The Washington times., 1907-11-24
Loans and Other Expenses
Of Jamestown Exposition

is estimated by the Government authori-
/ ties that an appropriation Of between
I SIS 600 and $4,000 VIII be required TO
maintain the Federal exhibits for such
! a period Whether it VIII be the pur-
pose Of the exposition 10 ask Congress
for a further appropriation for other
purposes has not been learned.
The reopening plan is not meeting
with much encOuragCm The State
resident commissioners to the eXposi-
ton, representing some thirty odd State
/ buildings. have gone on record as being
unanimously opposed to the proposition.
A meeting of the commercial exhibitors
and the War Path concessionaires was
also held recently and there was about
an equal division of sentiment in re-
gard TO reopening among them.
Proposition to Government.
The air is fun Of rumors about the fu-
turC Of the exposition property. Per
sIstont has been the claim fer months
that the fair projectors are looking
toward a sale IF the property to the
Government for use as a coalirg station,
naval training DtatiOn. and ordnance
testing ground. It is figured that with
miles Of concrete sidewalks and gravel
streets, two large piers besides the great
piers owned by the Government. the
Government would likely consider this
an ideal piece Of property to acquire.
1t IS understood that the exposition
company expects 10 realize 100000
Another scheme on foot is &c build a
city on the exposition site-either a
summer resort or a manufacturing cen
ter. For either purpose the location is
considered ideal and profitable. From
the best Of information fl is the ulti-
mate intention Of the exposition com
pany. If the Government does not take
over the property for its own use, to
acquire, without cost, the magnificent
Government piers, which viii be used
as a gateway to the new city. These
piers were provided for in special legis-
lation The act provides that at the
close of the exposition the piers shall
be publicly sold by the Secretary Of the
Treasury to the highest bidder, the ex-
position company being designated as
a preferred bidder in case Il should de-
sire the possession OF the piers.
Gigantic Single Span.
..vernment to the glory and beauty OF
J-e ter-centenniaI celebration repre-
scuts one Of the most gigantic tasks
of modern times. The grand piers. each
$500 feet long, 200 feet wide, are con-
nected at the extreme ends by the
longest singIe-span concrete bridge in
America The piers form the great cen
ter piece o. the exposition. inclOsing
a. water basin containing 1.2S0.O00
square feet Of water surface and a
depth Of about six or eight feet at
high tide, just out into Hampton
Roads from a central point on the eX-
position grounds Immediately in front
of the large auditorium building. Ra-
leigh square, and the grand plaza At
the outer corners Of the basin stand
high towers for the exhibits Of the
lighthouse service and the wireless
telegraph.
Both the exposition company and
the Government have come in for their
share Of severe criticism on account
of the lateness Of completing these
piers, which were formally dedicated
September Il. They were particularly
advertised as the principal attaction
of the exposition to be ready for the
opening day. or soon after Blame for
their completion at least two m months
earlier IS charged against the Ia
tory action Of the exposition in ap-
proving the plans. On the other re nd,
the contractor. in beginning his work,
had three serious problems to solve.
One was the labor conditions at he
exposition grounds, which at that tine
We're not altogether satisfactory, ON aC-
count of the thousands Of men required