Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-02
The jamestown Exposition.

POTtldnd PTeSS.)
AS is well known, what is perhaps the
last in the series of American EXPOSE
tions since 1876 celebrating great his
torical events is soon to open near the
site of the first English settlement in
this country. Preparations have been
made OH large scale and the exposl-
ton is likely to be well up to its pre-
dccessors in importance and attfac-
tlveness. ThrOngs of visitors VIII at
tend from near and far. The exhibits
will no doubt Illustrate in an interest
ing way the progress of English
speaking America during the three
centuries of occupation by that race
In addition 10 the usual features there
VIII be novel ones, among them
naval display such as it was not pos
sibIe to have at the other expositions,
and this of itself will bring crowds.
The question is now for US to decide
whether State pride and state interests
do not cali for State participation at
jamestown. A State commission Tor
this purpose has been duly appointed,
of which the late Henry p. Cox OF TINS
city was an energetic and enthusiastic
member. The commission had planned
a Maine building. which was to be
on Congress street. This seemed pecu-
liarly appropriate in view of the occur
renee of the Longfcllow centennial, and
it is certain that such building on the
yrounGs would be the observed % all
observers. LOnsfellow IS the most pop
ular of our poets. read wherever the
English language is spoken and trans
lated into foreign tongues. Whatever
,l.at. nj .V
est Just now, and one can hardly con-
Ceivr Of 4 more interesting object 70
strangers than Il replica or his boyhOCd
home. except the home itself-and they
will have TO come to Maine To see that,
which is just what we want to induce
them to do.
NOW the commission has come ask
ing the Legislature for an apprOpr.a-
ton of $15,oo0 10 carry out this enter
prise 1t is not an eXtravagant sun.
The State had buildings at Chicago
and St Louis, making for these and
other expenses considerably larger aD-
preparations than now asked. The
granite building 1T Chicago was taken
down and rebuilt at Poland Spring,
where it will remain an object of in
terest to visitors for many years. The
indeed been the subject of criticism
and the question has been raised
whether it paid. AS to that it is i'm
possible to tell. 1t may not have pad
in direct return OF dollars, but it
served its purpose as an advertisement,
and that is one of the main purposes.
State pride is something. too. Every
other New England state, besides
of no
has made an appropriation for James
wn--NIassao husetts $4,000. Rhode Is
land $4,000, Vermont $4,000 and 80 o.. |
Would it not be CALLING to our State |
pride to have blaine go unrepresente l, |
especially at an exposition so near
comparatively as Norfolk. with which |
we have no little sea-borile commerce? |
The appropriation is favored by the |
Portland Board of Trade. and we think |
by similar organizations in other parts |
of the State. It is the judgment Of bust |
ness men that the commissions plan !
would be a goou advertisement Of our |
summer resort business. What We !
want particularly is to make known to |
all men the attractions of our State. |
its charm and loneliness or seaside and |
lakeside, in the forests and among the |
hills, its unsurpassed excellence as a |
retreat from the blazing heats of mid |
Many have found out these |
thnes. more are finding them out and |
the tide of summer travel increases |
from year to year. But we want still |
more to know of the advantages of |
Maine. These have been advertised to /
some extent by the printed page circu- |
lated by the Boards Of Trade and the |
ira nSrortation agencies but would not |
Il Longfellow house at Norfolk he |
likely to reach more people and fix their |
more sharply than illustrate! |
reading matter? Both sentimnntaily |
and commercially in qualification of |
State pride and as an advertisement. |
would it not pay? That is the question