Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-27
THE EXPOSITION OF 1892.

Although nearly three years intervene
between this and the time of opening OF
the Three Americas exposition comment
orative of the discovery of the Ameri-
can continent by Columbus, interest in
the question of where it slfell be held is
already pretty thoroughly aroused, IN
view of the immense amount OF labor
and the length of time that will be nee
essary to perfect the necessary arrange
ments to make it a success. The Three
Americas commercial congress, to be
composed of delegates from the nineteen
American sister nations, already ar
ranged for, will meet in Washington
City, October %, and meeting of the
board of promotion for the exposition,
composed of the governors, mayors of
cities and officers and committees of
boards of trade of the states, terri
tories and cities of this country,
will meet there at the same time to
decide at what point the exposition
shall be held. The principal cCmpeti-
tors for the location are New York,
Washington, Chicago and st. Louis,
each of which is making organized eff
fort to secure the prize.
1t is generally conceded that in order
to make the exposition-as far as the ar
rangements and management Oh the
part of this country can do so-a sue
cess, an undertaking that will do credit
to US as people and nation, it will be
necessary for it TO be largely under the
control of the government, as liberal ap-
preparations by congress will be re-
quired for the enterprise. This has
been done in the case of previous in
ternational expositions and events and
the coming event will be more complete
1y international in its character than
any previous one of similar character
that has occurred in this country. This
feature is made use of by Washington
as its strongest argument why that city
should be selected as the place for hold
ing the exposition. It is a plausible one;
in fact, each of che cities named present
strong arguments IN its own favor.
After carefully considering all of them
the EAGLE is impelled to the conclusion
that the weight of argument is with St.
Louis.
In the first place the geographical sit
uation of st. Louis, being approximately
at the center OF the United States and
being provided with the amplest trans
portation facilities, is readily accessible
from every quarter and locality of this
country, makes it preferable to either
of the other points with a large
majority of the people of the
country as n whole. If
St. Louis shall be selected the people Of
the great west, extending to the Pacific
slope, will be able TO attend the eXposi-
ton with equal facility as the people of
the eaBt likewise the people Of the north
and Of the south. Should one of the
cities of the east or Chicago be chosen,
while the number Of persons attending
the exposition would probably be as
great, they would not represent the
country at large as would the attend
ants at st. Louis, and it is desirable that
the affair shall be as thoroughly national
in its characteristics as possible, as far as
the interests of this country are con-
cerned. II the immediate material in
terests Of the locality We're to be consid-
cred, the argument would still be largely
in favor of St. Louis, for that city has
never, we believe, received any recog-
milton from the government as has the
cities mentioned, and still others of the
east.
Another reason why st. Louis should
be chosen, and to our mind one of the
strongest, is that while it would give
visitors from abroad an opportunity to
see a considerable portion of tire country
more of it than but comparatively few
would see if the great show were held at
any other point, ats the same time it
would afford a convenient opportunity
for thousands of our own people to see
something of the great west. Hundreds
from the east and north and south
would avail themselves of the oppor-
tunity, while at the threshold of the
west, to crafty a natural desire to visit
and see this wondrous country Of which
they have heard and read so much.
And besides these and many other
reasons that might be mentioned why
ST. Louis should be chosen, that city has
taken hold of the matter in more
practical and business-like way than any
other, and it has the prestige OF success
in whatever enterprise it las ever
essayed to undertake. As for the city S
capacity to accommodate and ability to
handle the local features of the under
taking, and in manner satisfactory to
all, there is no question. As before re-.
marked there are some strong arguments
in favor of holding the exposition at
each of the places mentioned, but the
foregoing reasons, and others that could
be given indicate st. Louis to be pre-
eminently the place.
PUBLIC BENEFACTORS.