Evening star., 1921-09-07
PORTAL WILL MARK
j. .S.-CANADA PEACE
Arch on Boundary to Com
memorate Over 100 Years
of Friendship.
By the Associated Press.


BLAINE. WASH. September T.
More than 100 years of peace between
Canada and the United States-1O0
years without fortifcations or armies
along 5000 miles of border-was COM
memorated yesterday with the dedication
OF the Peace Portal. huge arch Of
steel and cement, on the international
boundary line near here
At the same time the Pacific high
way. running from Vancouver, B. c.,
70 Tia Juana, Lower California, was
formally. dedicated with elaborate
ceremonies: The highway. which is
exception of paving on certain
stretches. is nearly 1000 miles long
and traverses the states of Oregon,
washington and California. Every
mile of the road will be paved by
1870, according to present plans.
Fitting Inscriptions.
The Peace Portal. constructed by
the Pacific Highway Association in
accord with an act Of parliament and
an order in council. rests half on
canadian and half on American soil.
OF Grecian Doric type. 1t has been
pronounced of surprising beauty. On
seribed the words: children of a
Common Mother; on the north side
the legend runs: Brethren Dwelling
Together in Unity" On the interior.
below one of the doors. are inscribed
the words: open For One Hundred
Years; below the other door are the
words: May These Doors Never Be
Closed"
On each side Of the portal a park
has been designed. and gardeners have
been engaged for weeks in beautify
ing these strips. The structure bears
two flag poles, from one of which the
flag of Great Britain will fly, and
from the other :he Stars and Stripes
More than $50 electric lights will be
used to illuminate the portal at night
Ceremonies Regain Yesterday.
Dedication ceremonies began Mon
parliament buildings at Victoria.
B: c.. presided over by Lieut.. Gov.
Walter Nichol of British Columbia
Official visitors and those who par
ticipated, in the ceremony. includ-
ing prominent Canadian officials and
officials from Pacific coast states and
the Pacific Highway Association, were
escorted to Blaine by yachts repre-
senting clubs from the various cities
of the northwest.
the placing of a bit Of wood from
the Pilgrim ship. Mayflower. recently
secured in England, in the American
side of the portal. On the Canadian
side was placed a piece of wood taken
from the Beaver. famous old Hud-
sons Bay Company ship. the first
steam propelled vessel to ply in Pa
cific waters.
To indicate the Importance of the
occasion internationally. flags of four
nations were placed upon the arch at
the time of its dedication. The Brit
fish and American flags flew from the
staffs provided, and in addition the
flags of Belgium and France were
h~ts 81 IL x1~t 4
was represented because the treaty
signed December "a. 1914. under
which the United States and Canada
have lived side by side in peace for
100 years. was signed at Ghent. in
Belgium. The French flag represented
population of French extraction.
Plans for Highway.
Twelve years ago. A. E. Todd of
Victoria originated the idea of great
arterial highway traversing the Pa
cific coast from British Columbia to
Mexico. In the fall of 1910 H. L.
Bowlby. state highway commissioners
that portion Of the highway which
lies in Washington. Formation of the
Pacific Highway Association followed
and with the commencement of sur
veys by California and Oregon high
way departments the work was fairly
started.
In June, 1915. the idea Of a peace
portal was launched at a joint flag
raising ceremony at Blaine on the
site of the present arch. Plans were
laid at that time, but because of the
war construction work did not begin
until last year. Samuel Hill. Seattle
good roads enthusiast and honorary
consul general for Belgium in the Pa
cif1c northwest. was credited with
of the original plans.
Certain ceremonies connected with
the dedication of the Pacific highway
have been postponed because of the
inability of government officials at
Washington and foreign dignitaries
to attend. They will be held later
this year, and will include ceremonies
opening the highway. first on the bOr-
der line at Blaine. and later on the
great bridge spanning the Columbia
river at Portland, Ore, and at a point
in California to be chosen later.