Show outlook justifies state participation in new york fair whalen voices opinion in inviting governor and people to the 1939 exposition NEW YORK special in a letter of invitation to the governors of 47 tates tales grover whalen president of the new york worlds fair 1939 Corp corporation ration points out that thai the commercial consequences of the international exposition under construction in new york cil city arc so great and important that they alone would justify the active participation of every state in the nation fifty million persons from every walk in life from every state in the united states stales from every country in the world are expected to attend he fair writes mr whalen the great american market with its tremendous consumer purchasing power will be represented by these visitors they will comprise a true cron section of america the worlds fair according to mr whalen will be a magnificent spectacle entertaining and instructive irwill attempt to answer the questions what kind of a world have we built what kind of a world are we building what kind of a world can we build with collateral improvements it will represent a total investment of more than by the fair corporation and the governmental industrial and other participants the fair site park Is a tract of 1216 acres almost at the geographical and population centre of new york city construction of buildings and roads grading dredging planting and landscaping are already under way based upon a schedule which calls tor for completion of all construction operations before january 1 1939 to allow tour four months tor for final decorations and installation of exhibits preparatory to the opening of the fair on april 30 the opening date commemorates the inauguration on april 30 1789 of george washington as the first president of the united states in the government area and near an imposing federal hau hall to be erected by the united states government the fair will provide a hall of states in which the significant contributions of each state in laying the foundations tor for the better world of tomorrow can be proudly displayed says mr whalen his letter supplements an invitation to participate in the fair extended to the governors on november 30 by governor herbert H lehman ot of the host state of new york governor lehman pointed out that the state of new york has already 1 appropriated to date tor for commencement of construction of boulevards service roads bridges and certain other basic improvements the state will make at the exposition site or its approaches the new york legislature further during 1936 passed an act creating the new york worlds world s fair commission of 0 18 members and providing funds in aid of this blodys preparation of plans tor for a state building and exhibit and tor for active state participation in the fair |