Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-16


east, and this fact alone will
cause the introduction of innumerable
features hitherto unknown in similar
expositions that have been given in the
western hemisphere. The exposition is
the growth Of over a century of expert
ence among the western nations, but
owing to the peculiarities of local con-
ditions much of this experience will be
useless to the Japanese.
Foremost among the problems con-
fronting the promoters of the big en-
terprise in Toxic is the question of
living accommodations for any consid-
cradle number of foreign visitors
Toxic has nearly two million inhabi-
tants, but 1t has only three hotels
equipped for the entertainment Of
Europeans and Americans. The serv-
ice in all of these places is very or
dinary and their combine facilities are
not equal to the entertainment of more
than two or three hundred guests.
The plan for overcoming this serious
handicap will not only be unique but
effective. On the hills surrounding the
site of the exposition are scores of
Buddhist and Shinto temples with at
tractive and commodious grounds. The
exposition management proposes to
erect large numbers of neat little Jap
aese cottages in these parks, furnish
them In the style of the country and
install in them capable native servants.
These cozy dwellings will be rented for
any length of time desired and at a
rate so low that the entire cost of liv-
ing will be less than most foreigners
during the summer season is mild
enough to permit camping out with
comfort, and the plan of quartering
visitors in the temple grounds will in
clude the furnishing of army tents for
bachelors or others who desire still
more economical living. Those Ameri-
cans to whom the mystic east has APP
pealed through the pages of prose and
rhyme will find this arrangement not
only cheap and comfortable but 1t will
afford them the opportunity to live
within the sound of the temple balls
a-tinkling somewhere east of Suez"
The exposition management will also
construct an immense 'Tnside Inn,"
similar to the one of unpleasant mem
ory at st. Louis
This exposition will be different from
all others in that 1t is entirely a gov
ernment affair. Instead of being or
ganized and carried on by a private
corporation, the government provides
the money and directs everything On
account of this many things can be
done which otherwise would be impos-
sible. Extortion for living accommoda-
tions will be prevented by the govern
ment's providing most of the quarters,
and arbitrarily fixing the price that all
others shall charge. This is the way
they do things in Japan.
Tba mo tfa.. af 20 fio,, NTH al 1Sn
be under government control. The
steamers operating under Japanese sub
sidies will be concentrated in fast pas
senger schedules to American and Eu-
ropean ports, available ships will be
chartered from other lines, and the
ocean rate reduced to such low figure
as to practically eliminate distance. one
of the purposes of giving this exposi-
tion Is to afford the foreigner a chance
to see for himself what the Japanese
are doing at home, and the government
proposes to make Inducements In the
way of extremely low rates.
To bring the educational benefits of
the big fair within the easy reach of
the poorest of the Japanese, the gov
ernment will observe, the same LIBERAL
ity as that shown in the plans for in
ducing foreign travel. The Japanese
people are so poor that the price of ev-
erything must be extremely cheap. The
third class fare on government owned
railroads of Japan is at present about
half a cent mile, but during the expo
sition this rate will be reduced 90 per
cent. If a similar rate were charged in
the United States the fare from New
York to Chicago would be $2.25 instead
of 500. The cost of living for the pro-
vincial Japanese who visit Toxic will
come inside of 20 cents day for lodg-
ing and three meals, and the price of
admission to the exposition will be only
5 cents for everybody.
The Japanese common people are
great travellers when the accommoda-
tions are brought within their means,
and the cost of everything In connec-
in accordance with their ability to pay.
OF course the benefit of these cheap
rates will extend to the foreign visitors
as well. The Japanese custom OF max
ing pilgrimages to the various temples
in the country is a great educational
factor on account of the knowledge the
travellers accumulate in their migra-
tions. These trips are taken each year
Just after the rice planting in June, and
after the harvest of the rice crop In
September. Japan has already held five
small internal expositions, and they
were all well patronized The Osaka
exposition lasted five months and the
attendance was over $4,000 a day, a
number more than twice as large as the
showing made at jamestown last sum-
mer. The Toxic exposition will last FOR
seven months, and on account or It's
size, cheapness and international char
acter the attendance will exceed all
previous records.
The exposition will occupy 300 acres
of ground, which will lie in two tracts
of about equal size. One of these is an
army parade ground and the other Is
a part of the emperor's estate. They
are located three-quarters OF a mile
apart and will be connected by boule-
ward about 100 feet in width. On this
thoroughfare there will be operated
belt railway to provide rapid transpor-
tation free to all.
Among the features never seen at
any other exposition will be feudal
tournament like those given by the
famed samurai warriors of Japan some
600 years ago. This will consist OF con-
tests in strength and skill by the cour-
tiers, fox hunting, falconry, archery
and the elaborate Moo dance, which is
somewhat similar to the ancient Greek
musical dramas. Special exhibitions
of all the principal oriental games ana
sports will be provided, and the period
Of the exposition has been arranged 10
include the cherry blossom and chrys-
anthemum seasons 80 that visitors may
see the county at it's prettiest ana the
people in their holiday moods.