The record-union., 1897-03-16
The Fair Grounds Located on the Out
skirts Of Guatemala City,
The Buildings Covering a Surface Of
Over Twenty Acres.
Special Buildings Are Occupied by
Exhibitors From Germany, France,
the United States, Italy, Belgium
and Engiand-The Fair to Continue
Open for Four rIonthS.

anu Engidno-lne Fair TO Continue
Open for Four nonths.
GUATEMALA CITY (Guatemalal
March 1o.-(Copyright 1897, by the AS
ISOLATED Press.)-The Central American
Exposition, formally opened to-day, will
| remain open for the next four months.
The first idea was to have an exhibit
OF nothing but Central American pro-
ducts. 1t was soon seen that, though
/ these five republics are extremely rich
in raw material of every kind, they
could not expect to attract the world by
that alone, the original plan was
modified so as to include a general ex-
position of foreign goods as Well. This
| measure encountered opposition from
many OF the native artisans and manu-
facturers, who feared foreign competi-
ton in their respective lines, but as it
was soon pointed out, native industries
are on very rudimentary state, and
much is to be learned from foreign lands,
the hackers of the broader principle pre-
vailed
The Asamblea voted over million of
dollars for the buildings, and contracts
were signed with a French firm for the
main edifice, which arrived several
months ago from Bordeaux, and which
is now in 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 surface of some twen-
ty odd acres. The grounds, including
the Reforms Park, cover an area of over
800 acres.
The Guatemala exhibit contains most
of the native products, but the same
building contains sections for Salvador,
Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Special buildings are occupied by eXhi-
bitors 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 super
fluous, but after considerable discussion
the Government decided to have them.
This was greatly due to the enlightened
first President and Senior Don Juan F.
Ponciaho whose knowledge of foreign
languages, extensive reading and Sterl-
ing reputation in the commercial world
made him a valuable acquisition in the
provinces. 1t was Senior Ponciaho who
did the principle work of organization,
and who also wrote the bylaws, and no
doubt had he remained to the end a
greater scope would have been given to
the fair and large sums would have been
saved.
The location of the fair, on the out
skirts of Guatemala City, is not only
n I,,t no nj
drives and gardens of La Reforma being
close by The level here is fully ten
miles square. To the north lies the
Capital and as sublimely beautiful
background on the south, the majestic
volcanoes of Aqua, Fuego and AGATE
mango, complete the picture.
The climate of Guatemala during
these months is pleasant and equable.
The heat is never intolerable as it is
on the coast regions, the principal rea-
son for this being the elevation, which
is close to 5000 feet.
AS well as every department of Guat-
emala, Salvador. Costa Rica, Hondu-
ras and Nicaragua will have we'll Sc
lected exhibits. Their hundreds of pre-
vious woods, including ebony, lignum
vitae, mahogany and logwood from the
the minerals, specially gold and silver
from the districts of San Miguel and
San Ysidro, Salvador, Santa Rosa.
Chianatta and Motagua in Guatemala:
san Juancito, Yuscaran and Patuca,
Honduras; Segovia and Pama, Nicara-
qua and Los Andes districts of Costa
Eica.
1t is very probable that the exhibit
,Io
ish most of the visitors to the fair.
There are sections which will in time
rival California and South Africa.
The scientific and literary sections are
well represented. New works were
sent by such literary lights as Falla,
Ratres, Pujol, Mencos and Facio The
scientific works of Dolfus, Monserrat.
Maudsley and the interesting articles
and researches of Professor Chandler,
who has for years held high scientific
and Government posts, are all repre-
scented.
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
American citizens here tried to create
an interest in it and California and
Washington will be represented.
For the accommodation of tourists
there are over twenty-five hotels, large
and small, to say nothing of innumer-
able boarding houses of all nationali-
ties Let alone the Exposition proper,
the two opera companies, one Italian
and the other Spanish, electric display
and usual public amusements will at
tract many people, and the capital it
self with the nearby views of Antigum,
is we'll worthy of a visit from foreign
ers. Built in the old Spanish style,
from a distance it looks like an en-
chanted garden with red-tiled kiosks,
nesting at the base of the mighty vol
canoes.
A Grocery Company Assigns.
SPRINGFIELD (Mo), March 15.-The
Headley Grocery Company, wholesalers,