Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-03-09


Isl H%l and historic progress of the
nation all eyes are naturally
turning, toward the Pacific
northwest and the Alaska Yukon-Pa-
cific exposition of 1909. With charac-
rteristic western thrift, Seattle has gone
about the matter in a most thoroughly
businesslike fashion. An exposition
company was formed with capital
stock of 100000 and n day set aside on
which subscriptions to the stock would
be received. With encouraging prompt
ness the citizens came forward and SUBJ
scribed, not the requested 100000, but
$654,000. Since the capital stock had
been oversubscribed, the company in
creased Ii to 100000, and over half of
this has already been paid in.
With characteristic western prepar-
edness the company has already fin
ished the administration building and
it has been occupied for several months.
And with characteristic western inde-
pendence the company asks no gift or
loan from congress in the financing or
the exposition, the United States gov
eminent being invited to take part and
place its own exhibit just as other ma
lions are asked. The company does
ask, though, that this government ex-
hibit be a large one, for the natlonai
government must necessarily finance
the territorial exhibits of Alaska, ha-
wall and the Philippines. Since the
exposition is exploiting the great nat,
ural resources of the Pacific coast ana
islands q large fisheries pullolns Is
needed at this fair.
Tn q hin RECENTLY introduced in con-
gress by Senator Samuel II. Piles OF
the state of Washington an appropria-
ton of 100000 was asked for the gov
eminent exhibit. 1t was suggested tnat
this be apportioned as follows: $26O.OOO
for the exhibit of the government
proper, covering the special fisheries
exhibit the special lifesaving exhibit
and the special exhibit of the bureau
of the American republics; 100000 Tor
Alaskan exhibits, $4,000 for Hawaiian
exhibits, $z5, 900 fof Philippine exhibits
and 100000 for the buildings housing
these.
The people of the state of Washing
ton will, alone, contribute $2,Ooo,OOO 10
the enterprise, patriotic pride ana
spirit of progress prompting them to a
wide generosity. One million OF this
was appropriate by the state and
most of the other million was raised py
special county taxes provided Tor py
the legislature. The site of the ex~
position is that of the state university
grounds, looking on Lake Union on one
side and Lake Washington on the otner.
The buildings that form the auol-
forum, the fine arts building and ma
ohinery hall will be the leading per-
tnanent ones, Seattle following the pre-
oedent of all other expositions In this
country in leaving some lasting me-
mortal of the brilliant exposition sea-
son. After the fair, these edifices OF
classic architecture will be the home
CT Washington university, and VIII
have cost 100000 that the legislature
appropriated for this specific purpose.
Another permanent building Will be
that of the Arctic brotherhood, which
will be set aside for the use of the
university students from Alaska and
the Yukon country.
So far the government has appropri-
ated s2S.752.251 for worlds fairs. OF
this only $4S5,0 has gone west of the
Rockies, the Lewis and Clark having
this. The Alaska Yukon-Pacific expo
sition means to establish record for
thorough independence and executive
ability in comparison with all previous
expositions. st. Louis and jamestown,
for instance, had both gifts and loans.
The Louisiana Purchase exposition had
a gift of $5,000,00O from the government
and a loan of $4,600000. Seattle means
to prove that q city of her energy and
enterprise will need none of this. So
far indications are that she will make
good. From east of the Rockies 100000
people are expected. The Pacific slope
will send an enormous percentage of its
population and from each of the cities
and towns that have grown up in the
last half century will come enthusiastic
and eager men and women wearing. as
they did at Portland. badges inscribed
with such sentiments as watch Ia
coma Grow" or Watch Spokane
Crow" and they are the kind who
help in the growing.
When Secretary Seward purchased
Alaska in 1857 there We're those who
earnestly objected. Representative
Washburn of Wisconsin was particu-
larly bitter and deplored the throwing
away of 1920, 000' on q tract of coun-
try which we did not. need, that nobody
wanted and as far as known was utterly
worthless" In revenue only, Alaska
has already paid into the treasury of
the United States $12,000,000, and the
fur, fish and gold have brought $500, 00O-
600. ! With a population of 10000, not
half of whom are white, her commerce
with the United States amounts to $780,
900 900 a year. Since her purchase, her
fisheries have produced over $150000,0 900
and are now producing from $4,000, 600
t. $40 600, 900 year. With all this, her
resources are practically undeveloped
and the agricultural lands, lands that
are as large as all New England, Penn
syIyania and New York, are practically
untouched All these things the Alaska
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