, 1872-12-25
THE VIENNA EXPOSITION.

Shall tue Great Rebuilding Re Repre-
scented?
To the Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
S1R: Preparations are being made on vast
scale for the great Worlds Exposition to be
opened at Vienna in 3Iay next, and every poEsi-
Bile effort is being made both BY the officials i'm
mediately connected with the Exposition, and
their American representatives, to procure the
fullest possible representation Of the arts: IN
dustrios, and present state Of civilization in the
United States. General Thomas 3. Van Buren
has been appointed United States Commissioner,
and is in charge Of all the arrangements as far
as this country is concerned. Committees have
already been formed, representing all sections
Of the country, to take charge OF the several
"groups," OF departments, Of the Exposi-
ton. These arc tVenty-six in num-
Der. One of tho most important. that
OF Fine Arts, is represented by two Committees,
one on Painting and Sculpture, and the other
Oh Architecture. Mr. P. B. Wight, OF the firm
of Carter, Drake d Wight. is the representative
Of Chicago on the last-named Committee. :,
In this department Chicago certainly should
not fail to be we'll represented. The achieve W
ments Of our city in Architecture, during the
past year, surpass those Of any other spot on
the globe, and, though ne may not have pro-
duced any surprisingly great examples, COM
parable to those Of the great cities OF the Old
World, the character OF our architectural work,
in the average, is far above that Of any other
city in America as we'll as in Europe. The spec
/ tacle OF an entire city, miles in extent, being
! substantially rebuilt III one year, is ono
| that the world has never before seen. 1t Is, IN
fact, taken as WHOLE the architectural event OF
the century. How this can be represented ade-
quately, hiss not yet been decided, nor, in fact,
can it be easily decided. The time is short: Al!
preparations must be mado before the lst OF
February. It is possible that, through the
medium of photography, some idea of our won.
de1ful progress can be given. a collection OF
| photographs. representing Chicago before the
| fire, then in ruins, and lastly as She IS atthe
| present dag, would doubtless be the best means
Of attaining the end in view.. AS all contribu-
tions are to be returned at the close of the Expo
sition such collection would be Of great Mstor-
ical value, and might be preserved in the gallery
Of our new Public Library, or the Academy Of
| Design. But the preparation Of it would re-
latter is concerned, it is anticipated that Con
| gress will make an appropriation to defray the
| expense of the transportation OF all goods to
| and from Vienna. But that is not even done as
yet, and it is hardly to be presumed that the ap-
| preparation will cover anything more than the
bare expense Of transportation and packing
| The preparation Of matter for exhibition which
is not Of interest to individuals, but which is Of
general interest to communities, must depend
upon the contributions Of public-spirited indl-
viduals, or appropriations BY State or City Gov,
ernments, for defraying the necessary e1'
| penses. 1t has not yet, however, beer
decided by the National Committee
on Architecture what course to follow. Mr
Wight is now in New York, and, wl1ile there, will
meet the rest Of the Committee. The result o1
their deliberations will be announced on his re-
turn, after the list Of January, when, if it is con
| cluded to make up an American contribution II
this department, an opportunity will be given te
| the citizens Of Chicago to assist 11r. Wight II
this undertaking, and contribute to the proper
| representation Of the newly-built city. Mr
Wlght's Office is in Morrison Block, corner Of
| Clark mud Madison streets, and he will be Glac
| to confer with au who are interested.
CHICAGO, Dec. %, 1872.