The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-06-01

fore, a human document of high and
convincing value.
Most of the expositions of the
past had a historic motive. 1t is a
sign of development when we move
away from dependence on some past
fact, and celebrate instead the gen.
eral sweep of such forces as make
for future progress. The nation to-
day faces forward. not backward.
Such is the genius of the Alaska
Yukon-Pacific exposition. 1t is ex-
pressed in it's very name; beginning
with the farthest, newest and least
developed district of our national
domain, covering a coast that reaches
from well within the Arctic circle to
near the tropics, and embracing all
the mystery and might that have
been suggested by the word Pacific
for nearly four hundred years. 1t
appears in the design of this beauti-
full exposition city and it's integra-
ton with your state university and
its future Something more inspir-
ing than a date, something of the
onward and upward impulse that is
older than nations. institutions, in
dustries, older than man himself;
something active, personal, achiev-
ing, inheres in the thought and la
Dor crowned today by this happy
event. You have learned more of
your own powers by carrying to sue
cessful completion an enterprise so
ambitious. The outer world, by
which Alaska and the Pacific coast
are still largely unknown and unap-
preciated, will carry away from here
information as well as delight. 1t
is. perhaps, a small episode in the
march of human events and the I'M
folding of a nations history; but in
some ways, also, it may mark an
epoch.
This occasion marks also
change in the conscious attitude of
the Pacific coast toward the rest of
the country. 1t would be unjust to
say that this section ever failed to
realize the national integrity The
Pacific states have not been appealed
TO in vain on the chief issues of the
Tine. But there was once a certain
aloofness, a certain supremacy of
separate Independent interest. There
ong persisted here a kind of indif-
ference about what might be hap
)ening beyond the mountain barrier
o the east People born here felt |
title desire to cross it, Newcomers |
soon found the old point of view lost |
n a new local interest The coming !
If the transcontinental railroad first |
shattered this isolation. The acquisi- |
ion and development of Alaska, the
inflow of restless enterprise, the de-
of your cities by the men
Of capital of the outer world |
strengthened old bonds and created
new ones. This exposition may be
regarded as the laying of the last
rail, the driving of the last spike, in
unity of mind and purpose between
he Pacific coast and the country east
Of the mountains. 1t is the witness
Of that constantly broadening tie
which is both the price we pay for
civilization and the boon that it con-
fers upon us. Never again can the
Pacific coast withdraw into itself;
never again can it know any slack
ening of the tide of life that sweeps
all the nations veins when
it crosses the great divide"
Mr.. Hill referred to Alaska's re-
markable progress, recalling that 80
years ago intercourse with it was
limited practically to the needs of
the sealing industry. The exposition
exhibits. he said, give a mere hint
of the contribution, still unrevealed
to our fancy, which she is to make
to the national life and activity in
the half century to come.
The speaker reviewed the develop
ment on the Pacific coast, and said:
when capital can be enticed back
into railway investments by assur-
ances of proper protection and a rea-
sonable return, the progress of con-
struction will do more for the Pa
cific northwest thanfOr any other