The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-16
THE STATE AND THE EXPOSITION

IN UBLIC opinion throughout the otate 10
~ strongly in favor of the proposed racine INpo-
sition That much is made certain oy INC III
tervews with officials and leading people in various
cities published in The Cali OF yesterday and to-day
and the natural inference is that when the movement
has become better understood the sentiment III 10
favor will be almost universal
Our reports came from Woodland, Oakland, Sac
ran1ento Stockton, San Rafael, HealdsDurg' oanta
Rosa Bakersfield San Jose, Suisun, Salinas, Napa'
Hanford Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernard1no
and other important points, and from all theSe
places with but few exceptions the prevailing
opinion of the people shown to be one OF strong
approval of the enterprise Indeed IN most places the
sentiment in favor of the project might be ta1ry de-
scrbed as enthusiastic, cordially did the progress
sive citizens indorse the undertaking.
That there would be some opposition to the expo
stion was OF course foreseen. No matter what move
r1ent OF public nature is projected there are al
WAYS persons who think some other movement would
be better or that the particular project would be
good enough provided it were postponed for year
or two Such opposition. has to be met and over
come in every enterprise and it is gratifying that
in this instance has been found to be of compare
lively small proportions
There are many reasons why the State at large
should be eager to provide for the proposed expo
sition. California has reached the point in her de-
her industries and a new market for the products of
existing industries We need an infusion of capital
into manufacturing plants and large expansion of
commerce and the attainment of both will be aided
by the proposed exposition, which will attract the at
tention OF the world to the advantages of San Fran
cisco as commercial metropolis and to the thousand
opportunities offered in all parts of California for
industrial investments.
The strange objection has been made in some
quarters that the exposition would not be profitable
1t is difficult to understand from what source such
an idea has been derived. There have been many
positions in the United States and the results have
invariably been of nature to encourage others.
Thus within the last few years the exposition in At
lanta was so successful that Nashville was induced
to undertake one and that in yielded such good
results that Omaha followed the example, and now,
stimulated by the accomplishments OF that city, no
less than five other American communities, not
counting San Francisco, are engaged IN making
preparations for expositions in the future.
Experience is the best teacher, and the practical
common sense of the American people knows how to
profit by its lessons To that expositions
not profitable to the cities where they held and
to wide districts OF country round about is equivalent
tc asserting that the business OF the East are
fools They have tried expositions, and it is in the
light of an ample experience they preparing
more of them.
The Atlanta Exposition benefited not only that
city, but the entire South, and it was the conscious
ness of the fact that led the Tennesseeans to follow it
with another at Nashville The results of the two
were that Northern capital has been turned in a
steady to the South and manufacturing plants
OF all kinds being put up throughout the Southern
States with extraordinary rapidity.
California needs the exposition, and the she
can open it the better The tide of commercial &c
tivity is now flowing strongly toward the Pacific
Ocean, and if we are wise will hasten to profit by
the stream.