The New York herald., 1872-12-21
Action Of the Government in Connection
with the Great Exhibition Of In
dustrial Enterprise.
AN APPROPRIATION OF S1oo, ,ooe.
InsufRciency Of the Amount AZ Explained by the
Commissioner General T. B. Van Buren's
Lowest Estimate eSo7, ,000-Ar. Van
Buren, Threatens to Resign if
Not supported-Statements
and Explanations.

The time for the great competitive exposition OF
the industries OF all nations, at Vienna being
at hand general interest 10 manifested by all lovers
and admirers OF the progress of science and art Ia
the management under which the organized co.
operation OF all branches OF American industry
will have creditabe representatio in the coming
great International enterprise. All the scientific,
geographical and industrial societies OF most OF
our cities have also shown by their cooperative
energies magnanimous sympathy with the grand
International effort which is being made to excite
competition in the further development OF the arts,
sciences and industries, not only among indi-
viduals, but also among nations
General Thomas B. Van Buren, OF New York, holds
the position OF Commissioner General to the Inter-
national Exposition from the United States, and
has SO far exercised his best endeavOrs to give
America praisewOrthy representation. AS large
sums Of money for the Exhibition have already
been allotted by many European governments, the
United States Congress, through the appeals OF Mr..
Van Buren, to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
has also adopted course OF action somewhat
similar TO that OF each European Power, but evi-
IDENTIFY In proper tiOnably less degree. A bill Of
appropriation for 100000 towards the Interna-
tional Exhibition was passed by the Senate on
Thursday.
A HERALD reporter visited Mr. Van Buren, yes.
terday at his olce in Chambers street Tor the pur
pose OF getting some information regarding the
|
ton. The following are his views, statements and
| explanations condensed: -
He said that he undertook TO discharge the
duties OF the Office which he filed as Commissioner
General to the Exposition rather reluctantly and
ne nad tnorongn conception OF the responsibility
| OF the various and aggregate expenses necessarily
involved in connection with it. He at first sug
gested the appropriation oil $5o0,000 to the Expo
| SltlOn OF
AMERICAN INDUSTRIES
at the Vienna Exhibition before the Committee on
4
response. lie was afterward ordered to make out
correct estimate of what expenditures were likely
to be incurred by shipments, &C. which he did
forthwith and submitted the estimate, which was
100000, to the committee. He thought that the
country could not possibly be represented at the
Vienna Exhibition in a fair manner at any lower
estimate. The committee, however, demonstrated,
and said, "You know we cannot make the appro-
priation more than one hundred thousand dollars
at the highest estimate. Mr. Shellaberger, OF Ohio
ton bill. while some Of the scientific Journals
attacked the measure on the ground that patents
secured rom the governments OF this country and
Austria were necessary for the preservation OF the
/ rights and regulations of our inventors; but it
should be already understood by them that the
Austrian and Hungarian people are most anxious
to secure respectable display of American ma
chnery and inventions, and In order to secure this
the authorities express their determination to do
| all In their power to
PROTECT INVENTORS AND PATENTEEs
against piracy and annoyance. Mr. Van Buren
continued to say that law has been already
passed by the Austro- Hungarian Parliament grant
ing the right to every exhibitor to obtain from
which certificate viii act as q full patent during
the exhibition and for two months afterwards, and
may then be turned into patent by the payment
OF fee not less than eleven dollars. Moreover, on
the 9TH of April, 1872, there was ratified between
the governments OF both countries treaty upon
"trade marksn which places American owners and
inventors In Austria in the same position that
mittee has also urged upon the State Department
the propriety of convention for the formation Of
o further treaty which shall in all respects place
American patentees In Austria. on level with
Austrian patentees in the United States. draft
OF this treaty has been prepared and sent by the
General to the Austrian government
Two complete diagrams OF the public grounds
set apart and the spacious buildings erected for
I the Exposition were then shown by Mr.. Van Buren,
to the HERALD representative. The diagram rep
resenting the park in which the buildings are
beng erected has an area of 900 acres. The main
! building, known as the ''Paace of Industry,n is to
be 5000 feet long and 50 feet in width. The grand
! span of 354 feet, and rises In q clear, unbroken
| arch $50 feet from the floor. The department
to the United states in the
the one nearest the city, and therefore, the most
conspicuous, as 1t Is directly in the path vast
the street cars. All the other nations have their
departments in continuation to the number OF
rated and fitted up in most costly man.
ner, while the 100000 appropriated by the
thinks, will be very poor sum altogether to enter
into competition with. He also contempates
throwing up his office as Commissioner under such
encouragement, and says that II any person under
takes to carry out the designs of
AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
in similar manner to that contemplated by him,
and with the low appropriation of $10O, ,0O0 that
man will cheat and deceive the public by affecting
to do what he cannot, The undertaking, he said,
was not personal affair scheme Tor selfish mo-
tives and personal interests. but was rather
a national Industrial work OF enterprise
which should interest the feelings Of evefy Ameri
can citizen, and more favorable opportunity or
one promising greater advantages could not be
desired by American manufacturers and inventors
All communications must be ready by February
l, 1878, and the Advisory Committee will decide at
an early date what works can be accepted to fill
the designated space.