Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-15
may POSTPONE FAIR
OPENING UNTIL 1927
: Edward Box Urges Directors to
Allow Ample Time for Stu
pendous Display
WANTS SUCCESS, NOT SPEED

the greatest world 1alr ever "''''
have been organized upon such scale
in providing for national and inter-
national participation that 1t now ap-
pears likely that It will take an extra
year to get the fair ready for opening
Rather than postpone the Sesqui.
Centennial after its construction Is
actually under way, Edward w. Box
and other leaders among the directors
hive reached the conclusion that 1t
would be preferable to fix the date for
the opening in 1927 instead OF in l926.
No action has yet been taken by the
directors, but at either a special meet
ing Of the directors or at the stated
meeting for Tuesday the question will
be brought up for Immediate disposal.
An Investigation has been going for.
ward quietly for weeks into the ques-
ton Of time required TO obtain appro-
priations from the forty eight States
and the four territories of the United
States and from more than threescore
foreign nations. The majority Of for
eign nations desire to participate. as,
of course, do all Of the States in the
Union.
Must Wait on Legislatures
The crux Of the situation disclosed
lies in the fact that official inquiries
show many State Legislatures will not
convene until one year hence, and
others not for two years. This means
that in many instances appropriations
cannot be obtained for three years.
leaving a year or less to erect buildings
and install exhibits.
The sentiment to open the fair In
1927 instead of 1926. however, does not
mean that the work of preparation will
now slacken or lag at this end Of the
Intervening period. On the other hand.
1t indicates. say the directors, that the
most intensive kind of work must be
begun at once.
The records of other world fairs and
large expositions reveal that great de-
lays were encountered in opening. IN
installation Of exhibits and in the actual
construction Of buildings. At the
jamestown Exposition one important
building was not completed until about
month before the fair closed
When the Worlds Fair opened at
Chicago in 1893. and that had been
postponed for a year. incurring millions
In losses for blameless exhibitors and
others who had sunk fortunes in con =
cessions and fair construction. there
were 300 carloads of exhibits on side
loaded.
The need for sufficient time for such
vast exposition is illustrated by the
fact that the French Government in
1894 announced to the world the plans
for the exhibits to be shown in the
Worlds Fair in 1900, and even then
there were serious delays affecting that
'reat exposition.
Mr.. Box for some weeks has been
nrUiO0 on liS fpllnw Iirnctnrs ba poaJ
for more time in getting the exposition
in complete readiness. and he has sug-
gested to the Reorganization Committee
a. an opening date. April 30, 1927.
The quiet summer season begins or
July and continues three months
legislative bodies will be adjourned
interested people will be away for the
summer. All that can be done meantime
will be to organize the fairs working
forces and to get them ready actually
TO transact business in the fall.
Mr.. Box therefore contends that this
will leave only three and one half years
for the opening of the fair as scheduled
for 1926-too brief q period, since every
fair has found five years work abso-
lutely necessary.
Expert Advises Delay
Harris de Haven Conn!ck, vice presi =
dent Of the American International Cor
poration, of New York, who was the
Director of Works of the Panama :
Pacific Exposition in San Francisco in
1915, has made several visits to Pbila =
delphia to confer with fair directors
and give the benefit Of his advice. He
spent half of the night with a group
OF directors last Friday, explaining in
detail matters which were of the most
vital and practical nature. Mr.. Con
nick has substantiated Mr.. Box q
opinion.
position of the former editor and as
serts, from his practical experience,
that even four and half years is none
too long for preparation If the fair is to
open, complete and on time. Mr.. Box S
argument is that Philadelphia might be
actual physical building of the fair
although to do it in the limited time
now remaining until 1926 the cost OF
building will be increased millions OF
dollars by reason of the haste required
Mr., Bok's chief contention IS that the
foreign Governments and States cannon
get ready for 1925.
In n statement made to the committee
of which he is member. Mr.. Box
SAWS that the Gate Tor opening the ran
is purely a matter of mathematical
calculation.
Take the Government of Great
Britain as an example, he argues
"After the President Of the United
States issues an invitation to each for
eign Government, the President mus
appont commission to visit Grea
Britain and each foreign country Il
personally lay before it the fair PROJECT
To equip this commission with prope
argument, sketches. Typographical
maps, plans of the buildings, and 81
forth, wealth of material has to b,
prepared. These must be prepared il
fullest detail.
"We have not as yet planned single
building on the site. All this matera
has to be scaled and drawn and ther
the United States fair commission mus
lay this before the British Board o
Trade. They have to consider it, ant
consult the merchants and manufactures
of Great Britain. Then their repor
has to be laid before Parliament. and q
commission is then appointed to come
to the United States and visit the site
picA spot for their building and con
suit with the fair authorities.
Much Red Tape Ahead
"This commission must then return
TO Great Britain and make a report an,
recommendation to Parliament, anC
secure an appropriation. All this take,
months and months of time. And ever
then. after all these preiiminaries have
been worked out, the exhibitors al
through the United Kingdom have tc
Al Lnt.. ,l,.l 4. l..