The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-06-22

Industry OF all Nations" IL Is no longer
to be concealed, are not the masters of
their situation. They have undertaken
more than will be crejitably accomplish
ed. They have excited expectations
which will cause degree Of disappoint-
ment. We say this with reluctance
but the credit of the country is daily be-
coming more compromised, and the
sooner there is q clear understanding of
facts as they are the better.
This undertaking is not merely pri-
vate one. Though it is prosecuted by
private company, and with private
capital, it enjoys something of the pres
tige that attaches to public enterprise.
The mpany was specially Incorporated
by the State government the ground
for its fabric was leased to it by the mu-
niclpal government Of this city and
the Federal government has so far inter
ested itself as to issue circulars to the
various governments of Europe solicit
ing their favor and cooperation in the
enterprise, and has also promised TO ex-
empt from duty all goods forwarded
from foreign ports for its use. Its name
and its plan are calculated to bring it
into direct comparison with its great
London prototype, and with national
enterprises of the same character else
where. 1t will be taken by the civilized
world as an exponent Of cur industrial
skill and energy and therefore it is
that its success or its failure is matter
which touches the pride Of every Amer
lean citizen.
The Crystal Palace in London cover
ed twenty acres : that of New FORK Gov
ers two acres and half That cost
ElT6,000 this at least 100000
That occupied eight months in its cree
ton this has already consumed that
space of time, and will not be finished
for many weeks yet. In this last fact es'
pecially, there is cause for deep NORTH
cation. In January, 1853, the ground
was leased by the city; in March the
charter was granted by the Legislature ;
and in the same month the company
was regularly organized. Several months
were spent in settling upon plan, and
in making contracts; and a formal an
nouncemcnt was then made to the world
that the Exhibition would be opened
on the I'd of May, 1853, and it was So
licited that contributions should be sent
at the earliest convenience. Months
passed, and not the least hint was given
by the company that the opening would
have to be postponed. This mode Of
manag ement, when contrasted with the
energy and punctuality Of the London
Exhibition, is positively humiliating.
The movers in this enterprise had all
the advantage of the new architectural
principles established by the Hyde Park
experiment the building they had to
erect was not one-eigh,h as large, and
their supply of means was amr:c ; and
yet tho time which fully served for the
other, they have found far too scant for
them.
What this Exhibition will be when
opened, we have yet no adequate means
of judging 1t is safe to say that it will
not bear comparison with what was seen
in Hyde Park and there is not much
better promise of its successfully vieing
with the Dublin Exhibition, or with the
new Crystal Palace which takes the
place Of the old near London. The
Dublin Exhibition was opened on the
18th of May the other before the first
of June. The Dublin building is of
iron, timber and glass, and on magnif-
icent scale The available area Of its
ground floor is l47,704 feet that ofthe
New York Palace llI,000 feet 1t
will be a sure success The best Brit
ish manufacturers, and the leading fab
rcants of Paris, Berlin, Brussels, and
other continental cities, will contribute
profusely. One of the wings will be de-
voted to pictures, and will contain the
most perfect asscmblage of modern art
ever brought together at one time under
the same roof. The Royal Academy,
the possessors of private galleries, and
the individual artists, all cooperate for
this object and the offering of pictures
from the Continent has been so numer-
Gus that the Committee have been COM
PEELED TO limit the supply from this
source to less than one half the number
tepdered. The other Crystal Palace is
situated about six miles from London
Bridge, in an area of about two hundred
acres, covers twenty acres In ITSELF and
has wings encomPassing terrace gardens
which occupy more than thirty acres
1t will cost more than half million
sterling, will be lined on all sides in the
interior with the plants aud trees of ev-
cry cline, interpreted with statues
and works of art, aud will be filed with
the finest specimens Of the useful and
the ornamental arts This enterprise,
though under the patronage of govern
ment, is, like our own, commercial
speculation owned by shareholders yet
it will be museum Of nature, art and
science, such as the world can hardly
parallel.
America has the precedence Of the
whole world " in the steam ship, in the
railway, in the thoughts that shake man
kind" but she is not in a situation to
compete successfully with the old ma
tions of Europe in exhibitions of this
character, We have not the means for
thorough scientific and artistic educa
ton such as exist in Europe Ia Eng
land there are at least 200 institutions
t.r mechanical and scientific culture,
numic ring at least 10000 members.
London h lone contains 100 Of such soci-
cites sustain. 1 at an annual expense of
Ei6OOOO In Germany 10000 men an.
nually receive the MN technical and
scientific training of the Trade Schools
and Polytechnic Institutions, wsile more
than 10000 workmcn are being syste'