THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



253 



ALASKA-YUKON-PACIFIC EXPOSITION 



In work of construction, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Ex- 

 position is now virtually accomplished. Late in April the 

 last nail was driven in the enormous United States Gov- 

 ernment building, and this ends the structural work of the 

 fair. The task of beautifying the grounds and water front 

 has been under progress for the past two years, and with 

 the necessary final touches of paint and decoration every- 

 thing will be ready for the opening day. 



View Across Geyser Basin Showing Manufactures Building. 



As it stands today, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo- 

 sition is the most perfect example of exposition creating 

 that has yet been presented. Its magnificent buildings 

 have been placed in the heart of a primeval forest of Doug- 

 las fir, and the grounds overlook two fresh water lakes 

 and the snow-capped peaks of three separate mountain 

 ranges. Stretching from north to south as far as the 

 eye can reach, lies the blue waters of Puget Sound and in 

 the rare atmosphere of the great northwest the distances 

 are shortened to the vision and the entire view is brought 

 startlingly close at hand. 



In building the exposition, a wide variety of architec- 

 tural design has been employed; in its disposal there is to 

 be noted no effects not in harmony with the general sur- 

 roundings. The color scheme of the exposition is old 

 ivory, and the effect of this subdued hue 

 is pleasing and restful; it offers a strange 

 contrast to the glaring white in. which all 

 former expositions have been clothed, 

 and in its setting of dark green is espe- 

 cially effective. 



In bringing the exposition to a fin- 

 ished state, ten million dollars have been 

 expended on buildings and grounds, and 

 the exhibits displayed in the many exhi- 

 bition palaces will represent a value of 

 over fifty million dollars. The United 

 States Government will be a larger ex- 

 hibitor than it has been at any previous 

 exposition, and has not been asked for a 

 single cent of appropriation for the en- 

 terprise. 



Differing from former expositions, 

 the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition will 

 be read^ for visitors on the day first set 

 for that occasion, and on the first of June 

 the gates will be opened to the public. There will be no 

 unfinished work on buildings, grounds or exhibits, and 

 the fair will be complete in every detail. 



The principal object of the exposition is the exploita- 

 tion of the territories of Alaska, Yukon and all those 

 countries whose borders reach the shores of the Pacific 

 ocean. In this object the exposition develops a new field 

 of exploitation, and the varied interests of the lands 

 whose resources are to be shown represent the most 



valuable field for commercial development there is on 

 earth. The territory of Alaska is today only becoming 

 known; the republics of South America are as far away 

 to the American merchant and manufacturer as the heart 

 of darkest Africa, and the Philippine Islands, a vast archi- 

 pelago which has been under the Stars and Stripes for 

 more than ten years, are almost as little appreciated as 

 they were before Admiral Dewey passed Corrigedor and 

 destroyed the Spanish fleet in front of 

 the naval city of Cavite. Our other trop- 

 ical possession, the territory of Hawaii, 

 is without exception the most delightful 

 land in the world, lying under the tropi- 

 cal sun; it is susceptible of as high de- 

 velopment as any country on earth, and 

 our people know but little about it or 

 its resources. 



The countries of Asia and the many 

 islands of the Pacific are rich and valua- 

 ble, and their commerce is in its infancy; 

 their people are as interesting as their 

 resources. It will be from all these coun- 

 tries the Alaska- Yukon-Pacific Exposi- 

 tion will draw heavily for new exhibits 

 and will enable the fair to present a dis- 

 play which for interest and novelty will 

 prove the most attractive yet offered. 



In the race for commercial extension 

 and the development of new markets, the 

 manufacturing and commercial countries 

 of Europe have early recognized the value of the expo- 

 sition as a comprehensive means of entering actively into 

 these developing fields, and as a result there will not be a 

 single country of any importance whose interests are not 

 fully represented. The Seattle fair will be a world's fair 

 in the fullest meaning of the word. 



No better comment onjhe Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Ex- 

 position as a method of exploitation is necessary than to 

 note the interest manifested in it by pur own government. 

 In making the exposition, no financial aid was asked or 

 suggested by the exposition management of the Govern- 

 ment. When the exposition assumed definite form, the 

 federal Government was extended an invitation to enter 

 an exhibit, as was done with other countries and different 

 institutions. In response to this, an appropriation of six 



Oregon State Building. 



hundred thousand dollars was made for the purpose of 

 erecting buildings suitable for exhibition purposes, and 

 the assembling of the Government exhibit. 



The Government group of buildings are six in num- 

 ber, and occupy the most commanding position on the 

 grounds. Immediately at the head of Cascade Court, the 

 enormous federal structure stretches for five hundred feet, 

 and above it rises a graceful, gilded dome. On the right 

 side looking down the court is placed the building in 



