The Alaska citizen., 1912-04-15
ALASKA ENNIAL Ex-
 POSITION. 1917.

By this time the Outside world is acquainted with the fact that Alas ks intends to fittingly celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its birth under the flag of the United States. and that an exposition is 10 be held on that occasion in Fairbanks And from his time out the district will continue to receive advertising. in ever increasing volume, until long af- ter the big show will have passed in ro history.
 There are manifold reasons why the semi-centennial of the purchase of the territory should be commemorated and there is no better manner of marking the event than by the hold ing of big All-Alaskan exposition Neither can there be questioning of the statement that Fairbanks is the logical point in the territory in which 10 hold the fair. Centrally located. when transportation is considered, the Panama valley is typically Alas kan and a visit to Fairbanks affords to the stranger a comprehensive un- derstanding of the conditions that pertain 10 the various parts of the country. On the other hand, if the exposition were held in any of the towns on the coast, only a su- perficial idea of the country could be gained.
 Providing the people of the dis trict take up the project with a will there is nothing on earth to prevent the exposition being one grand success. It is unreasonable 10 believe that the government would withhold from Alaska aid similar to that granted to expositions of the past, for the Alaska Semi Centennial would serve a more useful purpose than any one of those held since the Worlds fair in Chicago The government wants the territory set NaNN anu oCNSAoPCoJ II IL extend aid toward the building of railroad it will be doubly interest ed, and there could be no better way of exploiting Alaska than would be afforded by the exposition.
 For year prior to the event every railroad company in the states and several steamship lines will be advertising the Big Exposition at Fairbanks, and the newspapers will be demanding copy long before that time. People who had never thought of Alaska will be attracted, and many of those already in the terri tory will defer contemplated de- parture for the states.
 There is little doubt that the sta,e legislatures of Washington, Ore gon and California would be inclin- ed to make appropriations for build ings of their own on the exposition grounds, and considerable assistance could also safely be counted on from the cities that do large business with Alaska.
 It is reasonably certain that either an automobile road or a railroad will be built before 1917, and in that case the trip from Seattle could be made in five or six days It will be a trip that will appeal irresisti- biy to tourists and they may be ex, pected from every state in the union.
 About the only thing that can be done at this time is to let the world at large thoroughly understand that Fairbanks has decided to hold the Big Exposition in 1917 The adver. Using done from this end will con. stitute the first links in an endless chain that will soon extend through out the country.
 The one best way to start this campaign of advertising is through the constant use on stationery of the slogan Alaska Semi-Centennial Exposition, Fairbanks, 1917" Also