The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1910-07-16
PORTION OF PANAMA
CANAL Completed
Four and a Half Miles of the
Waterway Finished
PANAMA PROPOSES TO celebrate
Reasons Why Panama, Rather Than
Some U. S. City, Should Have
Exposition at Completion of
Canal.

Panama, via New Orleans.-Ihe
!. statement in the Canal Record that
= ~ -ssI srfsaailleess of the CANAL, at
the Pacific entrance, have just been
completed, caused surprise to con-
siderable number of people. This was
because they thought that this four
and a half miles of the canal had
been completed several months ago;
however, it appears that at that time
this section of the canal was not
completed, but simply thrown open
to navigation.
Panama has been watching with
much interest the rivalry between the
to which of them is the most suitable
place in which to hold worlds fair
in commemoration of the completion
of the Panama Canal, at the time
of it's opening.
While Panama considers it but nat
uraI that as the construction of the
isthmian canal is being financed by
the American government, and the
work is being done through Amerl-
can ingenuity, the cities of the Unit
ed States should desire to hold cell
ebrations of some sort in commence
ration Of the opening of the canal to
the commerce of the world, but it
considers that the only proper place
to hold a Panama worlds fair is at
Panama The following are some OF
the reasons which Panama has for
this opinion:
That If the purpose of a Panama
Worlds Fair" is to attract attention
to the canal itself, and not simply to
advertise some city thousands or
miles away, then the isthmus is the
place where it should be held.
That the interest of the great ma
jority of the people-ineluding peo-
pie from abroad as well as Americans
will be in the completion and open
ing of the canal.
A Panama Worlds Fair Club, for
the purpose of promoting the scheme
to have worlds fair in Panama upon
the completion of the canal, was or
ganized here in November. 1908, with
a large membership. 1t was this club
that presented an engraved silver
membership card, as honorary pres1-
dent of the club, to President Taft
at ball given in his honor at the
National Theatre in Panama during
his last visit to the isthmus, February
1909. Mr.. Taft, in expressing his
pleasure at thus being honored, as
sured the committee of his support
of the project.
This first Worlds Fair Club OF
Panama was succeeded later by the
Panama Worlds Fair Association
which was organized in March, 1903,
with a capital stock of 81 1,0O0,OO0.
While not very much is heard OF
the doing Of this association, 1t Is
said to be working very energetical-
ly and effectively, though quietly,
toward the realization Of its project.
They know that Panama has the
advantage over all other aspirants for
the honor of holding Panama
Worlds Fair for the canal, the most
important thing of all. is here. Were
Panama to have nothing else to ex-
hibit, the completed canal and the
scenery of the isthmus would be suf-
ficient. Thousands of people from
South America, all of Europe and the
United States would come to Panama
to see the opening Of the canal, who
would not go to some city in the
United States merely to attend a
worlds fair held In honor of the ca