The San Francisco call., 1910-07-16


cisco will hold the Panama exposition
IN 1915. in view Of the splendid cam
paign now being made for it.
This has aroused interest and specu-
lstion over the probable site for the
fair grounds While three or four sites
We're mentioned a few months ago, the
popular discussion has simmered down
to two places-GoIden Gate park and
the Lake Nerced region. Following are
the opinions held and the arguments
put forth by leading real estate and
business men.
The consensus OF opinion on this
subject" said Thomas Msgee, seems
20 be In favor Of the Lake MERGED
location The people Of the Mission
favor that site and as they constitute
probably half Of our population their
wishes are entitled 10 consideration.
Another important point is that
Golden Gate park is un0er the city
what complications might arise be-
tween the exposition management and
city ordinances and heads of depart
rlents and nobody knows who Will be
In control Of the city government four
or i've years hence.
The exposition must be managed on
business principles. and the men who
ers and directors must be unhampered
for they viii be held responsible for
the success Of the fair.
ADVANTAGES OF LAKE MERGED
Besides these considerations. the
Lake Merced district has all the natural
advantages for such an exposition as
we contemplate There We have 2
water area OF 2s5 acres-a grand set
Ting for grouping buildings about and
afording a splendid opportunity for
-1atic sports. Venetian effects can
easily De produced and these are very
r"rn-ar In this latitude with our
Suirintr .n winter climate. We ought
i" 1na le the most OF such attractions.
tfe exposition VIII he a mammoth af-
fa-- and II mast have suitable space
and settings
AZ Lake Merced there is a barrier
Of hills protecting that region from
the severe currents Of air from the
ocean that strike Golden Gate
park. The mountain and hill hack
grounds on all sides give A scenic
enect that would be hard TO duplicate
anywhere. Fortunately this ideal sit
uation lies right al our doors and 1t
seems 10 me as IL il would he a great
mistake not TO take advantage of it il
the spring Valley water company would
aiiow this site 10 be used
~ j have heard Golden Cate park
favored because certain buildings like
museums might he made permanent
and remain as enduring monuments to
ihe city. u such permanent buildings
arc erected the Spring Valley water
cpmpsnT might donate the land TO .he
cltN on which they VIII stand. because
they would enhance the value or the
surrounding land TO such a great ex-
tent
PARK SITE FAVORED
a member OF the firm OF Lyon &
Ioag. ia fsvoring Golden Gate park.
makes this statement: Other things
being equal, the fair ought 10 be so
located as 10 accelerate the natural de-
relopment Of the city. II placed in
Golden Gate park IL would result in
improving all Of the Richmond and
sunset districts.
Golden Gate park seems TO be an
en1inently suitable place for tho fair
seven 10 eight hundred acres are avail
able for such purpose from about the
region Of Stow lake and Strawberry
= hill westward TO the ocean. There are
axes and hills, open spaces and woods.
driveWsys and walks which could
doubtless he made TO 1t into q good
general layout for buildings, formal
gardens and esplanades.
I'm the immediate vicinity IS the
hsndstand- the stadium. the geological
gardens and the conservatives. All of
which would combine splendidly to add
70 the interest Of the fair. The mill
lions Of dollars iready sr mt in beau
tifying Golden Gate park would thus
augment whatever amount the exposi-
tion management has to spend The
floral bea auties Of the park. which il
has taken 25 years and more to de-
Velop. can not be developed anywhere
else in the short space OF four years
which remain between now and the
opening OF the exposition.
1T viii be much better TO have the
- position compact and easily accessi-
- in an afternoon visit. as would he
The case If put in Golden Gate park
II located elsewhere II might spread
over two or three times the space. but
be Jess effective for that very reason
and much Ia rder for visitors TO see
and enjoy as they would like to.
II placed in the park several Of the
principal buildings, such as the aqua
rium- the art and natural history mu-
seums and historical and scientific
buildings, could doubtless be built sub
stantially enough TO remain as perma-
nent institutions after the fair is over.
An the landscape work. such as
sunken gardens fountains and monu-
ments. would also remain as permanent
improvements. All OF these things
should be taken into consideration in
the case OF an enterprise which the
whole population of the city are con-
tributing TO and working for.
There are many other reasons in
favor Of the park site. 1t is so acces-
sible that a large percentage of the
people Of the city would naturally visit
the fair regularly throughout the sea-
sen Il it were right at their doors.
PARK CAR SERVICE
All the car lines of the city already
focus st the park, and so the transpor
tstion problem would be practically
settled at the outset. The fair would
have the effect Of improving the car
service Of the entire city in order TO
neet the demands of the fair. This
in Itself would be an immense advan-
tase.
The Seattle exposition paid beca use !
il was compact and easily seen and ac-
cossible. The janger of an exposition
is for il TO become unwieldy in size. |
and consequently too expensive
The general experience of expoSi- |
lions is that 50 per cent Of the gate
receipts come from the immediate vi