The Washington herald., 1910-06-13

Editor The Washington Herald.
Two clties-San Francisco and New
orleans-wish to celebrate the completion
Of the Panama Canal by holding a great
exposition. Both cities. at present. dis
claim any intention OF asking for Con-
gressional aid in the way of an appro-
priation. but they do want recognition in
the form of an act inviting the nations
OF the earth to participate.
Federal Aid Necessary.
1t goes without saying that a real in
ternational exposition cannot be held
without very considerable expenditure
by the government OF the United States,
and this fact might as well be admitted
at the outset by the promoters of the
project One OF the cities promises te
raise sl0.e00,9o0. and counts as an Inn
portant factor for producing a success
full result the fact that there are 100000
people within 80 miles Of said city. Ad-
hitting that such combination of
money and people is a splendid founda-
ton for a large and comprehensive ex-
position OF transcontinental scope, il
would not provide a fitting eommemora-
stupendous project as the Panama Canal
the tenth wonder of the world 1t would
not be inappropriate TO have triple
celebration of such a notable event Let
San Francisco and New Orleans each
have an exposition worthy of their splen-
did commercial vig0r enterprise. and
thrift and probably the 80 per cent
OF gate receipts TO be contributed by peo-
pie residing within $50 miles OF each OF
said cities, together with the 70 per cent
contributed by visitors from a greater
distance, will make the affairs not only
financial success, hut OF great educa-
tional value, and certainly OF surprising
pleasure to ali who visit either city.
FavOrs Broader scope.
Remember. however. that this country
will contain more than 100000 in the
year 1915. all. OF whom. / hope. will be
proud Of the achievement which Is 70
be celebrated, and II will not be a square
deal to confine the celebration to one or
even two cities so remote from the
great eenters OF population that the
distance and consequent expense would
bar out hundreds Of thousands. yes. mil
lions. who will be emitted to participate
III the notable event.
Consult the following figures Of dis
tances and there viii be little doubt as
70 your conclusions:
From San Francisco to New York Is
3.26s miles; Pittsburg. 2,s22; Chicago,
1884; New Orleans. 2.444 Washington.
S.l67.
From New Orleans to New York is
1858; Pittsburg. 1885, Chicago. els. Wash
ington. LILO: San Francisco. 24A
From Washington to New York Is 22s
SO2i Chicago, s13: San Francisco, Sl67.
Puts New York First.
Is it not clearly apparent that, all
things considered there are but two
cities in this country where a great in
terna tionai exposition worthy OF the name
and the occasion could with propriety and
promise OF a grand success be held, to
wit: New York or Washington? I put
New York first because it has the best
OF all locations as 20 accessibility, wealth
sufficient to accomplish anything that
human hands can do. brains TO plan, and
the push" and force to bring into being
a genuine exposition Of modern manu-
features; industrial achievements; the
products of the land mines. and the sea
the wonderful developments in electrical
science, and In land water. and aerial
transportation, together with thousands
OF things available at the city's very
doors which would make an exposition
never surpassed and probably never
equaled. Add 10 this the hotel accom-
mOdations and the local transportation
lines. and New York stands without a
rival in this matter
Capital Inherits Right.
However, It does not appear that New
York is an applicant, and that fact
brings Washington to the fore Nowhere
in the wide world has nature, time. and
the hand OF man formed a more beauti-
full and appropriate site for an EXPOSE
tien than now exists in the parks sur
rounding the Washington Monument. the
Speedway. and the partially improved
promchtOry below the Long Bridge. The
Potomac River with the proposed me-
mortal bridge and other handsome bridges
of permanent character, the lakes and
ponds already established to be supple
mented by others, the driveways, the
trees and shrubbery, and the general
topography OF the land form an unex-
ampled setting for an exposition, COM
bining temporary and permanent build
ings, susceptible of being made into