Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

fairs at Chicago and st. Louis. while the
possible good to flow from it would far
surpass any undertaking of the kind ever
attempted.
European Countries Would Cooperate.
1t seems reasonable to expect the great
nations like Germany and Belgium, who
have spent millions to exploit their re-
sources for a few months each at worlds
fairs with hastily arranged exhibits in
trumpery structures of a temporary char
acter, would be willing to secure large
grounds of their own, where, with ample
time and space at command they might
snow forth to the rest of mankind some
thing of their best products of factory, field
and mine. With such enterprise in full
working order Washington would grow
by leaps and bounds. for among the multi
tudes drawn here by the wonderful specta-
Gle of this and the other existing attrac-
lions, and, encouraged to come by perma-
nent low rates on all lines of transporta-
ton, many thousands would make their
homes In Washington. Such elements of
novelty and beauty opened up to their view
would encourage intelligent Americans to
look upon trip to Washington as next to
a journey around the world The final OBJ
lection, that the enterprise would cost too
much money, would have no force if sue
cess We're in sight.
lmbued with the idea that possibly some
representatives of foreign countries might
be interested in hearing of the scheme the
writer recently called upon several mem
bers of the diplomatic corps and preached
the subject. Almost without exception the
idea met with approval. Some of the
diplomats said If the project took shape
they believed their governments would take
part. Belgium has always been foremost In
the matter of worlds expositions. Encpur-
agement was also given by representatives
OF France, Mexico and Peru, although, of
course. none of them could commit their
countries to decisive lines of action. The
matter, in fact, was in too indefinite q
shape to warrant more than mere sug-
gestion.
Detailed Plans Already Prepared.
Tentative plans have been drawn for a
contamination of this project in the Dis
trict of Columbia. They contemplate the
selection of a tract of s27 acres lying in a
square. 6,0OO feet on a side, a 2JO-foot
boulevard surrounding the entire tract.
which is to be intersected at intervals of
400 feet by avenues 17j feet wide, running
east and west, and by streets 100 feet wide,
running north and south. In the center
there is a reservation 1,GOO by 1000 feet
in size, containing % acres, and various
other plots and reservations for exhibition
buildings. etc, at the east and west centers
of the tract. The southern tier Is divided
into lots ranging in size from 400 by 400
feet. for the larger foreign nations to 300
by 400 feet for the smaller ones. On
the northern tier the larger states of the
Union are given space upon much the
same plan, each 300 by 400 feet, and the
smaller ones 200 by 400 feet. Thus New
York and Pennsylvania will each have
about as much space as Is contained in
the public library lot in this city, and Yer
mont, Connecticut, etc, will have only
about 100 feet less frontage. or nearly two
acres for the smallest. Provision is made
for international athletic park of 33
acres on the plan of the stadium at athens.
Greece, a temple of labor. opera house,
international exchange and bank, etc.
In the central park, which is surrounded
by 2O0-foot boulvard Ii is contemplated
that there may, in the future, be erected
great structure dedicated to the worlds
peace and adapted to the holding of
world parliament, should such thing be
made possible.
The boulevards described would furnish
a speedway especially attractive to autoists
from everywhere, and international races
might be arranged.
Business Side of Such a Fair.
The sites offered would be ample in size
for the most pretentious state or foreign
display With magnificent lots of three
and three-fourths acres, such as would be
allotted to England, Germany, Japan, France
and others, wonders in the way Of archi-
lecture and commercial display could be
expected. Brazil and Venezuela could, by
a system of dollhouse construction, show
coffee and chocolate orchards in full fruit.
even in winter. California and Florida could
exhibit oranges growing, and some of the
vegetable marvels of the Philippines might
be presented in a like manner. Japan and
China could issue invitations to their quaint
potteries. silk factories and tea gardens.
Each country and state. with its own corps
Of capable agents and business representa-
tives, would be equipped to handle any
proposition presented. South Carolina
wanting immigration from EUROPE. might
confer with the agents of Germany, Italy
or other countries and the rest would be
done through the cables and the wires. If
Germany desired Chinese or Japanese silks
her commercial agent would have not far
to go In order to see their best samples
Safe Harbor for Ex-Presiden,s.
The cotton states might show to agents
from all over the world their cotton samples.
and 1t Is the same with the metals, the
grains and the manufactured products of
all the