Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-19
SAN DIEGO PLANS
NOVEL EXPOSITION
J. w. Seton, Jr, Acting Director
General, Explains Scope
of Proposition
DIFFERS FROM SAN FRANCISCO
Heavy and Costly Set Features of
Typical Worlds Fair to
Be Avoided

J. w. Seton, jr, acting director
general of the San Diego Panama
California exposition, 1915, has issued
letters setting forth the exact reasons
why the proposed San Diego eXhlbl-
tion. differing in many respects from
the fair proposed by San Francisco,
can in no way conflict with the great
show planned by the northern city, and
consequently why San Diego snoulu
receive federal support.
San Diego asks that its popular SUD
scription of 81 100000 and the bond is
sue of 81 10000 about to be made by
the city be met with an appropriation,
federal or state, or partly both, OF
s., 900, 900. The letter which Is very
comprehensive in its statement OF the
purpose of the San Diego exposition
and convincing in its argument, Is as
follows:
Recognizing the need for putting San Dego's
position fully before you the following con-
siderations are submitted. It is confidently
believed that these plans will be indorsed
when you know just what they are.
The Panama California exposition will be
held In San Diego in 1916 This is settled But
there seems to be some misunderstanding as
to exactly what is proposed. San Diego does
not propose to hold a worlds fair 1t does
mean to have an international exposition. BY
international is meant to include outside
of the United States. only Latin America and
the countries bordering on the Pacific. There
is therefore nothing in San Diegos plans
IN interfere with the holding of a worlds fair
in San Francisco All that San Diego asks
is federal recognition of its project, so that
the foreign governments included in its lin
tied program may be officially invited; ana
an appropriation federal or state, or partly
BOTH. of 1000, 900. San Diego has already
raised 81 O0O 900 by popular subscription; an
other 81 900 900 is about to be obtained by
city bond issue, and only H,OOo,OOO Is asked
from outside
Anotber fact not generally understood is this:
San Diego does not intend to have the usual
comprehensive exhibition of the world s
achievements in the domain Of manufacture
the Industrial and liberal arts, and the null
titudlnous accomplishments of invention and
handicraft.
1t is proposed principally to demonstrate
the opportunities and to exploit the natural
resources of the coast and of such countries
as will be most directly and potently affected
nv the Panama canal Not the time-honored
showcase display of finished products but
unioue exhibition of all that is typically local
in the way of possibilities and their slenin-
canee to the capitalist and the settler-thls
is what San Diego means to have. And san
Dieoo rightly claims that for the holding Of
such an exposition as this, san Diego Is tne
logical place.
1t is felt that the above considerations fully
establish the fact that there is really no rea-
son for any conflict of interest between san
Diego and any city wishing to hold world
fair of the usual character and scope san
Diego has no desire to hold such a fair 1t
NAV very properly be argued that world
fair calling for immense machinery halls, art
building, and league after league or snow
cases for manufactured articles. necessitating
perhaps from s25, 100000 to $40, OOOOoO' should
never be attempted anywhere but in large
metropolitan city But for such UNIQUE ed
oational exhibition San Diego has decided
to have-with its out-of-doors demonstration
of native and typical life, irrigation and other
developing processes, agricultural mineral and
all indigenous features-san Diego is certainly
not only the logical but the only place where
such a show could be adequately carried out
at all In San Diego for twelve months IN
the wear it can and will be CARRIED out.
Therefore San Diego trusts that you VIII
support its position and work for the success
Of the Panama California exposition in lsl5'
Yours very truly, J. W.. SEXTON JR.,
Acting Director General.