Two cities on the Western coast are heralding to the world the
triumphant completion of the Panama canal. And if a certain writer is
right in saying that there are seven wonders of the modern
world--telephone, wireless, aeroplane, radium, and antisceptics and
antitoxins, spectrum analysis and X-rays--as there were seven wonders of
the ancient world, we can well add that the Panama canal is the eighth
modern wonder and that it is the wonder of all wonders, ancient and
modern.
And it is well that nearly a year is to be given by both cities to the
commemoration of this event in order that the whole world may fully feel
the significance of this remarkable engineering feat to its whole life.
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition held at San Francisco, from
February 20 to December 4, 1915, is the national celebration authorized
and sanctioned and partly financed by the government of the United
States, the total investment being $50,000,000. The Exposition area
covers 635 acres of ground, having a frontage of two miles on the bay
immediately inside of the Golden Gate. The grounds are divided into
three main divisions; the foreign section nearest to the Golden Gate,
the central portion with its exhibit palaces and great Tower of Jewels
rising 435 feet high and the eastern section for rest and amusement. In
keeping with the world consciousness four courts are found on the
grounds; the Court of the Four Seasons; Court of the Universe; Court of
Abundance; Court of Palms; Court of Flowers. Every state and territory
in the Union has made exhibits and in spite of the world war more than
forty foreign countries are represented and co-operating in the
commemoration of this most historic event.
The Panama-California Exposition is held at San Diego, California,
throughout the year 1915, for which the sum of $3,500,000 was raised.
The grounds are embraced within a fourteen-acre park, known as "Balboa
Park," being at the very heart of the city of San Diego. The Exposition
is international in its scope and has exhibits from all the American
countries and from some of the European and oriental nations. It has an
exhibit showing the progress of man from primitive times up to the
present; and also some beautiful floral and horticultural exhibits,
which are making both of the expositions most attractive, many of the
tourists going south from San Francisco in order that they may
participate in both celebrations.