The St. Louis Republic., 1901-05-11

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Buffalo. n. Y, May 9.-Whnt are the re-
quisites for an IDEAL exposition site?
The three very expert exposition experts
who passed upon the question In prepara-
tion for the Pan-American Exposition here
agreed that they were
(A): Ample area.
B): Accessibility.
tC): Satisfactory approach.
Director General buchanan. answering
off-hand question. gave them as:
(A): Accessibility.
OBJ: Adaptibility, 1. e., possibility Of
utilization with least possible expense to
produce best possible effect.
(C): Area.
The three experts who passed on the ques-
ton here were Daniel II. Burnham Of
Chicago, director of works of the Column
bian Exposition; John C. Olmsted Of Bos-
ton. landscape architect at the Columbian
Exposition. and Warren H. Manning OF
Boston. landscape architect They spent
week looking over all the offered sites in
Buffalo, and then,Teported as follows to
the Executive Committee of the Pan-Ameri-
can Exposition Company.
Time Wasted in Choosing Site.
Everybody in Buffalo agrees that the ex-
position company chose the best possible
site, and that it wasted a great amount
of valuable time In doing So
''They seemed to be afraid to select the
site" Is the sentiment.
The trouble appears to have been that
persons who had made no estimate on the
amount of money available to the EXPOSE
ton had decided that n site on Lake Erie
was the best, as showing Off the leading
natural attraction of Buffalo. They in-
sisted that the exposition should be held
there, despite the fact that the site was
cut ND by an unsavory canal, into which
sewers drained, that the New York Central
right-of-way ran directly through 1t, and
that the approach TO 1t was through ship
yards manufacturing plants. etc.
IAN these undesirabilities can be
changed" they reiterated.
The men who contended to this effect
were influential and the Board of Directors
was chary of flying in the face of their
wishes despite the fact that they saw the
imposslbility of making the site available
without eating into the funds to the extent
of over 81 100000 or more than one-fifth of
the total sum available. The directors.
however. finally took the bit In their teeth
and selected the Rumsey site, inland from
the lake and reached over magnificent
asphalt boulevards.
.'The Exposition company reversed the
desirable order in selecting the site before
1t selected the Director General. says
President Milburn. THE question of site
occupied too much of the time of the Board
of Directors and of the Executive Commit
tee in the early stages of preparation. The
question of site Is undoubtedly important
1t Is, however, so entirely governed by To-
cal conditions that its selection should not
be difficult The Director General. not be-
ing familiar with local conditions. would
have been able to give only help of gen.
eral nature In this work. Local conditions.
such as approach and accessibility, are the
important conditions in the selection of a
site"
The experts who aided in the choice Of a
site in Buffalo acted without compensation.
Mr. Buchanan's Views.
Director General Buchanan has pro-
nounced ideas on the question Of site.
"rhe requisites for proper site. In the
order of their Importance. are: Accessible
ity. adaptability and area" he says. BY
| area l mean not only the ground within
the Exposition Enclosures, but the adjacent
territory as well. The company should con-
troll not only the area within the inclosure,
but the area Immediately surrounding It. so
| as to be able to regulate traffic to the Expo
sition and to prevent interference with It's
| business.
"a visitor to an Exposition should not be
| obliged to pass between long lines of peanut
stands and sandwich booths to get Into the
| Enclosure. 1t puts him into the wrong
| frame of mind to get the first impression
| of the Exposition. There Is much in the
| first impression, and environment and
| frame of mind are leading factors In first
impressions. The visitor should be brought
to the grounds through the city's best
| streets.
",The men who make the Exposition
should have a voice In the selection OF the
site. 1t is not productive Of the best re-
| suits that a man who has no subsequent
connection with the Exposition should Sc
| lect the site for it. The usual plan in Ex-
positions is the wrong one. The usual or
| der of procedure Isl:
Il. The selection of the site.
"2. The planning of the Exposition.
"3. The selection Of the men who make
| the Exposition.
1.-The proper plan is precisely the reverse.
| 1t should be:
| 81. Organization; 1. e., the selection Of the
| workers.
"2. The selection of the site.
"3. The planning of the Exposition
Organization the First Step.
| Organization should be the first step In
| an Exposition. The more complete and
efficient the organization is before the act
ual work of the Exposition is begun. the
better the results. The head workers
should be brought. upon the scene as soon
as possible.
"a further word as to accessibility in ex-