The Washington herald., 1907-04-21
Lindsay S. Perkins Suggests
Novel Exposition.
WASHINGTON as WORLD CITY
Enterprise Br0sched at BrightwOOti
Citizens Meeting ExpIained-Va-
FiOus states and Territories 10
Erect Buildings 20 Make CONNER
ciai and Artistic Exhibits.
EdItor Dc Wa.hington HeraId:

In your report OF the BrightWOOd Citi-
gems Association meeting recently you
quote me as fayoring the expenditure of
S500O.o00 for the erection of buildings for
the holding Of a permanent worlds fair
in this city The IDEA I sought TO convey
was of a different character.
The project set forth at Brightwood is
an amplihcation of the plan of Mr. Louis
p Shoemaker. who. in 1897, went so far
as to secure the introduction of a bill in
Congress appropriating space in Rock
Greek Park for the erection, by the vari-
Gus States and Territories, of buildings
containing permanent exhibits Of their
commerce. art and literature. The bill
was opposed by the District authorities
on the grounds that the public domain
should not be sequestered for such pur-
pose.
The present plan proposes that a private
corporation purchase a tract Of land 5000
feet square, containing ST acres, in the
District of Columbia. divide il into lots
of from TWO to four acres each, and lease
the same in perpetuity to the various
States and Territories of this country,
and to all civilized nations who viii par
take. if they viii erect, equip, and main
tain thereon such institutions as viii
represent as wen as practicable that which
is best in their commercial artistic. and
scientific life Not a worlds fair. we
have had them. with hurly-burly. haste
and waste, enormous. over-wearied null
titudes. poor accommodations. unsatisfac
tory results and sure and serious financial
loss TO the promoters. Washington is not
craving for anything of the kind. nor does
Chicago, Buffalo, or St Louis want IL
soon again Instead, an orderly array OF
structures built for al time, filled with
the best samples of human handiw0rk
ana in charge of capable men empowered
to represent their respective States and
nations, 10y their well-directed efforts and
a proper display of their resources. aug
menting and stimulating their own and
the worlds trade as has never been done
before.
Features Provided For.
No charity work here; simply the open
ing of the gates Of opportunity TO the en-
hancement Of our own and the worlds
business. Besides the building sites. the
plans provided for the following features:
boulevard 80 feet wide surrounding
the entire tract providing a speedway;
other boulevards. avenues, and streets
from leo TO 200 feet wide, the exhibition
sites mainly fronting on avenues having
a width of 10 feet. or ten feet more than
Pennsylvania avenue.
An international athletic park of thirty
two acres. where clean. honest sport, free
from gambling and brutality. may be
encouraged and developed. A temple of
labor. TO be built by the contribution of
one days wages by trades uniOnists
al e
daughters of toll, the special seat and
administrative center of labor organiZa-
tons The site would be a fitting one.
overlooking the grand central park, sur
rounded by the temples of trade. for COM
merce and labor are, and must ever be,
inseparable.
An international opera house. a bourse,
and bank. as we'll as institutions of art
and science, to be erected by those most
interested Other reservations OF from
seven To twenty acres each to accOmmO-
date such miscellaneous structures as
may be necessary for worlds fair,
which might be held at intervals on
moderate scale. and for which ample
preparations could De made in advance
A central reservation. 800 by 2,000 feet
in size, containing seveuty-three acres, as
a site for great structure to be devoted
TO the worlds peace. and especially 10
international parliamentary procedure
and arbitration. Such a building would be
handy if we should ever see a realization
of the suggestion once made by Senator
Daniel Of Virginia, that Washington may
become the Capital of mankind
All nations are DESTROYS of getting our
trade, and they should all be willing to
spend half the cost of their former ex-
hibits at worlds fairs in order to put up,
furnish, and keep up such commercial
establishments as are here suggested. Wei
have a diplomatic corps here. why not a
commercial corps as we'll?
Mr. Emile BerlineT. a prominent par
ticipant in the Brightwood discussion, !
favored the establishment of a national. /
but not of an International permanent ex- |
position here, ON the ground that the lat |
ter phase might interfere with worlds
fairs in other countries, and in that way
encounter their disapproval. An opinion !
from such a source is entitled to serious !
consideration, but Mr.. Berliner is remind 4
ed that this proposition does not embrace /
a worlds fair, but an assemblage Of I
agencies provided with the goods and the /
men to form q vast clearing house for the I
worlds commerce. The International 3
feature would certainly prove a strong /
incentive to American exhibitors to par /
ticipate and to dc their best. and vastly 4
add 10 the dignity and Importance of the 4
whole affair. II other countries desired TO /
emulate our example, our government
and business would provide proper com /
mercial representation abroad.
Managed by stock Company.
II is believed that the necessary land |
can be had in the District Of Columbia +
at from S,0OO 10 s2,O0O per acre. and that
the sum of S5.OO0OOO viii be amply suffi- |
cient to buy it outright and put it inl
shape for the purpose herein described. |
The whole affair can be managed in its 1
earlier stages by stock company. The /
issue of stock may be $4,000 shares. at 500 |
each. the capitalization being based on /
certain price per square foot of the build /
ing sites. A liberal figure would be 30 /
cents. New York. with an allotment of /
10000 square feet. would take $50 shares /
When the promoting corporation shall /
reimburse itself for all outlay by sale of /
stock, franchises. &c, the whole affair /
should be turned over 20 the permanent /
management of a board Of governors. con-
sisting of menebers of Congress and of /
the diplomatic corps Tho enterprise. D
while expected to be self-paying, must
be kept absolutely free from graft ard |
speculation.
The results2 A vast Impetus TO our own
and foreign trade. an immediate and
healthy growth of WashingtOn's wealth /
and population, an enhancement of the
prospect of permanent world peace (peo-
ple don't want to fight when they are en-
gagged in profitable trade with each other.
and an advancement of the day when we
shall have a parliament Of man" The
cost OF one modern battle ship would
finance the whole scheme. and its sue
eessfui establishment would render un-