The daily sentinel., 1908-07-21
HOW FAIR GREW
FROM SIMPLE IDEA

Little did Godfrey Chealander think, ,
one Sunday morning early in June,
1905. when he sat in the lobby of the
Golden Gate hotel at Nome. that an
idea which came to him would grow
till it reached the proportions of a
great worlds fair.
Chealander was reviewing the trip
he had just made as commissioner for
the United States government, gather
ing exhibits for the Lewis and Clark
exposition Although this trip was
successful one in its way, Chealander
knew that his work could have been
done better had he had more time.
He got his commission and started out
from Skagway as soon after as pos
sible. March 20. 1906. to be exact. This
gave him two months in which to cover
large territory which he did by rail
boat and dog team. His portion of the
Alaskan exhibit had been sent to the
Portland fair. 1t was a creditable one,
but Chealander saw that it was not
what could have been secured. If more
time had been devoted to the task.
That was what he was thinking
about that Sunday morning in the swell
hotel of Nome. Alaska not going
to have proper representation at the
first western worlds fair: it had never
been exploited in the right way at any
exposition. How can the Northland
advertise itself? were the thoughts
passing in Chealanders mind, when all
of sudden was born that idea, a solu
tion to his problem, theory that has
worked out better than he ever imag-
ined. The idea was no more or less
than to hold an Alaskan exposition in
Seattle during the summer of 1907.
Chealander then conveyed his idea
lx, Iatt l., Il
of the Alaska Club at Seattle. He sug
gested that a special Alaskan exposi-
tion be held at Seattle in 1907 and that
a permanent Northland display be
maintained after the fair was over
Mr.. Chilberg and the members of the
Alaska Club took kindly to the scheme
Under the auspices of the club Chea-
lander. who is now permanent Alaskan
commissioner for the Fair. was sent
on trip through Alaska and Yukon
to learn whether the Northerners
would favor such plan. Chealander.
while in Yukon saw Governor McInnes
and at his request and that of the
people. the name of the proposed
Alaska Exposition was changed to read
Alaska Yukon Exposition. Sentiment
was so favorable to the holding of an
Alaskan exposition, that the Alaska
Club in the fall of 1905 had a consul
tation with Henry Il. Reed. of Port
land. director of exploitation and sec
| retary of the Lewis and Clark exposi-
| ton who outlined the plan for an ex-
position for the year 1907 and also for
a larger fair to be held in 1909. After
due consideration by the men behind
/ the enterprise it was decided to follow
+. Reeds larger plan. Accordingly the
| exposition was Incorporated and offic-
l ers elected on May I. 1906.
Il The Interest displayed in the exposi-
tion and its increase in magnitude was
the result of another idea being given
birth to by Henry e. Reed. who is now
director of Exploitation, and the wore
| Pacific was added to the name thus
taking into the plan and scope the
countries of that great ocean. The
primary purpose of the exposition ther
was, and is now. the exploitation of tn,
resources and potentialities of Alaskf
and Yukon and the making known ant
fostering the vast Importance of tn,
trade of the Pacific Ocean and tn,
countries bordering thereon.
On June 81. 1906. the grounds of tn,
Washington University were selecte,
as the most advantageous spot to hol,
the great fair. Then on October 2.
day to be remembered by Seattle 70
years to come the exposition was ii
nanced by raising $650.0o0 within
twelve hours. something that wa
never done before by any city at an.
time for any purpose. The state o
Washington not to be outdone approp
rlated at its 1so6-07 legislature 81.