New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-12
THE UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION.
THE AMERICAN DEPARTMENT.

AND Observation-Disclosures, ORGANS, PIANOS AND
SEWING MACHINEs-CoNTENTs OF THE FORTY
THOUSAND DOLLAR BARN'-THE EDUCATIONAL
ExHIBIUON-A CATALOGUE OF DEFICIENCIES.
lfRoh THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE |
VIENNA, June Al have no heart to write
about the American Department. I have kept away
from IL as long could hoping against hope that the
new Commissioners would be able TO make something
out OF that IL not credtable, weud disgrace us
NOW opened at last and thousands of people visit
IL daily, curious to what the great Republic beyond
the sea has TO show the Old World and something must
ne said about II. suppose Tho Commissioners have
worked faithfully to repair the of their probe
| cessors, and have done as well as could be
| expected with the materials they found. IL
Ia no reflection upon them TO say that the
result IL thoroughly unsatisfactory. They may well
quote the homely old adage about making silk purse
out OF sow's ear If they blamed for the cheap and
meager show that scantily fills the liberal space
signed the United States, rather claimed for by
the old Commissioners and grudgingy allowed. There
Ia one thing however, where they have shown serious
| lack Of judgment, which think they perceive.
They should have abandoned portion OF the space OBJ
| tanned by Gen Van Buren, The North Gallery which
| We occupy jointly with Venezuela and Brazil,
should have been given up 10 the English. who wanted
II, and the groups OF Education Mining. and Metal
| lurgy, and the pyramid Of Southern agricul-
tural products which scantily Ill 1t. should have
peeu put IN the SCUM Galery. III tDls nau Deen
this gallery would have appeared tOleraby well filed.
As to tho immense covered court adjoining it, for which
$4,000 paid out OF the scanty appropriation OF Con-
gress nothing could have been done 10 redeem IL from
It's empty barnike appearance. 1t was built to enable
few SEWN g-machine companies to advertise their
European agencies and they appear 10 have been given
carte blanche to occupy much Of it they wanted.
After they have constructed their immense platforms
and cauopes, the vacant spaces still painfully con-
spicuous.
II we're go telling how dlscreditable our de-
partrnen Is how few Of best manufacturing indus
tres represented, how scauty is the display Of our
farm products how little exhibit that is distinct
lively American how cheaply, and even shabbly, the
| articles show arranged how many blunder5
| have been committed and how much better things
might have been, there would be no end to the tedious
and doleu tale. Let It suffice to say that make the
poorest show Of any great nation and are surpassed in
almost every group by many OF the second and third
rate European countries while what we have is spread
thnly that 1t does not show for half what it is
really worth. I speak only OF our department
OF the Industrial Palace. The small space occupy in
the Machinery Hall well filled with machines OF which
have reason TO feel ashamed and our little Agri
cultural Hall contains incomparaDly the best reapers
and be found in the Exhibition. Butwe shall
be Judged by portion Of the Palace fear because at
least persons visit the Palace to who to the
Machinery Hail. and agricultural hall is isolated
and obscurey situated that few lind their way to it, The
Palace is the center Of attraction. The articles it
tdns to all classes and every country has
suiyen TO make here the best possible display. The
American Department is the nearest to the West Ex
IRENE, which from it's proximity to tho city and to the
omnibuses and street cars requented than any
other. The visitors TO the Palace first meager
array and pass the crowded galleries of Great
Britain and France which lie beyond and doubt they
grudge time they spend with us, and wonder II the
accounts they have heard OF the marvellous prosperity
Industrial enterprise and inventive genius OF the Ameri
cans were not vain glorious tales OF people who excel
| in little beside boasting
] cannot OF course give complete catalogue here Of
articles invite the world to regard the hest
specimens OF genius and industry but shall try
not 10 omit mentioning anything that is OF sufficient
prominence TO attract attention. Turning 70 the right
as soon psss through the west portal we enter
the south principal American gallery, and the first
| thing that strikes attention Is very large
| and high screen, covered with photographs, con-
fronting u.s. few PAGES from the entrance and shut
ting off the view down the gallery-a happy thought
OF the architect who, by this contriyance, prevents
visitors who pass down the to the departments OF
other countries from seeing our deficiencies The photo
graphs ON the screen are by W. Kurz OF NewYork and
are very good In 'front.' in an alcove at the entrance is
plaster statue OF TennysOn's sleeping Beauty" which
ia 80 bad that the Commissioners refuse 10 allow to
into the Art Hall The walls on the right and left are
| hung with Prapgs wel-known chromos and with ehro
| mos by DuvalI g. Hunter OF Philadelphia. There are
| also specimens OF United states bonds and currency
| and other steeLengraying work executed by the
American Bank Note Company, handsomely
framed. and some sDecimens OF card engraving
| nv a Ney-York firm. In the center OF the
| yestibule.like space made By the screen stands
cylindrical structure covered with Anthony stereop
lie views of American scenery, which attract much at
| tention The exhibitor has tboughtfully provided
number Of hand for the OF visitors and
| To otndad will naf-
pie who are curious how nature looks in the New
| World A collection Of steTeOptic views OF Niagara
Falls and of California scenery by Charles Blerstadt
occupies table by the wall aud opposite areihree cases
OF gold pens and holders and gold mounted gua percba
peneils from j. Morton, l.. W. Fairchild q Co. and E.
| Johusou X Co. Of NewYork, which are probably not
surnassed IL they are equaed the whole Exhibition
| Passing around the screen we get view down the
length Of the gallery 1t reminds us OF the far western
safsa great xpanse Of territory and very little in It,
while the galleries OF all other countries are packed as
fu AZ possible every foot OF room being utilized so
that barely space enough for people to pass BACK
and forth between the westOcked cases. III ours the
effort has plainly been not TO condense but to spread
out The walls are for the most part oSre anu ofe arc
| LARGE vacant spaces ON the floor.
Another unpleasant fact apparent at first glance
pei6er the exhibitors the Commissioners have made
the most OF the articles by providing handsome cases
for them The Commissioners thought That the eNhlo-
or ouet 10 bear OF cases. but most OF the
exhibitors made no provision for this when they sent
their goods and those who came on here were unwilling
20 spend money cases. and thought the cost should
| ho maid from the Congressional appropriation In all
o,her dcpartments very liberal expenditure has been
! Incurred for the attractive display OF goods in
| bapdsome cases whether by the exhibitors
or by their governments 1 DO not know but
probably by the latter. Our failure to do
| the same wonld put MS to marked dts
advantage If all other things were equal few OK
hlbtors have shown enterprise ana hoerah'y IN inns
80 and when they found that the Commission would
do nothn9 for them, they did the best they could on
short notice and few thoughtful enough to ship
om America Tue reverse OF the screen OF which
~ sau, the front on entering the gallery is covered