Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-12
SITE FOR THE wORLD's FAIR.
A Subject of Discussion by the East
Washington Taxpayers Association.

THEY THINK THE GREAT EXPOSITION SHOULD BE
HELD IN THAT SECTION OF THE CITY AND THAI
THE BUILDINGS SHOULD BE PERMANENT, AMI
STATE THEIR REASONS FOR THE OPINION
Washington hall, on Capitol Hill, was the
scene Of mass meeting of citizens last night
called by the East Washington taxpayers asso-
citation for the purpose of awakening public
interest In the exposition of 1872 and of dis
cussing the matter of the selection of site.
There was but one opinion in the minds OF
those present, after the primary idea that
the exposition should be held in Washington,
and that was that Capitol Hill was the very
best location. Mr.. George F. Dawson presided.
Secretary Stocking first read the report on the
exposition. which was adopted at the last meet
Ing Of the Representative Committee OF One
Hundred. Then the chairman called for
REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE
OF the East Washington association appointed
to consider the desirability of that section Of
the city as the site of the fair.
Mr. j. ". Babson, as chairman, said that the
committee had not had time to formulate a
final report, but he read preliminary treatise
on the subject. which showed that the formal
influence of the committees opinion will be
thrown in favor of a site located east of Lincoln
park. He described at length the various ad-
Santages claimed for East Washington as the
site for the exposition.
On motion of DIR. Adams the preliminary re-
port was adopted with the thanks of the meet
ing. Chairman Dawson called upon the gen.
tlemen present for their views.
FAyORISG THE LINCOLN PARK SITE.
Mr.. Josiah Willard, the president of the
Northeast Washington association, took the
floor and said he could find no place that would
be equal to the Lin In park site, and urged
that the permanent" :. the exposition should
be secured. He tho tgh; the United States
should erect the permanent structures out of
government funds. for, he was told, the
Treasury Is running over"
Mr.. Stocking made a few remarks in support
OF the general proposition that the Lincoln
park site should be selected. This he thought.
was
EAST wAsHISGTOS's OPPORTUNITY,
for there is now a chance to secure the removal
of the Jail, aims house, &c. from their present
location to the insane asylum point.
Mr.. Sperry added the weight of a number of
reasons to the argume mt III favor OF the Lin
coin park site. He said that there is no such
place In the District where a tract of land suf-
hclent for the purposes of the exposition could
be fenced in for SIX months without interfering
with the current private or government BUSH
ness and traffic. He proposed
SITE THAT DIFFERED SOMEWHAT
from that which was suggested by Mr.. Babson
Mr.. Sperry favored a site extending from 18th
street to 18th street east and from ID north to
ID south. giving fully $50 acres, on which there
is not single building of a value greater
than 5000. This land. he urged, is the
cheapest III the city. and could undoubtedly be
purchased by the government for % cents a
foot An additional argument is that this
plateau is drained on all sides.
MIR. Dawson also gave the meeting the bene-
Ut OF few favor o this site among
which were the excellence of the water facilI-
ties, the cheapness OF condemnation processes,
the good health of the locality and the adap-
liability of the site for the erection of a
memorial arch to the great discoverer. Other
gentlemen took part i'll the discussion.