Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-26
POLK AT The BIG FAIR
GOOD EXHIBIT IN PALACE OF
EDUCATION FROM HERE.
Many Eastern Visitors to Exposition
Show Interest in Oregon and
This Valley.
(By DR.. H. C. Dunsmore. J

W, iDi' IL " IDulloholC.J
Oregon Building, San Francisco
March 23-Califprnia has at least re
deemed herself as regards her wealth
er, as for the past two weeks it has
been all that could be desired. How
ever, it requires considerable sun
shine and pleasant weather to make
one forget the continuous rain anc
gloom throughout almost the entire
month of February.
The exposition seems to become
more and more attractive each day
and the continuous special events en-.
tertain and interest the crowds. In
dividual California counties have
their special days, each evidently try
ing to surpass the other in their par
AIDES and programs for the entertain.
ment of the public and their own ex-
ploitation.
Special interest connected with the
early days of this week has been the
visit of Vice-President Marshall as
special representative of the president
of the United States. The battleships
anchored in the bay in front of the
Oregon building, viz: The Oregon, Col
orado and Maryland, along with num-
erous torpedo boats, cruisers and sub
marines, were gaily decked with flags
and bunting and as his excellency
passed from one ship to another, their
great guns beloved forth the presi-
dental salute of twenty-one guns un-
til the air was thick with the smoke
of their explosions.
Of the crowds that daily pass
through the Oregon building, we find
many who are actually interested in
Oregon and eager for information.
While, of course, the great majority
are simply curious sightseers, we find
many who really want to know. Ev-
cry day talk with from one to half
a dozen people who have come from
the middle or eastern states, with the
express purpose of seeking a new To-
cation. If only small percentage of
those whom we try to point the right
way should eventually settle with us
the. money spent in advertising our
county will have brought us vast re-
turns.
| was proud and more than pleased
to notice the large part Polk county
has in the state exhibit in the Palace
of Education. Although the entire ex-
hibit is small, as compared to some
Others, yet more than one half of it
relates TO Polk county. | am sure we
are all proud of the advance move
ment of our rural schools under our
able and efficient county superinten-
dent, Mr. Seymour, who has certainly
reputation for advanced
methods along these lines. And this
reputation is not confined simply to
Oregon, for in the current number of
World S Work we find a most interest
ing article from the pen of Assistant
Superintendent Carlton on "Polk
County's Rural School System. {"
The efficiency of our rural schools
is a strong argument in favor of Polk
county and this is plainly shown in
the exhibit in the Palace of Educa-
ton. where DIR. Bell of Corvallis ex-
plains to visitors the workings of the
system. II is pleasure and privilege
TO talk and work in the interests of
Oregon. One does not need to in
iulge in extravagant eulogy. or bonn
1astic boastings. The plain, simple
ruth is sufficient, and when one has
exhausted his powers Of description
and explanation. even then "the half
las not been told," for one must see
n order to appreciate the excellences
and advantages of the Willamette val
ey in general and of Polk county in
particular.