Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-02-26
The BOARD oF rRApE.

MEETING OF THE MANAGERS, LAST EVENING
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION = OTHER BUsI-
NEsB.
There was meeting Of the Board of Trade
Managers, last evening. Vice President Lea be-
ing unable to remain, j. T. Head presided The
were read up and approved.
Washington Hastings was appointed member
Of the Finance Committee, to fill vacancy and
William Y. Warner was elected manager in
place of 4. s. Bellah, resigned.
The Committee on Harbor Improvement and
on the Revenue Gutter business reported pro-
gress.
Mr. Thomas Webster, of Philadelphia, was
then introduced, and addressed the meeting, in
behalf sof the great Centennial Celebration, to
be held in Philadelphia, in 1876. By an
Act of Congress, passed March 8, 1871,
it was provided that such an Exposi-
tion, " of American and foreign arts, products,
and manufacturer" should be held Further
provision was made, in another Act for the or
ganization Of the Centennial Board Of finance
to raise by stock subscription, throughout the
United States, capital Of 100000 900, in shares
of 80 each OF this sum $l25,000, is allotted
to the State OF Delaware, and books OF subscl. a.
tioD are now open, but are to be closed, accor-
ding to the terms Of the plan, on March Sd. In
Philadelphia, the amount now subscribed is near
ly two millions of dollare, of which, however
S5OOOOO is a gift, and not stock subscription,
| from tue city. 1t is expected the State will
| give 81 900, 900 more, in the same way, thus
placing at the disposal of the Financial Board a
million and half Of dollars Of "bonus," which
will go to assist in making the enterprise IL
naDcial success.
The subscriptions to the stock are PAYABLE in
easy instruments twenty per cent. at the time
| OF subscribing, and the balance as it shall be
| called for at intervals before 1876 When the
Governor OF Pennsylvania shall certify to the
President that sufficient sum is secured for the
erection OF buildings, the latter will announce
| the Exposition National affair, and invite
| the corporation Of ali the Nations Of the World
The great buildings tor the purpose it ia pro-
posed to erect, mestly OF iron and glass, on a
plateau in falrmount Park overlooking the city.
/ They will cover tJty-fUe acres of ground being
fifteen more than those for the PARIS Exposition,
| and even five more than the great building now
erected at Vienna, surpassing in extent anything
the world has ever seen. 1t 10 expected to raise
| from four and half millions of money in Penn
| sylvania, and Mr. Webster thought other States
would also do their share, though some might
| not. Where patriotism and interest Joined to
urge them, as in Delaware, he thought the
people Wonld join promptly in the work. He
| dwelt upon the patriotic record OF Delaware
and then said that her interests must be greatly
| promoted by the holding OF such magnificent
Worlds Gathering. She was as much interested
| as anybody. Our great river, common to Phila-
delphia and Wilmington, is the "Clyde OF Ameri-
| Ca" Foreign capitalists visiting us, and seeing
and comprehending our great advantages would
| invest here.
| AhO puildlubs DeluB VI IRON anu Blah5. 1nls
material is very valuable after being used and
it is estimated will realize forty per cent. OF the
hrst cost. The receipts from visitors will oil
course, be immense, and these, added to othel
sources of revenue very likely, it is believed
to make the enterprise paying Investment He
urged upon the meeting the Importance OF
prompt action, as the books are to be closed il
a few days, and promised that those interested
in the work, in Philadelphia, would cooperate
in every possible way, with movement ia vii.
mington.
On motion Of E. I. Warner, the subject wal
referred to a Committee of five, which the Chail
announced as follows Messrs. L. T. Warner, III
NJ Jenkins, Geo G. Lobdell, Washington Hast
ings, Job II. Jackson. Mr. Warner subsequent
ly declined this appointment owing to a press o.
other duties, and the vacancy remains to be sup
piled.