The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-16
T1ON AT GUATEMALA CITY
FORMALLY OPENED,
SHOW ON FOR FOUR MONTHS.
MUCH OFFERED OF INTEREST TO
TOURISTS FROM THE UNITED
STATES.
OUR NATION SLOW TO PARTICIPATE
California and Washington About
the Only States Which VIII Be
Represented by Exhibits.

GUATEMALA CITY Guatemala.
March 15.-The Central American expo
sition was formally opened today, and
will remain open for the next four
months. The first idea was to have an
exhibit Of nothing but Central Ameri-
can products. 1t was soon seen that,
though these five republics are extreme
ly rich in raw material of every kind
they could not expect to attract the
world by that alone, so the original
plan was modified to include a general
exposition Of foreign goods as we'll.
This measure encountered opposition
from many of the native artisans and
manufacturers, who feared foreign
competition in their respective lines.
but, as it was soon pointed out, native
industries are in a very rudimentary
state and much is to be learned from
foreign lands. so the hackers of the
broader principle prevailed.
The asamblea voted over a. million
dollars for the buildings, and contracts
were signed with French firm for the
main edifice, which arrived several
months ago from Bordeaux, and which
is now in in a fair way to be finished
by the end Of the week. The frames
of most of the buildings are of iron
and they are distributed over a surface
of twenty odd acres. The grounds, in
Guiding the Reforms park, cover an
area of over eight hundred acres.
The Guatemala exhibit contains most
OF the native products, but the same
building contains sections for Salvador.
Costa Rfca, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Special buildings are occupied by ex-
hibitors from Germany, France, the
United States, Italy, Belgium and Eng
land Numerous kiosks have been
erected for refreshments, music stands
and for the service of the police. Many
thought that a machinery hall and
electrical exhibit would be superfuous
but after considerable discussion the
government decided to have them.
The location of the fair on the out
skirts of Guatemala City, is not only
ample but picturesque, the beautiful
drives and gardens of La Reforma be-
ing close by. The lIano here is fully
ten miles square. To the north lies the
capital, and as a sublimely beautiful
background on the south, the majestic
volcanoes of Aqua, Fuego and Acaten-
ango, complete the picture The eli
mate during these months is pleasant
and equable. The heat is never intol-
cradle, as it Is on the coast regions.
the principal reason for this being the
elevation, which IS close to 5000 feet.
Principal among foreign nations
which will take part are Germany.
France and Italy, the United States
Great Britain and several other first
class nations have only taken inciden-
tai interest in the exposition, and that
only In the last few months. Several
American citizens here tried to create
an interest in it, and California and
Washington will be represented.
number of reasons have been given for
this want Of activity First, that the
time was too short to prepare large
exhibits; then, that the regulations as
f1rst printed had been modified by extra
oecrees, making them confusing to for
elgners, and, finally, that the rumors of
revolutions and election riots would
make Would-be visitors timid, thus re-
ouclng the number of tourists.
1t was at first thought that a mil
hon and half dollars would cover tha
expenses of the fair, but 1t was soon
evident that double that sum womb he
required, and loan was called for
0S@OAS CSluSIiI Heyna asked for AM
other loan of 100000 to complete fhe
buildings, etc. 1t is expected that the
last named amount will be sufficient
70 cover all outstanding debts cor
tracts, as Well as running expenses IN
10 closing day, the 30th of June. next
IL would not be supposed that a small
amount like this would be hard to p-et
IN a rich country like Guatemala. win
ltS SIX banks having a combined can't
tai OF about twenty millions, and nav
ing from 10 to 43 per cent per annun IN
dividends; nevertheless, there have
peen times during the last connie n
years when business men as we'll as
part Of the press thought that the
exposition would either not take nlace
at all, or if 1t did, would be a failure
Ihen the uprising in ChiquimuIa and
the subsequent mobilization of troons
and the trials of some two hundred
prisoners all caused expense to the gov
eminent and stringency in the money
market. The attack ON Concepcion and
Esqu1pulos by a small band of in
surgents last January, although
promptly put down and the princinai
rlngleaders dealt with severely. has
again helped the dissatisfied in IRE
dieting that few foreigners would visit
the fair. 'ioi'
Most visitors to the exposition will