Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-04-24
Special to the Silver Belt.

WASHINGTON, D. C., April 23.- San Diego, San Francisco, New Orleans, Washington, and perhaps other cities want to hold the big exposition in 1915 to celebrate the opening of the Panama canal The California cities think that they have greater claims to being se- lected for the honor, while New Orleans admits that it is the only real, proper, eligible, desirable, reasonable site for it. A little late, but vOcferating it's claims vigorously, Washington is in the field with the declaration that it alone should be chosen as the place for the nation to celebrate the completion of the canal. Some persons think that the Canal Zone is the right place for the celebration, but of course that IS out of the question.
 The city of San Diego is not very big, but it is "chock full" of enterprise. In fact, it is one of the most enterpris- ing places in the world. 1t has first call on few other supeTlatives also. It has the finest climate in the world, and pretty nearly the fnnest natural harbor in the world. Not to go into the question of it's merits any further, it is proper to say that San Diego start ed out wanting that exposition mighty bad, and to show that it meant busi- ness, it went right to work and raised $1,000,000 by subscription to show that it was in earnest. Then it was proposed to bond the city for another million. Beside that it expects to have support from the southern part of California and from New Mexico and Arizona to the extent of another million.
 The national government may or may not help San Diego out, but with the money in sight it is certain that the southernmost city on the Pacific coast can have a mighty good exposition of it's own, and, if it has to-, that is just what it is going to do.
 As for San Francisco, that rich and enterprising city has been talking for some time about its intention to raise S5,000,000 to guarantee it's good inten tions to hold an international exposi- tion. It expects the state legislature to appropriate $5,000,000 more, and it asks congress to do the same thing. San Francisco has not yet done any of these things, but it can do the first, and per haps it may get state and federal aid. Anyway, San Francisco once held very ereditable exposition of it's own, with practically no outside aid, and it can do it again if it decides to do so The prospects at present are that both San Diego and San Francisco will hold expositions and they should supplement and help each other. If one exposition is good thing. no doubt two would be better and would draw more people to the state and advertise it more fully 1
 Washington has not said much about | raising money for the exposition it wishes to hold. It is not very strong for raising money for any purpose. When they pass the hat in Washington they are generally pretty lucky to have the hat come back again. The city of Washington has grown so accustomed to being taken care of by the national government that it has no desire to be independent and selfsupporting. It is a confirmed meudicant, always standing on the corner with hand outstretched, begging aims, and abusing the one who dares to refuse it. There is no good reason why Washington should have an exposition unless the wish of the Wash ington business men and real estate spectators be reason enough.
 New Orleans will have considerable backing in congress when the question of an appropriation comes up. It has some claims to consideration. These claims are to be pressed with vigor. It may be stated as a certainty, however, that no action will be taken by congress at this session. Next winter. perhaps, | something may be done, and then the 1 various claimants will be in better con dition to tell what they have done to deserve recognition.