The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-01
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE
THE MIDWINTER FAIR A GREAT
ENTERPRISE.
Much Credit Due to the Proprietor OF
the Chronicle-An Exposition of
Varied Interest-The North
ern Citrus Belt.

presence in that city to take brief look
at the midwinter fair. 1t is OF course
etill in an incomplete state, but as it
stands it gives every evidence of being a
marvel OF beauty and various and unique
attractions. 1t is u wonder how much
has been accomplished in Golden Gate
park in such short time, and with the
limited pecuniary resources at the COM
mand Of its promoters. Chicago spent
twenty millions of dollars ON the Column
bian exposition. She was backed by
the nation and the state and every little
crossroads town in the great, populous
and opulent state of Illinois. No won
der that, under such circumstances, a
thing OF wondrous attractions grew up
on the shores of Lake Michigan. The
surprise would have been if anything
short of the miraculous had been
achieved. In the case of the midwinter
fair, however, not even an appropriation
could be obtained from the state, for
the Legislature was not in session. So
scant were the resources at the COM
mand of Director General de Young that
the ready sneer came to the faces of half
the people of San Francisco at the bare
idea that the fair could ba a success.
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR is DUE.
And yet. day by day, the work pro-
crossed. M. II. de Young knew no
such word as fail. He kept hsmm err
ing at his task with his own powerful
newspaper. and presently few of the
more sagacious citizens of San Fran
cisco began to see an advantage to their
city in showing to the world that the
spirit OF enterprise was not dead out
right in the Golden Gate, and cub
scriptions began to pour in. The news
papers which at the start had been
either hostile or lukewarm began to see
that great current had set in fsvors BILE
to the enterprise, and they changed
their tame to one of appreciation and
finally of cordial cooperation. The
work soon became a certainty, and its
principal promoter was at last able to
enter upon his more srduous labors.
The conception of the very idea of the
fair was, in the first place, positive in
SEPARATION OF genius. The carrying out of
the plans which would provide noble
buildings and adequate drawing mater
isls required trsnscendant executive
ability. All these qualifications De
Young proved himself to possess. He
was back and forth between San Fran
cisco and Chicago like bird OF passage.
Considering the amount of labor he per.
formed he could have given himself but
little rest, day or night. Finally the
midwinter fair stands dazzling success
from an artistic, scenic, architectural
and representative point of view. The
Sunset City, exquisite and Astounding in
genuine and sterling features, ia spark
ling ornament to the lovely Golden Gate
park. 1t is not strsining the truth a
whit too much to say that but for the
indomitable courage and the fortunate
inspiration of this editor of the San
Francisco Chronicle it would never have
come into being at all.
The buildings, though not so massive
or so numerous, compare very favorably
with those of the Columbian fair. They
are succeed with staff, which gives
them the appearance of being built OF
stone or marble. Their ornamentation
is of gsrsh order, the Moresque and
oriental styles largely predominating.
They cover large extent OF ground
nearly two hundred acres-snd comprise
in their interior already wealth Of the
products of all zones OF the earth.
THE NORTHERN CITRUS EXHIBIT.
Fair play calls upon me to Say that the
northern and central countiee-what has
been fscetiously called the northern cit
rus belt-have made a superb display in
all lines. They have oranges galore, ard
Judging by their appearance they are OF
very superior quality. 1t has long
been known that there are few spots in
Northern and Central California where
oranges of good quality and high color
can be grown. Any one who has doubted
this fact will doubt it no longer after
seeing this superb display. Southern
California would have made fatal mis-
take if she had not made arrangements
to make her own exhibit thorough and
representative.
THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES AND THEIR
BUILDING.
Those who represented this section
showed admirable Judgment in the
selection OF the site OF their building.
1t is one of the most commanding on
the grounds, and is one OF the nearest
to that side of the park reached by the
McAllister line of street cars. 1t ad-
joins the building devoted to the Decor
alive and Fine Arts. Its design is
familiar to our readers, but they cannot
realize it's pleasing effects without see
ng it. The entrance is chef d'euvre
of chaste and appropriate Ornamental
ton in orange color. 1t must be borne
in mind that the arrangement of our
southern exhibit is by no means in such
a state of forwardness as that which
characterizes the northern and central
counties, which began their building
and the grouping OF their display
weeks ahead of their southern
competitors. But time will cure
that. Under the mastery supervision
of Mr.. Virgins and his assistants the
work is going ahead quite rapidly, and
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