The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-10-25
THE CHARLESTON FAIR.
E. Warren Clark Writes Interestingly
of It.

OF IG.
''The success Of the community, as
well as The individual, depends on per-
sistent advertising" This is the text
of an editorial in the TallahaSSeean
last week. Now, advertising is only let
ting other people know what you have.
In point of pluck and public spirit to-
day / do not know of any c.Ly in the
South that is carrying out this text
more energetically than Charleston,
S. C.
Yet, previous to the present supreme
effort, Charleston was one Of the sleep
lest towns south of the Mason and Dix
on's line. Almost as sleepy and as
much of back number as most of the
gentlemen from South Florida, at the
Duffalo Exposition, continually de-
clared Tallahassee to be (fOr the cap
ital of Florida certainly advertised it
self at the Pan-American as being con-
spicuous by its absence). Coming from
Buffalo direct to the expos. Ion
grounds OF South Carolina, it would
hardly be fair to compare the two, eX-
ceut to say that the latter effort, un-
aided as it is by government subsidy,
is as creditable 20 little South Caro-
lima as the former is to wealthy New
York State.
Passing by the sOmbre islet Of Fort
Sumpter and the cotton-lined wharves
of dilapidated old Charleston, we were
rapidly switched off on an electric troll
ley line mile or more out of the city,
where we found spacious grounds and
handsome buildings in course Of con-
struction. The administration build
ing was complete, the huge cotton pal
ace was under roof and dome, While
flannlng 1t were the great buildings Of
commerce and agriculture three
last forming a semi-Circle connected
by covered colonnades.
Beautiful garden plats, flower beds,
shrubbery, palms and fountains are to
fill the entire area within this semi
circle. Ornamental drive-ways also eX-
tend through other parts of the
grounds.
There is a stadium or race course,
stock yards, music stands, a midway,
while near the entrance, Maryland,
Georgia, etc, are putting up State
buildings. There is abundant water
frontage on both sides and the grounds
will have lakelets, paVilions, bridges,
and parks.
In fact, one of the maps of Charles
ton looks like Manhattan island in
miniature. A river being on the left,
like the Hudson, an anchorage on the
right, like East River, an open bay and
naTrOWs, while the exposition grounds
are located at the neck of the penin-
sular, about where Harlem would be,
with water on both sides.
The initial idea of the exposition is
not historical but commercial. The
chief purpose of the exposition is the
promotion of more intimate CONNER
cial relations with the seventy princi-
pal West Indian islands. 1t is claimed
in the prospectus that our exports of
merchandise to the West Indies is
greater than to the fifteen republics of
South and Central America combined;
three times those to Hawaii and the
Philippines; and greater than those to
China, Japan and Asiatic Russia COM
bined.
The West Indies, therefore, are
among Uncle Sans best fOre4gn Gus
toners, and their representatives at the
exposition will be treated with a cor
responding degree of respect. The
wares and products of the South will
be shown them.
The practical question just now-fol-
lowing the advertising text of the Tai
lahasseean last WEEKS whether
Florida in general and Leon county in
particular, will be commercially and ag-
riculturally represented there? Have
we nothing in the way of live stock,
dairy products or manufactured ar
,-cles to exhibit to the world at large.
and our West Indian neighbors espec-
tally.
What can Leon county show at the
charleston Exposition, from December