer you walk through the
sand and the dust the more complete :
ly a magnificent plan unfolds itself
to you. 1t must be borne in mind
that during the past winter the mana
gers have experienced unfortunate
weather conditions, which very great
~ impeded the execution of their
plans.
The Government buildings and ex
hibits are practically complete and
are very fine. The War, Navy, Inte :
rior and Postoffiee departments have
large and complete exhibits. Many
features are similar to those seen in
former EXpositions, but there are new
features which bring them to- date,
and show the amazing progress of the
art of war during recent years.
One of the predominant features is
that of the Smithsonian Institute. Its
officials have made careful study OF
the costumes, utensils, boats, tools
and implements in use 300 years ago
among the whites and the Indians
The figures are life size. There is the
Dutch merchant and his Vrow; the
Pilgrim and his wife; the early Nir-
a model of the Mayhower. There are
guns, knives, clothing, and many
many relics of the early jamestown
days.
A conspicuous and central group il
that of Captain John Smith and his
companions in a shallop trading with
the Indians, who are in canoe. Capt
Smith is offering beads and other arti-
al tn 40
corn. The forms, their facial express
sions and their positions are startling.
ly life like.
To many Maine sportsmen the fish
cries exhibit would be a great delight
The ship was certainly a great
success on the day the writer of these
lines was present. With swiftness
and with apparently the greatest ease
the exhibitor sailed through the all
above the treetops and high build
ings. He swept around and around
, like a bird and as gracefully and
beautifully settled slowly down into
the enclosure prepared for his aerial
barque. What snail we see next in
this marvellous age?
The Exposition occupies land
hitherto unoccupied to any great
extent. On May ~ daisies and wild
geraniums were in blossom and straw
berries were picked on the grounds
The permanence and sOlidity of the
buildings are very noticeable. Brick
has been used in the construction OF
many. This means new and splend
id city for Virginia on the shore OF
the historic Hampton Roads. Within
mile of the Deep Water Pier are
two Monitors One of the old and
one Of new type. The two are an
chored where occurred the famous
battle between the Merrimac and the
Monitor, which in an hour revolution
lied naval warfare.
There are many points of historical
and present interest within few
miles of the Exposition. There are
the cities of Norfolk und Portsmouth
to the south and across the bay some
seven miles is Fortress Monroe, and
beyond the town of Hampton, Hamp
ton Normal and Industrial Institute,
the Old Soldiers Home and Newport
News with the largest shipbuidine
yards in America.
When fall comes and the magnifi-
cent plans of the Exposition are com
pleted it will equal the inspiring
scenes by which it is surrounded OF
the shores of the great and broad
Chesapeake Bay.
The evening of May % was warm
The moon added the beauty of hel
somber rays to the ripping waters OF
the great bay. Many, many were the
steamers plying in as many direc-
tions. A dozen great warships were
anchored under the disappearing
guns of Fortress Monroe. A large
party of New Englanders had board
ed at Old Point Comfort the night
steamer from Washington. AS they
steamed northward a magnificent
panorama was spread before them
The lights of Hampton, Cape Charles
Cape Henry, Ocean View, of the
great battleship, and most conspic :
uous of all the electrical display of the
great Exposition was to be seen. Az
the hour passed other lights faded but
those of jamestown continued TO
stand out luminous and brilliant. An
other hour passed. Though much
faded they still lifted their brilliant
hands heavenward bidding us adieu
as we steamed toward the mouth of
| the Potomac. The last impression
was the best. Brilliancy marks the
scheme In its historical and natura
environment the position is superb.
/ These things are prophetic.
&. NJ.
Killed at North Arson.
One man was killed, another Sc.
l.. i