The Billboard 1913-03-22: Vol 25 Iss 12 (1913-03-22)

MARCH 22, 1918 The Billboard 27 | The Exposition That Will] = il Be Ready | thy Gaal By Sam C. Haller ES a oe ; = jeu 3H Std © 1/0 5 RY “SHH ey = : ie On 335 52 ()) Qe eo _ = Sree + al] T 2 aT: 7 1° Trt as | 4 tes. = ft vol ee (\), ey ae ee = 000 wou Res % / IN Tay > eae —| mop bie} t \ )) *"esoeg 00d tQo OG The process and rate of development of a thought-out exposition, and the final completion of it, is practically interminable. Gradual blossoming of the plin is brought about by the infinite variety of new conditions and suggestions which come up from day to day—thereby causing the great schéme to continuously shoot forth new tendrils, but the fundamental principles, once establisht, are officially confirmed and remain constant. A plan totally different from that of any previous great exposition, and infinitely superior in comprehensive elements, to meet governing conditions has been the result. To adequately describe an exposition in words, without constantly indicating and referring to the plans, is always difficult, and usually uninteresting to the reader; therefore, a brief description of the salient parts of the plan is presumably sufficient to give a comprehensive knowledge of what the Panama-Pacific Exposition will be like. The Exposition site consists of an elongated strip of comparatively flat land, extending east to west about two miles along the south shore of San Francisco Bay,gwithin the city limits of San Francisco, and less than two miles from the heart of the business section. The site averages one-quarter of a mile in width north and south, and contains 600 acres. The main exhibition buildings occupy over 100 acres in the approximatg center of the site, covering an area of over ery feet long by 1,200 feet wide, flanked by tropical gardens on the north and south sides, containing about 100 acres, in which the Festival Hall and Horticultural Building will be set. The foreign countries and States of the Union will have their buildings to the west end of the main exhibition palaces. The aviation field, drill grounds and stock exhibit will be west of the foreign countries and States section, which together will occupy about 150 acres. The amusement concessions occupy about 65 acres of the extreme east end of the site; namely, nearest to the exit and conveniently reacht from the main palaces and gardens. The amusement center will be the first of all parts of the Exposition to be reached by those that come from the downtown portion of San Francisco. Its entrance will be by way of the great plaza, at which the concessions district will open out upon Van Ness avenue Through the concessions area will run a broad avenue, the street of concessions it may be called now, for the official name for it has not yet been selected, although many names have been suggested, This avenue will mark an irregular course east and west, but it will describe many right angles. At each turn as the sightseer passes along the street of concessions he will find some imposing concession structure. Each corner will be marked by a great building. The domes of the buildings will be illuminated at night, and startling electrical effects will contribute to the night life of the Exposition at the amusement center. The Panama-Pacific International Exposition Will be a $50,000,000 proposition. In this respect, as well as in the matter of exnibtts and artistic conception, it will be vastly gregter than any world’s exposition that ever has been held in any part of the world. The foundation for the great Exposition was ald In the raising of an original fund of $17,500,000, which amount was pledged to it by the people of San Francisco and California before Congress was asked to give its official governmental recognition. Of this $17,500,000 a sum of more than $4,000,000 was raised within two hours by popular subscription at a great mass-meeting held in the Merchants Exchange Building. This popular subscription was later increased by other pledges to the amount of $7,500,000. In addition to the popular subscription fund, the State of California has taxed itself in the sum of $5,000,000 to aid the Exposition, and the city of San Francisco has authorized $5,000,000 worth of bonds for the same purpose. Approximately $5,000,000 more is assured through an action by the Legislature permitting the counties of the State to levy a tax not to exceed 6 cents on each $100 assessed valuation for the purpose of raising funds for county displays at the Exposition. On January 31, 1911, the national House of Representativs took final action upon the matter of extending Federal recognition, and brought to an end a friendly fight between San Francisco and New Orleans, which had been contending for months for the honor of holding the Exposition. San Francisco won its case before the House of Representatives by a vote of 188 to 159 for New Orleans. On February 8, 1911, the Senate committee of Congress reported unanimously in favor of San Francisco, and the bill was passed a few days later. It was signed by President Taft on February 15, 1911. Ground was broken for the Exposition on October 14, 1911. President Taft turning the first spadeful of earth which marked the actual era of Exposition construction. On February 2, 1912, President Taft, assured that the necessary funds were available, and that the proper site had been selected for the holding of the Exposition, issued a proclamation inviting the nations of the world to participate. <A foreign commission, authorized by the President to represent the Exposition is now in Europe. Thirty-two States outside of California already have participation in the Exposition, while action is pending before the Legislatures of other States. Twenty-one foreign governments have also formally accepted the President's invitation to participate. 1915 FAIR FAR ADVANCT. Expert observers, experienct in the building of previous universal expositions, declare that San Francisco is fully one year in advance of all previous expositions in the matter of general preparedness. In comparison with the expositions at St. Louis and Chicago, every department which has had a share in the laying of the foundation of the Panama-Pacific Exposition has already reacht a point of accomplishment that had not been reacht in either place until a year before the opening of the gates. And, as a corollary of these two previous statements of fact, it is possible definitely to make the promise that for the first time in the history of expositions this greatest of commemorative celebrations will be ready, fully complete in general plan, fully perfected in every detail, hefore the date for the formal opening of the gates. Few persons not directly connected with the Exposition work are able to appreciate from the scattered publications of the details, of the progress of this work, how complicated have been the efforts that have brought the Exposition a, p> piece fas =) -t— SN = , [eos emes ttititiity 737 up through the era of foundation-laying to that of active construction. A vast amount of physical work which Is a necessary preliminary to rapid construction has been accomplisht. One hundred and thirty buildings have been removed from the site. More than 1,600,000 cubic yards of dirt have been filled in upon the grounds. The first official building is finisht and occupied. General plans for the fourteen principal exhibit palaces are ready. Designs for statuary and the general scheme have been perfected. Contracts have been let for the grading of the entire site, and the building of the Machinery Hall, the largest of all the Exposition buildings. A roadway is now being built thru Fort Mason to the government docks. The contract has been let for the grading of the railway yards, and for the improvement of Fulton Basin, which is to be the site of the yacht harbor. The grounds have been cleared. The era of construction has begun. From now on building will advance with cumulative force. Every plan is ready to. push rapidly the period of construction. Hundreds of thousands of trees and shrubs are being prepared for the esplanade and courts. In thoroughness, and in the details of its planning, the Panama-Pacific Exposition matches the Panama Canal itself. The official announcement, made after the full approval of the Roard of Works and Board of Architecture, that by August, 1913, all the fourteen magnificent Exposition palaces will be under construction, and that by June, 1914, all will be completed, justifies the slogan, “The Exposition That Will Re Ready.” By June, 1914, the exhibits of the world can be rolled into the spacious halls of the exhibit palaces in the cars in which they were loaded in distant States, and from the ships which have borne them from the ports of the world. No Exposition before had dreamed of opening its halls nine months before its; gates. The Exposition in 1915 will accomplish this result: More than 800 of the leading exhibitors of the world have applied for extensive space in the great exhibit halls. Some of these exhibits range from $200,000 to $300,000. In contrast to this, no previous American exposition has been able to show even 100 applications at a similar period. It is the event celebrated that attracts the interest of the world and the pride of the nation. (Continued on page 138.) sa "Wien *OAS 4 on GTA P ZA Z Q ZA \ 45 “4 * — ae ae “ Y aa 3 35 NA IGFE in| en / A! i] 4 H