Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-11
THE CAPITALS BID.
WaShingtOn'S Claims for the Worlds
Fair Set Forth at Length.
TIE PLACE FO2 A BIG SHOW.
Location Correct, HOtel Accommodations
Unsurpassed. and
IT SHOULD BE A NATIONAL AFFAIR

WASHINGTON, January 10.-The second
hearing on the selection OF the site for the
QuadrO-Centennial Exposition was held this
morning in the ladies' reception room in the
Senate wing of the Capitol, when the claims
of the city of Washington were presented.
There were present of the committee Sena-
tors HIscock (Chairman), Hawley, Farwell,
Wilson Got IOws). COlquitt, Ransom and
Vest.
Mr.. Douglass, one of the District Com
missioners, stated the order in which the
arguments would be presented, and closed
his remarks by saying that if it should be
concluded to bold the Exposition elsewhere
than in the national capital the citizens of
the District of Columbia would make every
exertion. by money or otherwise, to make it
q magnificent success.
A PERMANENT SHOW.
Mr.. Anderson, Secretary of the National
Board of Promotion of the Three Americas
Exposition, opened the arguments. He said
he represented \ committee of citizens from
all the States and Territories, who, under
the name OF Board OF Promotion, have
been acting in the matter for the last three
or four wears. He summarized the proVis-
ions OF the bills introduced by Senators
German and Faulkner, and argued that
the building to be erected for the fair should
be permanent, and should be under Govern
ment control. 1t should be in the nature of
a museum, free of charge, and not an ex-
hibit of perishable property. The two
leading features of the exposition were:
First, TO commemorate a great historical
event-the discovery Of America by Colum-
bus; and, second, the commercial idea which
might be called the three Americas trade
movement The details of the plan were to
be left to Government Commission. He
simply advocated the general proposition
and idea, which he thoug bit was entertained
by the people at large, that the expenses of
the exposition should be undertaken bv the
nation. 1t was evident that the whole peo-
pie were ready and anxious to celebrate the
great event. and thought that the national
capital was the only proper site.
NUMEROUS REASONS.
The reasons for selecting Washington
were numerous. Washington was the city
of the nation, and OF all the cities of the
country. 1t was the city of St. Louis, Chi
csgo and New York; by which ne meant
that the people of those cities had more con-
troll in regulating the affairs of the District
of Columbia than its own residents had. 1t
was truly representative American city; it
was composed of inhabitants of ali the
States ana Territories; it was governed by
the people OF the United States through
their representatives in Congress. There
would be no waste in having the exhibition
here, because whatever buildings would be
erected for it would be needed for
all time for governmental purposes.
II was evident that the Ex-
position would have to go to
the Government, or else the Government
would have to go to the exposition, and he |
thought it more dignlfed that the exposi- |
ton should come to the seat of government. |
There was in the heart of the city park |
more accessible than aby park ID any city |
IN tbe Notwithstanding from the Capitol to /
the Washington monument. This park in |
cluded 300 acres, and could be increased by |
200 acres more from the Potomac fats. |
Wharves could be established on the
Potomac river, where exhibits could be
landed from all parts Of the world.
A BIG BOARDING HOUSE.
As to the hotel accommodations, he said
that there was no city in the world so elias
tic in hotel facilities. The city of Wash
ington was practically a boarding house.
1t was accustomed to be transformed into a
boarding house on great occasions. There
never had been any difficulty in that respect
at inaugural ceremonies, or other great con-
ventions or gatherings. at the recent Tri-
ennial Conclave Of the knights Templar,
20, 900 strangers had been accommodated,
and there were from 800 to LOCO rooms left
uncalled for at the Bureau of Information.
Besides that there was the whole city of
Baltimore, within As minutes reach to draw
upou. Washington DossesSed the f,esf |
streets and avenues in the world, lined with
beautiful shade trees. 1t was the center of
historic points, which were of great interest
to the American people-the tomb of Wash
ington, the surrounding bsttlefelds and
otner places. Then there were the public
departments, the museum and the Smith
sonian Institution, where the people of Cen
.ral and South America could study the
orm of Government which all of them had
% greater or less extent copied.
THE ARGUMENTS CLOSED.
General Felix Agnus, of Baltimore. the
lext speaker, said he came as an envoy
rom the State OF Maryland to favor Wash
ngton as the place for holding the Exposi-
ion. He was. he said, a native of France.
'ut was baptized in blood in the United |
States. He had been 6 private soldier aad
'arried the flag and fought with the troops
# New York, and he felt that be was citi-
en OF that State; but in this matter he
bought that State claims should not be con-
ulted.
Myron NJ. Parker, President of the Wash
ngton Board Of Trade, and Major Powell,
4 the Geological Survey, followed.
The committee adjourned till 10 o'clock
o-morrow, when the claims Of New York
nd Chicago are to be presented.