Douglas Island news., 1907-11-13
AIaska's Exhibit at Exposition
Special CorrespondonceJ

SEATTLE.-By the terms of tho bill that will be introduced at the forth coming session of Congress asking for an appropriation of S1, ,l75,OQ0 for the Alaska-Yukou-P Pacific Exposition, Al aska is apportioned the sum of s3oo,000 for her building and exhibits. 1t is planned to expeud SlO0OOo on the Al aska building and S2OO,0OO for the col lection and ius stallation of the displays. Hawaii is to receive s5O,OOO for build, ing and S75,COO for an exhibit, while the Philippines is allotted S75,00O for each. The main government building is esti- mated at a cost of S2OO,0OO and sepa, rate building for fisheries at S0O,OOO. Uncle Sans exhibit, exclusive of the Pacific territories, will cost approXi- mately s35O,OOO.
 Just as soon as the bill is passed government board will be appointed to take charge of the expenditure of the funds. This board will select commis- sioners to arrange for exhibits in Alas ka, Hawaii and the Philippines and will establish headquarters in Washington, D. C., where the work of getting up Uncle Sans general display will be carried OIL.
 The task of collecting and arranging the Alaskan exhibits will be turned over by the government board to men and women of the Nogthland who are familiar with conditions there. The To- cal management of the exposition will have nothing to do with the eXpeudi- ture of the government appropriation. The only money the exposition ccrpor- atiou has charge of is the funds sub scribed by the people of Seattle to put the 1909 fair on its feet, and therevenue received from concessions and gate re- ceipts. The million dollars appropri- ated by the State of Washington will bo disbursed by the Washington com mission appointed by Governor Mead.
 Indications now point to the early passage of The exposition bill. The eX- ecutive committee of the 1909 fair has passed a resolution pledging itself not to ask for a loan or a gift from Con- gress and a section in the bill prohibits Congress from giving any aid further than an appropriation for Uncle Sans participation in the same manner as the foreign governments and the diff ferent states. This policy is meeting with much favorable comment through out the country.
 The benefits that Alaska will receive by being properly represented at the exposition are many. l. Is estimated that at least 25O,Oo0 persons will visit the exposition from east of the Rocky Mountains. These people know little about the true conditions of the North land. Their visit to the 1909 fair will give them a better conception of the resources, advantages, and possibilities of Alaska. It will teach them that other things besides icicles and gold mines grow in tho North. They will learn that Alaska in time will be able to support millions of people on pro- ducts grown from it's own soil; that vast riches await those who will go in to the country and work for them.
 Through the medium of exhibits the people of the United States proper will gain better idea of trade conditions. The manufacturer and producer will learn what 60 make and how to make it to successfully supply the Alaskan markets.
 The exposition will produce results that will mean vindication for Alaska in many ways. It will induce addition al population, bring more capital and put the country in it's true light before the world
 For the past year the publicity de- partment of the exposition has been expending its energies to advertise Al aska throughout the world. Stories of AIaska's resources and advantages have been sent to the newspapers and maga- zines in this country and abroad. These articles have gained a wide circu- Iation on account of the interesting facts they tell. People are becoming more and more interested in the North land and are planning to come to the