Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-12-01
SOME POINTS ON THE EXPOSITION
Captain SiIbaush Tells of its Wonder
full Success

1hASGOS- AZ PA1AAiBNt9 kNCtNC
O'Clock midnight on the 10th instant,
with goodby and God bless and pros
per you, the lights of the Alaska Yukon
Pacific Exposition were turned out and
the great fair of 1909 declared officially
closed. / had intended writing the
CENSOR from time TO time some points
of interest connected with the exposi-
ton, but many things besides business
have taken up so much of my time the
present summer that never got started
at it.
It has been a source of great pleasure
to meet so many old Wisconsin friends,
but the list of Vernon county people
even, who have been here during the
summer would be too long to take up
space in your paper. 1t was with a
feeling of inexpressible sadness that
we saw the lights go out on this beauti-
full exposition, and we just began dur
ing its last few days to realize how
much we had missed. Personally at
tended seventy times during the sum-
mer, but in making hasty visit through
certain of the buildings the last half of
the last day Twas constantly confronted
with things that | had not seen be-
fore.
The marvellous and unprecedented
success of the fair from every stand
point is a source of genuine satisfaction
to every Seattle citizen, and we have
received SO much praise from sources
emanating from every part of the globe
that it would be impossible in one article
to even refer to it. There was so much
of beauty and SO many things of in
terest to be seen that it is little wonder
that people who spent only day or two
can have but little conception of its real
merits.
The general landscape artists of Bos-
ton who planned this exposition GER
tainly never did finer piece of work.
An ex-mayor of Minnea polls. who wrote
| glowingly of the fair after his return
home, stated that he was so struck with
its beauty that he spent several days in
studying the grounds and general scenic
effect before he entered building.
There were special features every
| day, such as lectures end musical treats,
that could well have taken all of ones
time. The best bands in this country,
| the best speakers. individual singers,
choirs and choruses were there to be
seen and heard Tree every day. Parades
were so common that we almost lost
interest and failed to appreciate them.
While it was always confidently ex-
pected that this fair would bring big
crowd to the west, yet no estimate from
the most optimistic even, ever reached
anyway near what the attendance act
ually showed. The attendance for the
entire time was 3,790, 55l, being an
average OF nearly Is, 900 a day.
Expositions as an almost universal
rule have not paid, but Seattle has set
a precedent IN this respect, and the
best part of it is that much of the fair
is permanent Improvement that will
remain for the entertainment of visitors,
and as a permanent asset to the Uni
versity Of Washington. The university
receives 81 500, 600 in buildings and inn
pvovements as result of the exposi-
tiun. These are the physical and tan
gible benefits, but far greater Is the
educational benefit from having the ex-
position, and the lasting benefit from
having so many visitors brought to this
city, and the great Northwest.
The president of the United States
honored us with visit, and 20, 900 peo-
pie heard him in the great natural am
phitheater on the grounds, and during
the last few days the great commoner,
William Jennings Bryan, was guest
also, and those who have heard him
many times say that he made one of
best speeches of his life to the enor-
nous crowd who packed the amphi-
theater for the evening meeting.
Two separate days were set apart as
children days and during each of these
days more than q, 900 little ores passed
through the gates, and 81 great was
the care exercised that although thou
sands came unattended and alone not
single accident happened. People we're
stationed at the intersection of the
street cars over the city to see that
changes were made without the child
rem receiving any injuries. During
those days admission was absolutely
free to all children uIder fifteu years,
and an attractive program was ar
ranged during the entire day and even
ing.
F, | must not omit to mention the part
that Wisconsin played in the exercises
of the exposition. The state appropri-
ated 81, 900 to pay the expenses of Wis
consin day and for maintaining booth
for Wisconsin people during the expo
sition. An attractive and well fur
nished booth was provided for Wise on
sin people to rest, register and visit,
and her state day was one OF the most
largely attended and successful Of any
held. All this WAS accomplished with
the use of only $887. AZ Of the ST., 900 set
apart for the purpose. Each state had
it's special day, and each tried to make
the day one that would reflect credit on
the state, and her people. Our day re-
ceived the highest praises from the fair
officials, and our reception and ball in
the evening was not excelled by any
other state.
For New England day was arranged
an exact reproduction of the Mayfower
with the same number Of pilgrims on
board, costumed as they we're in 1920.
Norway day was reproduction OF the
old time Vicking ship landing at the
exposition grounds with the King and
Queen, surrounded by the Morse no
bility. Chinese day, with the fabled
monster dragoon, $50 feet long, con-
structed at great expense and brought
here in sections from California. Japa-
nese day with all its Oriental splendors,
n fact each nation had its day, and
each tried to outdo the other Every
great fraternal society had its day with
monster parades, and the distinguished
leading men Of the order to lend in
terest to the occasion. One of the
largest parades of the year was that by
the Odd Fellows on the 22nd OF Sep
tember DIR. II. j Suttle, J. ID. Beck,
p. A. Bador and Charles Barker, Wis
consin representatives to that meeting,
occupied carriage in the parade.
This exposition was the first worlds
fair in history conducted without grant