Page:The Pacific Monthly vol. 14.djvu/55

Rh mounted by two tall towers, each two hundred and sixty feet high. Flanking this structure are two minor buildings, each eighty feet by one hundred and sixty feet, devoted to Exhibits of Fisheries, and of the Philippines and Alaska. Connecting the various structures are two grand Ionic peristyles forming passageways for the public. Behind the main group is placed the Forestry and Irrigation Building. All of these are designed in the Spanish renaissance style, and undoubtedly excel in beauty and impressiveness any government buildings at previous expositions, not excepting St. Louis.

The various State buildings on the grounds were not considered in the original scheme, as it was not then known how many would participate. The first to arrive was Massachusetts. This good old commonwealth has erected a most attractive colonial building directly back of the classic Ionic of Oregon. Next came New York with a beautiful Italian villa, surrounded with flowered terraces overlooking the entrancing panorama of the lake and Government buildings.

California comes with a representative of its most interesting missions. This building is distinctively Spanish, of a cruciform plan, each of its four fronts presenting a reproduction of one of the four principal Spanish missions of the state.

Washington, Oregon's nearest neighbor, occupies the choicest site on the grounds, and well is it occupied. The grand Ionic facades of the Erectheum dominate the landscapes.

Idaho, with the exception of the Forestry Building, presents the only purely timber construction on the grounds, and while its roof sends a dominant note of color, the architectural relief is felt.

Utah comes with a distinctive Southern Colonial type, reminding one of Mount Vernon.

Colorado, Missouri and Illinois are attractively classic, and maintain the classical character of the State buildings.

It is to be regretted that the full scope of the Exposition was not known in the beginning so that a better and more intelligent grouping might have been maintained, but this was impossible, many of the states being very late in participating, while the increase of exhibit space required demanded additional buildings and numerous annexes.