The Semi-weekly leader., 1914-04-08
letter FROM CALIFORNIA
Claude Noble, Now IN Frisco, Gives
His Opinion Of Panama as Well
as Personal Views.
San Francisco. Cal
March 97 1914

San Francisco. Cal
March 27. 1914.
Editors ! eadsr and Friends: -
Do sou realize that one of the
greatest worlds expositions is ap-
pruachin9? Are you coming. IfI
not: Why rot7 | have been SO inn
pressed over the program that is
being prepared, | can't resist writ
ing few lines at least.
1t is believed that all the nations
of the wotld having commercial
interests of any Importance will
take advantage of this time and
place for internatlnnaI felicitations
upon the completion of work, the
greatest ever undertaken by a sim
gle nation in behalf and in the
interest of all. And it seems as
sured that this feeling of senti-
ment. coupled with the substantial
commercial advantages to be OBJ
tained. will secure the participa-
tion of governments upon a scale
that has never been equaled at any
other expedition.
The Panama Canal joining the
Pacific and Atlantic oceans and
opening up a great new trade route
to the commerce Of the world, will
be opened in full running order on
January /. 1915. 1t is we'll known
by all that it's construction was
commenced by the United States
Government on May 4. 1914 So
this universal exposition at San
Francisco in 1915 is therefore
distinctly National undertaking.
determined upon by the Congress
of the United States and designat-
ed by the President Of the United
States. for the purpose of celebrat-
ing the opening of the Panama
Canal. national accomplishment
that Importantly affects the entire
world
In assuming the burden of this
mammoth celebration, the people
of California are discharging an
important public duty and execut-
ing national trust. the accruing
benefits of which will be shared by
every state in the union, and by
the entire citizenship of the nation.
While this great nter-hemis-
phere waterway is national
PROJECT, it is nevertheless worlds
asset, and the celebration of its
opening will be participated in by
all countries and all people; and
the people of California are de-
termined to put forth endeavor
commensurate with the dignity
and significance of such an honor
to Its chief city and the metropolis
of the Pacific coast.
San Francisco. the largest Ameri-
can port on the Pacific, with its
superb harbor and rapidly advanc-
ing trade with the countries on the
other side of the great Pacific. is
naturally the one fitting point
where a mammoth international
celebration should be held in honor
of world event such as the OPEN
ing Of the Panama Canal. Its vis-
itors will arrive before city mar
velously rebuilt from its ashes, by
sae brave energy of an undaunted
people. They will find themselves
in an environment of the most
superb scenery that the world
knows-the Bay of San Francisco,
with its picturesque islands.
The exposition grounds contain
625 acres in the Harbor View Sec
tion. forming anatural amphitheatre
overlooking San Francisco Bay and
its Golden Gate entrance from the
Pacific. Those grounds are within
the limit of San Francisco, and
extend over two miles on the water
front and are one-haIf mile wide.
By June each of the great exhib-
it palaces of the main group will
be completed, nine months in ad-
vance of the opening of the exposi-
tion. This will afford ample time
for the setting and growth of the
trees, shrubs and vines which are
now being transplanted upon the
grounds.
The construction of the various
foreign countries and states of the |
union are keeping pace with the
progress of the main exhibit PAL
aces.
The exposition will be approach
ed by land and by water. The en-
frances on the land side are many.
and are located with regard to the
principal streets. The main en-
trance will be on Chestnut street. |
10 this entrance visitors will be
brought by street car. motor or on |
foot. This street leads out from |
a plaza. approached at its intersec-