The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-06-04
SEATTLE FAIR
OPENS ON Time
President Taft Presses Button
That Starts Wheels In Motion

Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition Is
Under Way, With Buildings anc
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. Al
II 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. D
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 a 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
coloInade 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, :
600 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 800, 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 a hundred times the
amount first contemplated.
The A. Y. p. is commemorative OF
no past event. 1t is hung upon to-
morrow rather than yesterday, a
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, it 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
he last forty years it has produced.
besides its gold, $50 600, 900 worth of
.urs, and its fisheries have handled a /
product valued at 500, 600, 600. The
exposition serves to show Americans
hat Alaska is an empire of agricul- !
ural and forest wealth as well as a /
reasure box Of minerals.
But, while the exposition is impor- /
ant as a means of exploiting Alaska, |
has a much broader aspect and sig
ifcance. II serves to focus atten-
ion upon the undeniable fact that
seattle, the chief city Of Puget sound.
S the natural gateway to the greatest
+ the worlds markets. 1t is the
hortest road to the most promising
elds of trade extension I'm the orient
nd the focus of northwestern de-
elopment i'm the United States.
The far eastern countries bordering
n the Pacific, including the Philip
ines and Hawaii, have the most
exhibits at Seattle that they
ave ever attempted anywhere. Here
is possible to find out what these
need as well as what they
reduce. Japan perhaps more than
ny other eastern nation has grasped
lc commercial importance Of the ex-
Dsition. and its official representa-
on has been carried out on a Gem
-ehensive scale. ,
For the amusement street Of the ex-
,sition a novel name and many novel I
atures have been found. What was !
e Midway at Chicago, the Pike at |
!. Louis, the Trail at the Portland c
position and the warpath at James
wn is called the Pay Streak at Seat !
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