Evening star., 1915-06-19
URGES AMERICANS
T0SEE THEFA|RS
Dr.. George F. BoWerman Back
From Visit to the Pa.
cific Coast.
ATTENDED THE CONVENTION
OF LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Thinks European War and Exposi-
tions Should Turn Tourists
to the West.

Or. George F. Bowernian. librarian for
the Public Library. has returned to Wash
ington from the Pacific coast after AL
tending the convention OF. the AmerlcaQ
Library Association at Berkeley, Cal,
and. incidentally. the two exposition
which are now going on in that state
DR. Bowerman. when interviewed at the
Public Library this morning. eXpressed
regret over what he called the compars,
lively slight interest and enthusiasm
which has been aroused in the east over
the expositions. He pointed out that
with conditions as they are in Europe,
Americans have now an incentive ana
opportunity 10 combine a visit 10 the two
eXpositions with their usual summer
travelling.
The report which recently has been
circulated through the east that the hotels
OF California have raised their rates as
result of the exposition was denied nN
DIR. Bowerman. He said that, on the con-
trary. many of the hotels had lowered
their rates as an inducement to eastern
ers to visit the fairs -pt
Prefers San Diego Fair.
DR.. Bowernlan spoke with great en-
thusiasm of the expositions. expressing
a slight personal preference for the
atmosphere" of the one being held at
San Diego. The buildings whicir have
been erected in the little town of
southern California, he stated. are of a
permanent nature and of Spanish CO.
lonial architecture. Placed in a beau
tiful canyon setting, the buildings are
Sc toff in a profusion of tropical flow
ers and foliage. All has been prepared
for by those in charge for a period of
five years and there is nothing blatant
or new about the appearance of the ex-
position grounds. -.
The exposition is essentially devoted
to the interests of California, various
counties being represented by indivfd-
ual buildings. The party of which DIR.
Bowerman was a member were shown
through the grounds by those in
charge. the various features being ex-
planned by specialists. They also visit
ed the Greek Theater at Point Iona,
which is the headquarters of the
theosophists of the world. A special
performance was given in their honor.
tbs sse 6ere ersositian Der Rewepr
man in no way minimized the beauties
of the larger fair being held at San
Francisco. For the first time," he
said, "sculptors. landscape gardeners.
mural decorators and architects have
worked together to produce perfect
effect on exposition grounds. The
honors are equally divided between
them" he said.
Most Beautiful at Night.
pastel-colored buildings at San Fran
cisco are arranged in a more compact
manner than at any previous expor-
ton, yet still retain their individuality
He spoke again Of the beauties Of the
setting. which night and the concealed
lighting effects. in his. opinion, en-
phasized The attendance at this ex.
position" he said, lis good at pres
ent. but has not yet reached its
height. -..-
Speaking of various exhibits of local
interest, DIR. Bowerman referred ("
that of the Washington commission Of
fine arts Here" he said, huge hand
co1ored pictures are instructing all the
country in the methods employed here
partment also has an interesting eN
hibit. Portraits Of the various Secre-
taries Of State are shown along with
copies and originals of various i'm
portant international treaties.
The convention of the American
June to June in the buildings of
the University of California at Berke-
ley. Eight hundred members of the
association were present." said DIR.
DO" cI IidI, HiCH v dS COnSluereu q
very satisfact ctory attendance in view of
the distance which the majority had
to travel A very full program was
carried out, much of which was nat
urally devoted to the technical side Of
librarianship.
Effects Of War Feared.
THE librarians present were unani-
nous in their desire to see the scope
of the library enlarged instead of hav-
ing it kept to its present narrow lin
It's" said DR.. Bowerman.
librarians are primarily interested
in peace" he said, land seek to pro-
mote 1t as a matter of self-preservation.
Money spent in armies and navies and
for interest on piled-up debts cannot
be spent for social objects or for edu
cation. and since the library is perhaps
the youngest and least considered of
all educational agents it will doubtless
suffer most from the enforced econo-
mics resulting from the present strug
gle in Europe. The convention was.
therefore, eager in the expression OF
hope that the present conflict may be
brought to q permanent close"
The work Of the county library sys-
tenn of California was graphically
shown by a great map OF that state.
forty feet square, and by moving pic
tures which showed the daily effective
work done in carrying library facili
ties to practically entirely the rural
population OF that immense but thinly
populated commonwealth.