The record-union., 1896-03-09
A CALIFORNIA SEMI-CENTENNIAL
EXPOSITION.

that it should be on such scale as to
take on an international character. The
idea was that it should be great semi
centennial jubilee, commemorating the
era that gave California to the Union.
The suggestion was generally APP
proved, but, as the Mail" puts 1t, 1T
was like discharging brilliant sky
rocket in a foggy atmospheric just
shot up and fiZzled." Texas, however,
has been more energetic. The Mails"
idea of a semi-centennial was some
thing that moved the Texans to ac-
ton at once. That State is so related
to the date involved that her interest in
it is common with that of California.
Accordingly Texas has done something
about it.
The city of Dallas has taken the ini-
tiative On the 25th Of February con-
vention of 600 delegates, representing
all parts of the State, was held. In the
evening the citizens gave the conven-
ton a banquet at which a thousand
guests were entertained, and the flood
of eloquence and tide of enthusiasm
was at the high stage.
The convention ordered corporation
to be formed, to be known as the Texas
Centennial Exposition Associa
ton, with a capital of $2,0O0,OO0 in $lOO
shares. Texas is to subscribe $1,000
600 of this stock, and the Federal Gov
ernment is to be asked to subscribe the
other million, or lend it. Texas now has
in Washington large committee pre-
senting the whole matter to the Gov
ernment.
AS an exchange puts it, ''the people
of Texas are now tumbling over each
other to make up their quota" The ba-
sis of asking the Government to sub
scribe rests on the action of Congress
in the matter of the Philadelphia Cen
tennial, and in the aid extended to the
Cotton States Exposition at Atlanta re-
Gently.
The acquisition of California, New
Mexico, Nevada, Utah and part of Col
orado hinged upon the convention of
the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and
the relation of this event to the annex
alton of Texas is a matter familiar to
United States and its war with Mex
ico Under that treaty the United
States acquired more territory than the
patriot fathers won from England by
49, ,.ox1ol,7+;o,orxr Tovac novv rr0-
poses to fittingly celebrate these two
great events, the annexation of Texas
and the ratification Of the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo.
The question is, what part should
California play in that affair? 1t would
not at all initiate against the Texas
enterprise if this State should take up
the scheme proposed by the Mali and
also hold a semi-centennial in COM
memoration of the discovery of gold, of
the acquisition of California and the
ratification of the treaty.
January, 1S4S, gold was discovered
at Coloma; February 2, 184S, the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo was dated at
that city; it was ratified at Washing
ton by the President March 16, 184S; it
was exchanged at Queretaro May 30,
184S; it was proclaimed by the Presi-
dent July 4. 184S. Gold was discov-
cred at Coloma, little over forty miles
from this city. The discoverer went out
from Suffers Fort in this city, under
employment of General Sutter, and to
this point Marshall brought his find to
ascertain its true character, and from
this point the news of the discovery
went out to all the world This city be-
came the focal point for all the incom-
ing immigration of the gold-hunters,
and was the entrepot for a quarter of a
century for the whole mining region, up
to the time that railroad construction
introduced us to new commercial and
transportation system.
If such a celebration is held, then this
city should be the heart of it all. Here,
| by historical fitness, the exposition
should have its chief interest, though
the celebration should be marked by
appropriate ceremonies in every city,
| town and hamlet in the State. Dallas
| is to be the center and heart of the
Texas exposition, but Dallas is only
slightly larger than Sacramento, and
has around it not nearly so large a
population, not nearly SO complete a
railway system, and is not near, as is
Sacramento, to a great commercial
metropolis. We are therefore better
| capacitated for the location of the ex-
position and for a great visitation than
is Dallas for that State.
| However, if there is to be a semi
centennial exposition or jubilee in CAL
| ifornia, it should not be limited to To-
cality, nor made merely the special
means of gain for any particular city.
While it should center at Suffers Fort.
the chief point of historic interest in
California, it should, with broad con-
servatism, engage the activity of every
community in the State.
But suppose the people of the State
remain Indifferent to the suggestion
and do nothing about It? Then Sacra-
mento. on its own behalf. as the capi-
tai city of California, as the location of
Suffers Fort, as the nearest large town