Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-21
WORTHY OF MUCH PRAISE
COMMISSIONER CAPERS EULO-
GIzEs JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION.
Those Who Criticise Overlook, Hs
Says, Admirable, Interesting and
Beautiful Features.

John G. Capers, commissioner of Internal
revenue. has returned from business trip
TO Norfolk. While there he visited the
jamestown exposition, and in answer to a
request for his impressions of that enter
prise. today declared that although ordi-
narily he would not care to have anything
to say about 1t, he really felt it a public
duty TO assert that as far as his judgment
is worth anything it is a gross injustice
to say that the exposition is not frst-class
and Creditable in all respects
I'm the first place" says Mr.. Capers,
Elm inclined to think that those who have
been disposed to knock the exposition take
the few uncompleted enterprises. and with
great emphasis as to them and considerable
criticism, wholly overlook the admirable, in
teresting and beautiful exhibits and fea-
lures which are there.
The conception in the layout of the
grounds. It's beautiful water front. the
arrangement of the buildings, their archi-
lecture and location challenge the great
est admiration, and when out in the bay
between Norfolk and Old Point at night.
with the exposition buildings all lighted
and the splendid array of Illuminated war
vessels, there is an imposing scene pre-
scented. even at that distance. which alone
is worth the TIP to the exposition
The State Exhibits.
"The state exhibits are distinctly lacking
in that number of states have made no
exhibits This is rcgrettable, but 1t is in
large measure overcome by the tastefully
arranged and magnificent exhibits pre-
scented by those states which are in evil
dence
II could not help" continued Mr.. Capers.
Feeling quite sense of pride in the fact
that the arrangement decorations and eX-
hibits from my own state, South Carolina,
are. in my judgment, eXcelled by no state
exhibit unless 1t be the exhibit from Cali
fnrUi1 which is rendered additionally ellD-
crate on account of the limitless fruit pro-
duCtion OF that state which is displayed in
such way as to make most beautiful
showing.
The attractions are unusual in some re-
spectS. The panoramic presentation of the
battle of Manassas and the battle of Get
tySburg, although often seen, are unusually
fine in these instances. and the lectures
which accompany them are historical and
interesting far beyond the ordinary.
But above all the attractions the indie
scribabIy elaborate and beautiful produc-
Ion. realistic and thrilling in every sense,
of the battle between the Monitor and the
MerrimaC in Hampton roads is worth a
trip to the Pacific coast to see, to say moth
ing of a trip so short a distance as to
jamestown. These attractions are on what
is called the War Path, and merit the high
est possible praise of the enterprise eX-
hibited by those who produced them, and
for the splendid success of their efforts
The Hotel Accommodations.
Il also hear, said Mr.. CaperS, some
thing about poor hotel accommodations and
poor accommodations as to transportation.
Both complaints are in my judgment t-oss-
ly unjust. There are four hotels in the
city, of Norfolk which are equal tt the
principal hotels in Washington. and one
OF them as swell though not quite as
large. as our largest. There are also any
number of good smaller hotels and board
ing houses: in fact, the people there seem
to have exhausted every effort to accom-
Hnodate a limitless number of people.
II did not stop at Old Point" Mr.. Capers
continued, but l understand the hotels
and boarding houses there furnish ample
accommodations.
The street car system at Norfolk could
not be eXcelled. 1t seemed to me that
a street car was running by every corner
every few minutes, and no trouble what
ever is experienced in taking the trip out
10 the exposition grounds, either entirely
oy rail or part rail and part water.
I'm addition to the well known opera
houses in the city new one, the Colonial.
has just been completed. 1t is elaborate,
spacious and beautiful in design and In
the execution of the work upon 1t, and
would be a distinct credit to city four
times the size of Norfolk.
Il must apologize for having anything to
saw il this matter but l sincerely feel
lon is worth anything at all. to at least set
put what he regards as the truth about
this exposition. especially in view Of the
adverse comments that have been made
In the press and by some people from time
n. tiv,,..