Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-07
To Celebrate Completion
of Panama Canal.
San Francisco Business Men
Father the Project.
Plan to Beauty Manila-Mr. Burn.
hams Trip.

The next great exposition will be held
at Portland, Ore, during the summer
of 1905. for the purpose of commemor-
ating the expedition of Lewis and
Clark from the Missouri river to the
Pacific ocean during the administra-
ton Of Thomas jefferson, one hundred
years ago. And the San Francisco
people are planning to celebrate the
completion of the Panama canal upon
the four hundredth anniversary of the
discovery of the Pacific ocean by
Vdsco Nunez de Balboa, on the 25th of
September, 1913. The Portland ex-
position is to be national only. If any
foreign nation wishes to participate it
will be welcomed. but no effort will be
made to interest exhibitors outside the
United States and Canada.
The Balboan exposition, as the
Pacific coasters call it, will be interna-
tional, and probably upon the same
scale as that at st. Louis, although the
financial failure there may teach a les
son of economy. But so far there is
no definite plan, and the committee in
charge will be governed entirely by
circumstances and by public opinion
in preparing it's report. The members
Of the Panama commission are conf
dent that they can complete the work
in eight years: hence, 1913 would be
not only an appropriate but con-
venient date for the celebration.
The idea was first suggested by X.
Is. Hale. a member of the Merchants
Association of San Francisco. which
includes hundreds of wholesale and re-
tail houses in its membership. The
presidents of other commercial or
CARNATIONS indorse 1t. and banquet
was given by the California promotion
committee. at which the subject was
| discussed by representative mai from
! all parts of California. y resolution
was passed declaring it to be tn" sense
! of those present that the completion
of the Panama canal shall be cele-
brated by a Pacific ocean exposition to
he held at San Francisco, and the
presidents of the San Francisco cham
| Der of commerce, the san Francisco
| board of trade. the California state
! board of trade. the California promo
| ton committee and the Manufacturers
! ard Producers Association of Cali
| fornia were appointed central board.
| with power to lay out a plan. select
| the necessary committees and super
wise the preliminaries. This board
! has invited suggestions from all
sources, and has already received ScV-
eral interesting responses concerning
the plan and scope of the exposition.
There are several fine sites for an
exposition in San Francisco. Golden
Gate Park has a vast unimproved area
extending along the beach Of the
Pacific ocean. 1t is easy of access by
the railroads and street car lines. and
can be developed at a comparatively
small cost No exposition has ever
been held upon salt water. and a man
docs not require much sentiment t."
appreciate the appropriateness of the
location directly on the Pacific. whose
pillows come rolling in from their jour
rev of thousands of miles, bearing
promises of prosperity and greatness
for all of the coast states.
The exposition idea has been dis
cussed a good deal in connection with
the plan for identifying the city OF
San Francisco. Daniel H. Burnham
of Chicago has been spending a month
there inspecting the topography and
getting material for report similar
to that made by Charles F. Mckim.
Fred Law Olmsted and Mr.. Burnham
for tie District of Columbia. Mr..
Durham sailed for the East on the
18th of October, and after spending
month in Japan goes to Manila LOT a
similar purpose. He mas been ihFlleo
=, Secretary Taft and Governor
Wright to suggest plans for public I'M
prov ements and identifying the capital
of the Philippines
i AS wrote you from Manila last
summer, that city has the materials for
making one of the loveliest spots on
earth. and it only requires small
amount of money to utilize its natural
advantages and the open areas fortu-
nately left by the Spaniards.
| Judge Taft was so much impressed
with Mr.. Burnham's plans for the inn
provement of Washington that he con-
suited him about Manila, and particu-
larly about the ACCESSIBILITY of adopt
ing definite design for the guidance
of the commission in locating several
public buildings that are proposed and
in making other public improvements
The river Pasig, which bisects Manila,
has a number of estuaries and creeks
flowing into it, and several canals were
dug as cut -offs in Spanish times for
convenience in the transportation OF
local freight. These watercOurses in
tersect the older part of the city, and
are not only of great advantage to
trade. but can be made features of q
very attractive landscape. The moat
which surrounds the ancient walls. and
a belt Of open territory which was kept
by the Spanish as protection against
an attack, will lend themselves ad-
mirably to parking purposes. Secre-
= tary Taft and the Philippine commits
sion believe that it is better to dc
things right than wrong. and before
anything farther is done in the way OF
y public improvements they desire tc
have Mr.. Burnham's advice.
!, While he is in the Philippines Mr.
: Burnham will also lay out a summe,
s capital in the mountains. about Isl
miles from Manila, similar to Simla
y the summer capital of India, to which
l. the latter government is removed Ell
q masse on the LIST of April every year
and remains until the list of November