The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-06
L OCAL AFT AIR S.
The American Instit ute and the Propos.
ed CrvstnI Palace


At the regular monthly N Getting of the American
Institute on Thursday evening, the subject of the
proposed Worlds Fair in Reservoir square, was
introduced by Mr.. LOCKWOOD, who said he consi-
derea it matter which merited their deep a.ten-
ton and consideration, inasmuoh it was subject
Of much interest to this CITY, and to every branch Of
industry within its limits He said, it is stated, and
! suppose on good ausho..sy, that the Common
Council Of New York have, to . certain extent, en-
doreed that project, which IL to hold here witain
the next eighteen months what is to be called
Worlds Fair, and that No are to have Reservoir
square given at a nominal rent to these projectors
for the purpose Of erecting Crystal P alacs This
understand to DO q subject now attl acting great
deal of attention. When the question was irst
started of Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, those
who undertook it had of course very great doubt
"a to its success; 1t was one Of the problemar
tic things in the world it was denounced by many
persons who considered it q project likely to in
voive the government and individuals in great ex-
pense, and at all events, that it could not produce
any national good; this was the anguage of the
provincial psper; but the papers of London, al
mett without exception, gave the project their
hurra- as Prince Albert was at the head oft. The
nent, and Hyde Park appropriated to it uuder the
auspices OF the prince c0nsort. The British Par.
Lament is Ieputed to have the power to do avery.
thing, except TO make man q Woman, or womana
quite that power-but even il they were a. omoi
potent as the British Parliament, We should still
have the prerogative, as individuals and corpora.
tiors, of inqnriNg whether it would be for the ge
DerGl good-whether it would promote the interests
Of the Industrious classes in this country at large
whether 1t would promote the interests ofthe trade,
and commerce and industry of this city nd whether
the public, or tie corporation-supposing them to
be ever 50 competent-0ught to countenauce it, or
whether the project is fraueht with mischief aud
with the depression which followed the fair in Lon
don. or is ons which would bring all the wealth Of
Calfornis within,Gf few months into the lap Of our
CITY. II the result appears 60 unfavoraele, Of
course it is our duty to say So and speak OUT and
remonstrate in q bold tone with these gentlemen
who pretend to he the omnipotent parliament in
New York; but if, on the other hand, we should
find IL project which would be beneficial to the
city of New York, and to every branch Of trade and
commerce, We ought, disregarding all other con-
alterations, TO give it q hearty and cordial sup
port. do not wish to discuss this part of the SUD-
ject any further. Let us inquire into the facts let
us see what effect the fair had in London. We do
not expect, and cannot have koh. inoor, or those
jewels Of immense price, and thousand other OBJ
jects, which were no doubt. the chief attractions
OF that exhibition to hundreds Of thousands But
this is entirely outside Of wha. the operation is to
be on our own city interests, and on the interests Of
the manufacturing and industriou, clasres of every
kind in this country. Ii seems to me that this is
deserving of very serious and grave consideration
and for this purpose we must first investigate ali
the facts, with such materials can be- found in
great variety of publications in this city, and We
can then determine whether or not this ia q thiag
which the Institute ought to ceuntenance or set
itself against now come to the subject of the
right OF the Corporation to appropriate Reservoir
square, public square, devoted to public use, and
to lease it for nominal or any other rent to be
such authority in the Corporation II the city
OF New York; they have no more right to lease
that for one two, or three years. than they have to
lease the Park for five dollars, to be used rs COW
fnYn RIf hyu SC tsxoI~x -
question, whether or Iot it would be beneficial to
the industry OF the oily Of New York, and the
trading interests of the country at large. IT, as
am informed, the effect in London was the perfect
months after the opening Of the exhibition, what
may we not expect it to do in this city! There all
the influences OF the government were enlisted to
support it but here, in the city of New York, the
case is quite different, and it may produce very
disastrous effect on the industrial and commercial
interests OF this CITY l, therefore, move that the
subject be referred to committee Of three, to be
appointed by the chair, end report to the Institution
al an early meeting
Mr.. Nash wished to knov what is to be done in
the meantime, II the committee goes into operation:
they would fiId that before they moved many
steps, this crystal palace project would have got
pretty much natuTeo, AID the act nov before the
Legislature, to incorporate the body for five years.
would have passed, and then the committee might
whistle up hill or down hill, but they would not
be able to stop the project; and they would fad,
well stop holding fairs for the five years ths the
crystal palace would be held at Reservoir square
This crystal palace, instead Of being q shew to
crafty the American people, and encourage art
Will be great commercial bazaar, where all of the
manufactures and industry of Europe, which were
not disposed Of at the London exhibition might be
sent for sale. And at the same time, they would
fiLd that this would produce great commercial
Reservoir square, we will find it TO be an estab.
lshment BY which every kind of manufacture made
in the old world will be presented here, and kept
on exhibition, and that they will have agents here
goods for the market, to the exclusion Of our 0 sn
n an uactures; ard this besides, will be perpetual
thing. Once incorporate that inst tuition, and once
get an act OF Legislature for that purpose, they
will, and we may then " hans up our harps" But
we are not to go to work by way of appointing CON-
mittees 10 ino out what the fair did in Lon 1on for
We know that already; our first act should be to
send remonstrance to the Legislature, ainst in
nssrance is sent, have ne doubt but it will have
tt effect Of stopping the act Of incorpor alton and
the sooner is sent the better The idea of ppoint
ing committee to investigate, consider, and re-
port IN fortnight hence, is simply absurd. We
want prompt action We ought to do it this eve.
nlDg and we want also to appoint committee to
erter into communication with our sister societies
III Philadelphia, Boston, bany, and else where to
make a concerted remonstrance against .Je intro.
duction OF such monster into this country as well
Is to unite with US in holding a worlds fair here
net for the benefit OF foreigners, who care nothing
about it, further than how ts make the most money
out it, but for the benefit Of our own industrious
classes- and have no doubt but that sucn worlds
fair wouli succeed most admirably. Tley can
get Etglishmen to make thor palace, and to
serd their glass and iron here for tho purposes
and they can get meney enough subscribed BY
nauuactuTng establishments 10 Europe ta ere ct ten
tuch palaces, and to keep them open Cor lie years.
but it Tili be mere commercial bazaar to exh bis
foreign goods here, to the Injury of our own manu-
featuring citizens. ALLOW tle watcbm skers Of
S@izeilaId TO have such bazsar open for five
years, and they will send watch cases here enough
to put an entire stop to our III manufacture Of
that article; and it is just so with cloths and mil
iios other things. Now, do you believe thai We
could get permission to 60 TO England and set up 3
worlds fair there! Could we gee an act OF Parla-
nent to bold q worlds fair there for q period OF
i've yesIa! 10 you believe that the French people,
or tee Swiss people would believe It DO you DO.
lisve that there is single country in the old world
which would permit any such project to be carried
on! Could not the Lord Commissioners close the
.orieu Is hill n certain nd rroh;hit