Arizona republican., 1909-12-22
The Panama Canal Exposition.


 That a great worlds fair will be held in 1915. or 1916. at either San Diego. San Francisco or New Orleans to celebrate the competitor of the Panama canal. is generally regarded as a certainty. Which of the three cities will be favored is the question which is still in the air. and it is not likely to be settled immediately
 On the ground that she saw it first" San Diego is insisting that she should have the exposition, and that San Francisco. especially. is acting far from gracefully in competing for the honor When it was first an- nounced, some months ago, that San Diego proposed to work up the project of an exposition to commemorate the canal opening. it was taken for grant ed that that ambitious little city would have no competition. The financial success of the Portola fes- tival seems to have given San Fran cisco the idea of taking the exposition away from San Diego. The festival left millions of dollars in the north ern city, and the people of San Fran cisco began to wake up to the fact that a worlds fair would be enor- mously profitable So, when a dele gation of San Diego citizens went to San Francisco recently to enlist the support of that city in the San Diego project, the San Diego gentlemen were told that San Francisco had decided that she would go after the plum her self. And to rub it in," San Diego people were condescendingly told that if they would fall into line for San Francisco. San Diego might have the permanent exhibits. after the exposi- ton. for installation at San Diego. The proposal was angrily rejected, and now the two California cities are pulling hair over the scheme.
 Meanwhile. New Orleans has ,en- tered the race. and will be no mean competitor. It seems scarcely pos sibIe for either of the California cities to win. unless they get together and agree as to which of them shall be supported in the undertaking by the coast country as a whole.
 The projected exposition cannot, of course, take the proportions of real worlds fair. unless it shall get the cordial support of the federal gov ernment In order to make it the success the occasion will demand, con- gress must appropriate millions of dollars. And before congress can be brought to act, the state of California will have to make a liberal appro- to give the project a good start. But the California legislature will probably defer action until San Diego and San Francisco shall have reached an agreement as to which shall have the exposition.
 Arizona, and in fact the entire coast region. will be deeply interested in the proposed exposition as a Pa cific coast enterprise. An exposition at either San Francisco or San Diego like those held at Chicago and St Louis. would be of incalculable bene- tn and Arizona The whole coast country would rightfully look upon the loss of the exposition to New Orleans as a calamity. Or account of our nearness to San Diego the people of this territory would possibly prefer to see the exposition go to that city. But we are chiefly interested in having the question set tied in favor of California city. a' against New Orleans or any othel city.
 IL takes years to prepare properl, for such a worlds fair as the United States should have for an adequate celebration of the completion of tn Panama canal. It is none too earl! to begin the preliminary work. Ari zona joins California, therefore, il saying to San Francisco and Sal Diego, Get together. and let's no have too much delay about it"