University of Washington - Tyee Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

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Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition On June 22, l906, the committee on the selection of a site for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of i909 met and decided upon the unused portion of the campus of the University of Washington as the best suited and most beautiful grounds on which to hold the Pacific World's Fair. On that date the great and brilliant future of the University was decided. Not that the University of Washington did not have a bright future ahead of it, but the decision of the Exposition management assured the more rapid growth of the institution. ' This was proved when the legislature of the State of Washington, in making its appropriaion of 9,000,000 for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Ex- position, set aside 35600,000 of this sum for the erection of three permanent buildings which will give the University a new Assembly l-lall, a new Chem- istry Building and a new Engineering Building after the Pacific World's Fair closes. The expenditure of several hundred thousands of dollars in clearing and grading the exposition site, in beautifying the University's grounds, practically is another present that gives in a few years an impetus toward an end that would take under natural conditions of growth many years to reach. Then there are the several permanent buildings that the exposition will erect and the many smaller ones that will be erected by the different states, countries, associations and individual exhibitors which will be donated toward the already fine structures on the University campus. When the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition closes, with the grounds laid out according to the original plan of the famous landscape artist, John C. Olmsted, of Brookline, Massachusettsg with the avenues, boulevards, circles and plazas beautihedg with the grounds supplied with a water and sewer system, and with the many additional buildings left standing, the University of Washington will have grown more than twice as large in the short time of two years. As the success of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition will be of great benefit to the U. of W. it is proper that in this year's Tyee an outline of the plan and scope of the Pacific World,s Fair be given. Very hrst in the minds of the officials is the idea to make the Expo- sition different in every respect possible from previous worldls fairs. One policy in this line stands out above all others. No money will be asked from Uncle Sam to carry on the work. Just an appropriation from Congress 9

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AUDITORIUM

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is desired, so that the United States Government can be represented by buildings and exhibits in the same manner as other countries and the dif- ferent states. This the government will do by expending nearly a million dollars, for exhibits and the following buildings: Government, Alaska, l-lawaii, Philippines and Fisheries. Different again from many former expositions, the Alaska-Yukon-Pa- cific Exposition will not commemorate any particular' event, it will not depend upon historical sentiment to arouse enthusiasm and induce participagtionl 'lt will be a great international industrial and' commercial affair to aid as far as possible in the development of the world. - ' ' , ' The primary object of the exposition is to exploit the resources and potentialities of Alaska and the Yukon and to make known and foster the vast importance of the trade of the Pacific Ocean and of the countries bordering upon it. ln addition it will demonstrate the marvelous progress of Western America. ' ' - ' The exposition site is the most beautiful ever used for such a purpose. It is 250 acres in extent and borders for more than a mile and a half on Lake Union and Lake Washington, the latter being the largest body of fresh water in the Pacific Northwest. Within the city limits, it is convenient to all parts of Seattle and is only twenty minutes' ride by electric car from the business center. The Olympic and Cascade mountains may be seen from the grounds and an unobstructed view may be obtained of the perpetual snow peaks of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker. Tall, stately giants of the forest form beautiful vistasg and gentle slopes, commanding terraces and unsurpassed stretches of water front add to the beauty of the exposition's setting. ln the erection of the buildings every precaution has been taken to preserve nature's own handiwork. Twelve large exhibit palaces will form the main part of the exposi- tion. Around these will cluster the state, foreign and concessions buildings, and smaller exhibit structuresg the main exhibit buildings will be: United States Government, Alaska, Yukon, Manufactures, Agriculture and Horti- culture, Machinery, Forestry, Fine Arts, Fisheries, Mines,'l-lawaii and Phil- ippines. It will be rernemberedthat to start the exposition off right, the people of Seattle got together, October 2, 1906, and raised fl5650,000 in one day by the purchase of stock in the exposition corporation, something that was never done before by any city at any time for any purpose. The capital stock was placed at S500,000, but when the business day was over it was discovered that the stock had been over-subscribed to the tune of SI50,000. The capital stock was -then increased to il5800,000, all of which will be sold in Seattle before the exposition opens. 10