Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-14
EXPOSITION BIC THING
IN SPITE OF DRAWBACKS
Chesterfield County Man Writes
From California That lie Sees
Great Things.
SOME VIEWS or MIR. BELLwooD
The Part Virginia Takes In the Big
Show OF This Good Ecar-Go0d
Things That May Come By-and-By.
Hints to EirXinlanS.

] Albert II. Bellwood. who Is in Cali
fornia, ,nat is to say at tho Panama
Pacific International Exposition. and
locking after tho Virginia exhibit there
writes in mis- every day. homcly way, as
follows:
There are two things that make
us feel that we are quite distance
from home, the many days of contin-
uous Westward travel to get here and
the fact that OF all the people we see
there is not a face we recognize. We
are on the very edge. The Pacific
beats on the sand within nifty yards
of our door. don't know what opin-
ions are now current in the East
garding tho Panama Pacific Iutcrua-
ti"nal Exposition. but after being for
nearly 4 month within its walls | want
to say to YOU that it is a great. grand
and wonderful exposition. The war
from appearances, has not in the least
affected ii, only in tho delay in tho in
stallntion of the exhibits OF some of
the warning nations. No ono need say
that 1t is not up TO the Columbia or
st. Louis cXpoSitions. In nearly every
respect IL by far surpaS either \
master mind has been at the head and
the greatest expert in the world In
various features into an harmonious
whole. No one need fear there viii
not be enough TO see. Whether in
buildings, grounds. art, processes or
products, there is enough to satisfy
the most cNactinc. ! cannot say | am
in love with the weather. Wind rain
ana fog have been the rule for three
weeks. The last fnw days have been
hctter. but it is nearly always cool
though no frost. Trees are all in leaf.
lawns are beautiful and flowers arc in
great profuslon.
II we in Virginia would advertise tho
advantages OF our state and boost our
country the way these Western people
DO theirs We would be iillcd to over
nowing with a good population.
The valley lands all through Cali
forna arc fine; far more extensive than
any ono who has not seen them could
believe. They produce immense uuan-
Titles of fruit and grain. but I don't
believe there IL any great pront ia it.
The problem Of getting water during
greater part of the year stand in
the way And the price OF land ia
beyond all reason.
II is surprising how san Francisco
has been restored, but there ar" sill
evidences OF the earthquake in tumblcd
in foundations and vacan; lot. every
where except along the main thorough
fares
We think we have lots OF automobiles
In Richmond. but there IL not one
where there ar" twenty In san Fran
cisco. Tho abundance OF petroleum
asphaltum has enabled the city To have
perfect pavcmcnts In fact, tho people
all through this West appreciate the
advantage OF cll-madc roads and have
asphalt. concrete or good gravel roads
everywhere. Speaking of automobiles
there have been two automobile races
in tn" exposition lately. Tho tastes,
racers in the world were here. When
they shoot by at over 100 miles Am
hour YOU can hardly see what they are
We had our exhibit In pretty good
shape by the opening day, and. If have
To say II myself. we have a nice show.
II cost quite n bit in tables and case.
ana cloth. and we took pains TO ar
range everything ms we'll as We could
but We feel fully repaid by tho many
compliments We arc receiving.