Evening star., 1911-01-30
Washington Favored for Pan
anna Canal Exposition.
SOCIETY ISSUES CIRCULAR
Says Present Federal Buildings
Might Be Utilized.
OTHER ADVANTAGES SET FORTH
Government Already Owns Land.
officials Could Form a Suitable
Reception Committee.

Reception Committee.
Celebrate the opening of the Panama
canal with an exposition under the aus
pices Of the Congress in the National
Capital, where the representatives OF the
nations Of the world can be received and
appropriately entertained and all Ameri-
can citizens join in the commemoration.
urges the Society for Patriotic Decoration
and Civic Improvement. citizens Organi-
zation Of Washington.
Why Washington should be the place
to commemorate the event is set forth
in a circular issued by the society, which
forms the matter Of the report made to
committees of Congress in advocacy of
celebration in this city.
Land for an exposition site already is
owned by the government; federal build
fngs are available as a nucleus to which
others might be added for exposition pur-
poses; benents would accrue 10 the prop
erty; the water course permits the ap.
proach Of 1ight-draft naval vessels to the
harbor; the city beautiful offers many
ADDED attractions: states would erect
permanent structures. available for fu-
ture purposes of similar character: Of
1lclais or the government would comprise
a reception committee superior to any
that might be chosen to honor distin-
SuIsned foreigners. are some of the argu-
ments presented to sustain the claim Of
"asningtons superior desirability as an
exposition city over any other place in
the United States.
Would Have It Free.
Whether the exposition should last
fortnight or an international exno-
sition Is decision that the society
oeIleves might be left to special
commission: 1t is suggested that the
ed.
This is the brief, as prepared for
submission to Congress and the gen
eral public:
The United States government can
WIN propriety keep open house and
receive and entertain here in Wash
ington at the seat OF government the
representatives Of the nations Of the
world upon the occasion of the cele-
bration OF the completion and opening
OF the Panama canal
Just what form the celebration
should take might be left with Con-
gress to decide. or possibly to a COM
mission to be appointed by that body.
III a celebration of a week or more,
something on the order Of the Hudson
Fulton celebration of New York in
1909. or an international exhibition the
commission could determine. and re-
port to Congress for Endorsement and
appropriation. Whether the former or
the tn latter t ss,on should be favored; ; then
adapted for such an occasion. chiefly
on account of it's broad avenues and
numerous parks. and many govern
ment buildings OF interest to every
citizen.
THE land upon which the celebra-
tion should he held now belongs to the
United states and contains thousand
or more acres. with adjacent smaller
parks. as much as was used at Chicago
at the time of the worlds fair in 1893.
MANY government buildings that Sre
now built form a nucleus to which
others might be added, and such new
buildings could be erected in line with
the future needs of the government,
and in substantial manner. SO that
their cost would be saving if
erected soOn) for years to come.
1.-The layout and improvement Of the
ground could all he of value, and not
in any way considered loss. as has
been the case with many exhibitions
before.
I'm all other great fairs the cost of
the layout of the grounds has been
great item of expense and subsequent
loss, and in many cases great sums OF
money have been expended In clearing
the grounds and restoring them for
other purposes.
"The larger parks OF Washington are
well adapted for the location of such a
celebration. having ample space for all
needed buildings, park areas. roads,
paths. and Water front which is un-
surpassed by few parks in the world.
.'Here. on the broad Potomac river,
could be assembled the light-draught yes
sells of the navies of the world. whose
presence would add much to the Occa-
sion. and at the same time help to cele-
brate the explorations and landing OF
Capt. John Smith. who stepped upon
these shores in an effort to discover the
passage to the Pacific.
with the Capitol nearly in the center
of the city. the White House and exec
utive departments at the west Joined by
a beautiful park of over mile in eX-
tent. no more appropriate place could
be found for a celebration Of the COM
pletion OF the greatest work ever under
taken by man-the Panama canal-and
by the government whose lavish appro-
priations and splendid corps of engineers
and their assistants have made the work
a marked success.
1T would seem very unbecoming for
the heads of the government to go out
of town to some far-aWay place and as
sist others in celebrating this great
event and much more SO to ask the
nations guests to go the same distance.
President Could Open Fair.
"Our President and officials could with
propriety assemble with their guests
from all the nations of the world under
the dome OF the United States Capitol, or
upon the platform at the east 'front.' at
12 o'clock some appropriate day, where
the celebration might begin. and have
gathered the greatest number OF citizens
to witness the event ever assembled In
this country. by an electrical device and
the pressing of button the President
could open the gates of the great locks
at far away Panama and admit the
larger vessels of the navies of the world.
and open all parts Of the governments
home exhibition, and at the same time
give the signal for the raising of flags
in every city in this country-all of which
would be under our governments con-
troll at the National Capital
"By the aid Of electricity, the wireless
telegraph and the airship. SO far as may
be developed, and the new exhibits of
our citizens. the celebration held at the
National Capital in the broad parks of
Washington. and in many old and new
buildings erected therein. could be of
great educational value and enjoyed by
thousands of citizens and foreigners,
doubtless one Of the greatest events in
the history Of our country.
No Fences or Gates Needed.
Fences and gates to this exhibition
would not be necessary, no entrance
charges would be made. for the govern
ment now opens many buildings, such as
the Capitol, the Library of Congress. the
Washington Monument. New National
Museum, ETC., without charge to the many
and as hosts upon this occasion
arf Of ho ira