Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-06-04
SEATTLE FAIR
OPENS ON Time
President Taft Presses Button
That Starts Wheels In Motion
KEY IS OF GOLD NUGGETS

Under Way, With Buildings and
Gounds Completed and Exhibits In
Place, Bearing Out the Motto of
"the Show That Will Be on Time
Scenic Beauty and Novel Features
Seattle, June 1.-The Alaska
Yukon Pacific exposition is open. At
IL o'clock. Seattle time. President
Taft pressed the button which set The
machinery in motion, using for the
purpose a key formed of Alaska mug
gets.
AS the wheels in the various build
ings began whirring and the latest of
the worlds fairs was declared Off
cially opened one feature that eXcit-
ed the enthusiastic comment of the
great crowds present was that the
management had lived up to its mot
+ to of the show that will be on time.
Not only were the buildings COM
pleted and the grounds covered with
grass and flowers, as though they had
been planted for years, but every
exhibit was in place. 1t is the first
time any exposition mas actually
opened on the opening day, and the
departure has proved most welcome
to the visiting thousands.
The ceremonies on the grounds be-
gan two hours before President Taft,
on the other side of the continent,
pressed the button that made the great
fair living thing. The scene present.
ed carried out Charles Dana Gibson's
verdict after visiting the grounds
that the A. Y. p is the most beau
tiful exposition ever planned. Situat-
ed between two fresh water lakes in
a forest of great trees with one open
colornade showing a background from
different angles, the natural setting
to the picture is ideal.
There are the usual buildings seen
at expositions, with the advantage
that many of these are to be perma-
nent and after the fair is closed on
Oct. Is will be turned over to the
University of Washington, on whose
campus the fair is held. The fact
that the exposition grounds belong to
a college is the cause of third novel
ty, which is that this is dry" show,
no Intoxicating liquors being sold in
the vicinity. Still a fourth unique
feature is that this exposition did not
ask Uncle Sam for a cent. The $500,
900 which was spent on the govern
ment buildings was given voluntarily.
To most these are welcome departures
and have created favorable comment.
Represents Vast Territory
Originally it was intended to make
this latest of the eXpositions simply
an Alaskan fair on which 500, 900
would be spent. Then the plan grew
to include the Yukon. At last it was
concluded to make it representative Of
the entire Pacific civilization that is
awakening and springing into being
all about the shores of the worlds
greatest ocean. 1t ended up by spend
ing at least hundred times the
amount first contemplated
The A. Y. p. is commemorative of
no past event. 1t is hung upon to-
prophecy rather than a memorial. 1t
exhibits what are unknown and unde-
veloped, the pOtentialities of the Pa
cific northwest. Alaska and countries
bordering on the Pacific. Otherwise
stated, 1t is an exposition of what Is
very largely unknown rather than of
the highest development. Alaska has
remained first in the title and inspira-
ton of the exposition.
This territory, for which we paid
81, 200, 900, produces three times that
amount every year in gold alone. In
the last forty years it has produced,
besides its gold, $50 900 900 worth of
furs, and its fisheries have handled a
product valued at 500 900, 900. The
exposition serves to show Americans
that Alaska is an empire of agricul-
tural and forest wealth as well as
treasure box of minerals.
But, while the exposition Is impor--
tant as means of exploiting Alaska,
1t has a much broader. aspect and sig
niicance. 1t serves to focus atten-
| ton upon the undeniable fact that
/ Seattle, the chief city of Puget sound,
is the natural gateway to the greatest
Of the worlds markets. 1t is the
shortest road to the most promising
fields of trade extension in the orient
! and the focus of northwestern de-
velopment in the United States.
The far eastern countries bordering
on the Pacific, including the Philip
| pines and Hawaii, have the most
elaborate exhibits at Seattle that they
have ever attempted anywhere. Here
1t is possible to find out what these
| countries need as well as what they
/ produce. Japan perhaps more than
any other eastern nation has grasped
the commercial Importance of the ex-
| position, and its official representa-
ton has been carried out on a com
! DrehenSiVe scale