El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-10-13

g. Several years ago, shortly after the
I present Washington park had been
acquired for municipal purposes, the
I council purchased an S0-acre tract
Z Immediately south Of the present en-
{ closure. Up TO three OF four months
ago, this tract was used as q dump
ground. the level Of the land being
lifted By dumpage six or eight feet
in that time Recently. the council
. took action resulting in the removal
Of the dump ground to another site
T because odors from burning waste
/ seriously hampered the purpose Of
5 Washington park as breathing spot
Praise For the Park
''The one big thing on which Ell
Paso must now decide is whether the
! exposition win be made an annual az
Z fair the mayor said. Favorable ac-
T tion on that can be followed By Sc
I lection Of a site
Three years ago, eity.. officials
might have been seriously opposed TO
T the conversion Of washington park
Z into site for an exposition Fl Paso
then was without a really practical
breathing and recreational spot, and
I have made one Of the hobbies Of
my administration the provision Of a
place Of beauty. Washington park to-
/ day compares favorably with the best
{ in the larger cities in the country, al
I though much remains to be done.
Recently, other park sites have
been acquired. principally those near
the School Of Mines and in Castle
Heights Numerous smaller spots
have been added to the parking sys-
ten until today there is hardly a sec
! tion Of the city without its place Of
beauty. Plans for other parks win
have eliminated one Of the main OBJ
1ections which heretofore would have
f r . ~ hn rn
ington park
The site. Of course. has many ad-
Fantages- The swimming pool would
be an attraction such as no other in
land city in the south would offer.
though to get proper use OF that at
traction. it might be advisable to hold
the exposition Somewhat earlier than
was done this year. The zoo and an
tificial lakes and beautiful lawn sys-
TEN add TO its attractions.
Vow that we have other parks in
view believe the council would con-
slider with favor any private enter
prise leading to the placing OF amuse-
mant apparatus In the park. The city
cQulQ not undertake such a thing as
that as a municipal enterprise. but
probably would consider their being
placed there on q franchise We are
expecting that propositions OF that
nature VIII be presented before the
next season opens.
Want Permanent buildings.
the ultimate plan OF any exposi-
ton would strive for numbers OF per-
manent buildings representativr
PROBABLY Of New Mexico. Arizona
West Texas and Mexico. Any site
CHOSEN must provide ample space for
such structures. Probably ground
could be had in the land adjacent 70
but not now included IN washington
park.
1T seems to me also. that Mexico
might be prevailed on 10 place q
building on the grounds IN readiness
LOT next year. any exposition must
feature Mexico for FL Paso, being on
the border, can offer in Mexico q fea-
ture which no other anuual fair in
the country could duplica1e-
without having given mature con-
slderation TO the matter, the distance
OF washington Park from the business
center might offer an objection The
entrance 70 the park Is nearly three
miles from the center OF the CITY. OF
course there are paved streets the
entire distance, while special atteu-
ton 70 street car transportation dur-
ing rush might eliminate this OBJ
lection.
Must Have Plenty OF Room.
IN selecting any site 10 be made
~ ----as----A+r ~--1 must De taken LlaL
one Of ample size Is chosen. The
plan 10 start on a comparatively
small scale is a wise one, but I 40
not believe that one is unduly opti-
riistic in anticipating that some time
10 the future uucn an exposition
might grow 70 one OF great size. Ger
talniy nothing except an international
exposition as pretentious as that held
N san Francisco would have any
ming Ike the territory TO draw from
tnat one In FL Paso Woald have.
"A site in the center OF the business
district it appears. would be out Of
the question Rio Grande PARK ana
the acquisition Of adjacent space in
the Cotton addition, being much closer
20 the business district than Wash
ington Park, might easily prove TO
be the best site Others variously To-
Gated might be a better selection than
either.
'El Paso should begin at once 10
lay plans for making the exposition
distinctly one OF the southwest, with
organization permanent. and business
men undertaking any such burden will
ficials"