The Ketchikan miner., 1908-08-29
THE ALASKA YUKON PACIFIC
 EXPOSITION.


 people of Seattle planned so enthusi- astically in one day. the success of it becomes more and more a matter of serious consideration to Alaska. However optimistic and energetic the people of Seattle may be over the project, some facts are very apparent. Firss and foremost, espositons have been overdone. No general worlds fair can commend public attention that does not equal that at St. Louis, and. perhaps none will equal that for ! generation to come. The only hope
 of any exposition interesting the public is one that shall do one
 thing well that is. shall be the most complete and up-to-date exhibit of
 some one country or industry ever made. It is understood that this is the object of this exposition. It is to place Alaska and the Yukon adequate ly before the world. If it does. it will
 be unique among expositions and at tain historic importance, but if it be
 but subterfuge to exploit Seattle. and fill her pockets, and that Alaska exists but in the pan,e of the fair, then. il will be an abject failure.
 Second, exhorbitant prices. and the constant appearance ofeegraft. no mat ter how worthy an exposition, will repel intelligent people and send them home disgusted. not only with the city that has. thus imposed on them
 but also. no matter how uniustly, on she cause the exposition represents.
 Third, an unprepared exposition is
 worse than none at all. To find an opening day unfinished buildings. grounds filtered with lumber and rubbish and uninstalled exhibits,
 presages failure from the start. St. Louis. to avoid this, postponed the great fair for year. Norfolk, Vir- ginia prided herself on opening her beautiful Jamestown exposition ou time. But it was fatal mistake. Her pride ruined her. The fatal day came. while the exhibit buildings were nearly complete and the Lee parade as finished. the exhibits were in boxes on the cars. The govern ment pier was a mass of scafolding. the state buildings were empty shells, and the grounds unprepared. The re- suit was a disappointed public, who felt that they were duped. a black eye in the press. and, despite the fact that Jamestown became, before the summer was over. to be one of the most beautiful exhibits of historic buildings and of southern life and hospitality ever seen. her grounds were deserted. She closed her doors, financial failure. and it will take Virginia many years to recover from her exposition experience.
 Now, Seattle, must steer clear of these dangers, but will she? Is she really onfning herself to the real ob- ject of the exposition? How much of exhibits from Alaska are planned? How much has been collected? All ready the Seattle hotels refuse to quote rates for next sumner. Does this mean that sbey will wait and charge all the tariff can bear, and thus personify ''The Seattle Spirit?"
 Is il: to be an exposition of graft or glory? Alaska is intensely in- terested in these matters. Her good name is at stake and rot to be jUggled with by the money lovers of the spirit city. Supposedly, it is an Alaska-Yu- kon exposition. To it thousands are coming to learn of Alaska. By if, Alaska will be partially judged-he praised or condemned. Yet, it is use esst o 9xash our hands of the matter. and 70 say it is SeattIe's affair or to allow Seattle people to say that. The world at large knows it as the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, and will measure Alaska by it's success or fail ure in it's exhibits.
 Alaska has been represented in other fairs, but it has been, as in current nos els, by Esquimo, dog sled, gamb- ling camps and frontier life.
 The Alaska of imperial scenery, the of boUndIess forests, and inn mense fisheries. great mineral wealth. the Alaska of government surveys and reports, of agricultural and manufacturing possibilities, of schools and churches, the Alaska Of nearly two centuries. This Alaska as never been represented to the world. To most Americans it is still an uD- known realm. It is splendid oppor- sunity at the. coming exposition to in- sroduce the real Alaska to the nation which bought it nearly forty years ago.. and ever since has consistently and uDderestimated it. Let every one in Alaska take pro- found. interest in this exposition and do all possible 10 make this Alaska success for AIaska's sake.
 OLD LEADERS PASSING.