“SAN FRANCISCO, 1815.”

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16564, 30 May 1914, Page 15

“SAN FRANCISCO, 1815.”

LATEST EXPOSITION NEWS

(By W. A. WALSH, Formerly or Sydney. Press.)

SAN FRANCISCO, April 14

"San Francisco, 1915." This legend greets tho countless thousands who flock to San Francisco every week or pass through its golden portals on their way east or west. The first thing observed by the new arrival from anywhere is the great Ferry Building at tho foot of Market Street, and in big letters of commanding electric light, ho reads, "San Francisco, 1915, Pan-ama-Pacific International Exposition." Ho has only to look up Market Street, or anywhere for that matter, and h* gazes on tho magic talisman, " 1915." Should he receive a letter from a business man, it is all the same. The combination of figures arrests his attention. Even the beautifully prepared postage stamp on the envelops does its share, and no matter how far afield ho may wander, the impression is per« manent.

[ Although nboufc eight months must ! elapse before the opening of the Exposition on February 20, 1915, tho construction and all other preparations for the great celebration are far advanced. Australia and New Zealand may rest assured that the Exposition will commence operations on the very tick of time. Plans for events of national and international interest are being perfected rapidly. Among these are the initiatory cruise through the canal of tho magnificent fleet of from 160 to 200 warships from the navies of all the maritime Powers, and the now assured round-the-worid aviation contest. The information that tho battle cruiser Australia and two other cruisers will represent tho Commonwealth hero next year has been received with gratification by the exposition authorities. The mere presence of the vessels will be a living and effective demonstration to the world of Australia's rise to nationhood and the beneficial results will be simply incalculable. The invitation of the President of the United States to the nations of tho world to participate has met with a Remarkable response. Thirty-fire nations have accepted. , With those not formally participating, the lack of official action will be mora than made up by individual exhibitors, as in Germany, for example, where 1500, and in England, where 600 of tho leading manufacturers have declared their intention of exhibiting. Exhibits are now being prepared in every part of tho earth and will aggregate a total weight of 70,000 tons. An idea of the immensity of the Exposition may be gained from the fact that the total expenditure upon the grounds in installation and construction will be ten million pounds. A fleet of thirty vessels has been engaged in bringing timber from northern mills for use in building the exhibit palaces. Nino of these, covering from five to eight acres each, are well under way. The machinery palace, described as tho largest wooden structure in the world, containing 8,000,000 feet of timber, 1500 tons of bolts and five carloads of nails, is now ready for the installation of exhibits. The authorities have reclaimed seventy-one acres from the tidewater of the bay, laid a complete sewer systom, installed underground conduits for electricity, a thorough system of high and low water pressure, constructed vast foundations, a sea wall, wharves and a freight ferry slip. The latter connects with the broad gauge terminal railway system, of which thirteen miles of track have been laid within the Exposition § rounds. Spurs of this railway are eing used daily in construction work and will enter each of tho exhibit palaces.