Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-04-22
The Crystal Palace.

We notice that the best informed newspapers in
the city of New York speak of this undertaking as
stupendous failure, after all the pufery and lau-
dation it has received from those interested in the
speculation The NJ Y. Sun says that, unless some
new leaf is turned in the associations book Of
management the main bjects for which it was pro-
jected will be defeated Quite an attempt was made
not long since to create an impression that applca-
tons for space in the building exceeded the limits
of supply So far is this from the truth that those
to whom spcce has already been assigned are send
ing in notices of withdrawal of their applications
It appears from the statements in the Sun. that
the completion of the building before the first of
May is ont of the question: and it is doubtful if it
will be finished before the fourth of July. The en-
gineers and architects at loggerheads much of
the material has to be fitted aft er it reaches the
ground, beams being found too long, and grders too
Short and, to use hOmely expressit H. g the very
old Harry is to pay all round.'
Complaints loud and deep are heard from many
who at first took warm interest in the undertaking
that it is becoming very dimnutive stock iobbing
specu alton, with magnificent pretensions and prom
ises none of which will probably be realized. The
hundreds and thousands of citizens were to flock
there in crowds, will be found missing The hotel
keepers who anticipated such golden harvest will
pocket q disappointment instead of dimes. The bril-
liant description we have read in the Journals, will
all end in moonshine.
The editor of the Troy Budget, who if rarely at
fault in matters of this sort has the following re-
marks in relation to this concern:
THE CRYSTAL PALACE.-We are becoming preiu-
diced against this institution. Perhaps some of our
readers who were always So may think we are rath-
er late about taking such position but our preju-
dices were at first favorable. We thought some.
thing might come of it. But the more we see of it,
the less confidence have in it's prospective good
or its benefit to the various mechanic or fine arts
By many ii has been regarded from the beginning
as neither more nor less than a grand humbug.-
Though we were not at first disposed to agree with
them, as time progresses half inclined to
yield to their superior wisdom. If there be any
foundation for the reports that are in circulation
some of the managers of this concern are more de-
Srous of protting by their private outside specua-
tons than to hasten the completion of the main
work, or to secure the object for which the enter.
prise was confessedly commenced. 1t is true that
the directors said to have leased all the room in
the building for exhibition purposes. yet this only
secures the success Of the speculation and as spe
culation merely. If is regarded in this view there
is nothing perhaps to be said against it. The org
majors and managers of the scheme will doubtless
get their money back with interest; but when it i:
claimed that it is the prime of the exhibition
to give an impetus to the industry or ingenuity Of
the country the pretence is in our opinion nothing
more nor less than an imposition upon the public
1t is mere private. money making enterprise, anc
should be treated as such, and has no claims upor
the public except in this its true and climate char
acter.