The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-13
THE WORLDS FAIR SITE.

The California Worlds Fair Convention
has adopted resolutions protesting against
the acceptance by the National Committee of
the site that the Chicago Board of Directors
has selected. The objection to the Chicago
selection is that it is not solid tract, but
kind OF double-ender, Of which the more
substantial part is seven miles from the Part
devoted to the display Of works of art, in
GLIDING fabrics and choice specimens OF
manufactures, both from the Old World and
the New 1t is contended that the produc-
tons of California, being mostly agricultural
and horticultural, will be exhibited at Jack
son Park, while the display the bulk of
visitors care most TO see will be al Lake
Front. There is space about as long as
the distance from the Oakland Ferries to the
Cliff House between these two parts OF the
slow. This is certainly Objectionable.
From the ferries to the Cliff House is quite
a ride. People Of leisure may not mind it.
but the bulk of visitors to the fair Will not
probably be people Of leisure. Most of them
will find enough in the town part OF the
show without going into the suburbs for
display of agricultural productions. A care
full observer of visitors at our Mechanics
Fair must have perceived that the various
forms of art attract more attention than the
most bountiful display of the product OF
field and orchard. In fact, apples, oranges,
grapes, squashes, peaches, pears and minor
vegetables and fruits are too much alike 10
hold the attention of the ordinary sght-Seer.
The display Of fruit is tempting, but as
sampling OF it is not permitted, people give
an ordinary glance at il and pass on, TO
stand for hours before a wall hung with in
different works of the painters brush. 1t is
| desirable. therefore that the California eX-
hihit be placed where visitors may find 1t
without undertaking a seven miles ride in
crowded street-cars. The difficulty OF trans
porting people from one part OF the show TO
the OTHER will serve to keep people from the
more distant one who would like TO see
both. The average visitors especially
ladies, go where the crowds go. Ii there Is
the finest human display at the art depart
ment humanity will fleck there. Why do
people go to our local fair on SATURDAY
nights? Certainly not to see the things on
exhibition, but as certainly to see each
other. There seems question, however,
whether Jackson Park is large enough for
the entire display. If it is, the proposition
to set off the art department by itself and
close to the business center of the city, as
sumes the appearance of local sharp practice.
There is some ground for the apprehen-
sion that the Worlds Fair is founded on
narrow basis. 1t ought not to depend upon
contributions from any State or city. 1t
should not be in the hands of men who are
planning to make it pay. 1t would be better
if Chicago had not contributed dollar
which local committee feels under an OBJ
ligaticn to get back. 1t should have been
designed with a view to make it an exam
pie OF what the nation can do without re-
gard TO financial results. As a national
undertaking it would make little difference
whether it was financial success or not
The advantage to the whole country of a col
lective display of our productions in COM
pariS0n with those of the Old World would
be beyond computation in dollars and cents.
In the same way, display dwarfed by lack
of funds or by forced necessity to make
receipts equal to expenditures would be
rather an injury than a benefit.