The Portland daily press., 1893-12-25
THE CALIFORNIA FAIR.
Some Interesting Facts in Regard to the
Midwinter Exposition.

California's Midwinter Exposition, of
which much has been heard in the East
OF late, has assumed proportions far in
excess of the original plans. 1t has
grown from mere local bijou to an in
ternational exhibit of magnifience and
Importance. When the idea of holding
a fair on the Pacific coast fir t took root
IN the mind of M. H de Young, who was
made director general, it was thought
that thirty buildings would suffice but
as work progressed the plans expanded,
until now it is seen that at least seventy
five buildings will be necessary for the
exhibits offered. The idea of holding
this Fair, coming so late and leaving SO
little time for the construction of build
lngs and installation of exhibits, was
daring to the degree of impudence but
subsequent events proved that all the
energy in the world is not confined to
Chicago; that beyond the Rockies that
same characteristics were possessed in
astonishing abundance. Indeed, when
the gates are thrown open on January
l, 1894, the record for quick work will
have been once again demolished.
People living in the East and unac-
quainted with the climate of California
should not be misled by the term "mid-
winter" as used in name of the proposed
show. There will be no ice palaces nor
toboggan slides; but, surrounded by
the semi-tropical vegetation of one of
the most beautiful parks in the world,
it will give the inha bitants of our tenn
perate zone an opportunity to escape the
rigors of an Eastern and Northern in
ter to enjoy the balm exhaled by the
Pacific's warm Japnese current and at
the same time feast their eyes on the
earth's choicest productions tastefully
arranged. The word "midwinter,n
therefore, is a contradistinctive term in
tended to show that such great enter
prise, much of it to be appreciated in the
open air, can be carried on com fortably
while the rest of the North American
continent shivers with cold.
The success OF this audacious enter
prise is. assured, for it will not only re-
ceive the support of the entire popula-
tlon of the LIBERAL and patriotic Pacific
slope but beyond this there will be the
assistance of thousands of visitors from
the East. The reuglar influx of Eastern
tourists during the winter season num-
D>Ao
added attration of an international ex-
position, these figures should be doubled.
When the turnsitles revolve for the first
time on New Years day just 81, 900, 600
will have been spent. 1t would be
strange, indeed, if, at the expiration of
six months, during which time the Fair
will be open every day, that 81, 900, 600
had not been taken in and enough more
to pay the running expenses and have
cash surplus besides. Ii the books
show an even balance on the last day
the managers will be perfectly satisfied,
as they will deem themselves amply re-
paid with the advertising their section
will receive
Californians are particularly fortunate
in this latest enterprise of theirs. In
the first place nature is kind to them
1t is in the winter that their roses bloom
IN greatest profusion, that their palms
take on their brightest hue and their
golden fruit ripens. The advantages of
such a climate cannot be enumerated in
one brief article. They offer induce
ments from any standpoint that may be
considered, whether for health, rest,
pleasure e, education or work, and, taken
in connection with the proposed exhibit
tlon, cannot be over estimaGed.
Another big factor in favor of this
scheme was the fact that the Worlds
Columbian Exposition in Chicago would
C,ooc Iuso az d oiinesW Gney coula get
the choicest exhibits for their own show,
They found the best display, both
foreign and domestic, ready made, and
the managers thereof anxious to CO.
operate: This insures prettysand COM
pact exhibition. more so, perhaps, than
ever held. Another thing in favor of
the Fair is that there will be no dual
government. All the powers, executive
and administrative, are centralized in
few men who act in harmony and work
cheerfully under one chief. Chicago
taught valuable lesson in that respect
One of the features of the Fair that
will largely tend to make it success is
its location. In a beautiful basin in the
middle of the renowned Golden Gate
Park, at the foot Of, an eminence known
as Strawberry Hill, surrounded by trees
and gentle slopes that securely protect it
from high winds, one hundred and
sixty acres have been set aside for the
site, and there the buildings are now
being finished with amazing rapidity.
Historic Golden Gate is in sight from
the towers Of the buildings, and the
panorama OF San Francisco Bays wide.
spreading shores unrolls itself on two
sides, while the Pacific surges to the
west. 1t is an ideal spot and cannot be
duplicated on the globe. San Franclsco's
street car system is justly noted AS the
best in existence, and when it is said
InaG all rOauS lead TO the park, and
there are ten of them, it can be seen that
there need be no fears of Inadequate
transportation facilities
Not SO grand as the Columbian aggre-
CATION of buildings, it presents arc6itec-
tural beauties that appeal strongly to
those who love the beautiful, the com
bination of Moorishsand Spanish styles
of architecture being peculiarly happy
one. The ,seventy-fve structures men
toned do not include fifty or more
kiosks, nor the huts and tents to be
found inssome of the villages, but COM
prise only what may be called main
buildings. Some of them are practically
complete.
The Manufacturers and Liberal Arts
Building is the largest on the grounds,
462 feet long and 257 wide, with a dome
100 feet high and an inside arch from
side wall to side wall 1853 feet wide In
it will be a thorough exposition of the
liberal arts and applied sciences. Not
much smaller are Mechanic Arts. Horti-
cultural and Fine Arts Buildings. The
most elaborate structure on the grounds
will be the Administration Building.
which, though only 70 feet square.
will possess 100 feet in the air. There
will be many novelties among the con-
cessions granted, the daintiest of all
perhaps, being hunting hall, which will