Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-05-21
THEH Err A Id
TEE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
aad,e.s OF the Centennial Board OF Finance
20 the People.

will be commemOrated with cere-
monies expressive of the gratitude
and pride of great nation (; and, In
accordance with the act of Congress
of June l, 1872, which created the
board of finance, the following report
is made over the signature of the
president of the board /:
The original law of Congress, en-
acted March 3, 1871, provided for
"the celebration of the centennial of
American independence by an inter-
national exhibition of the arts, manu-
features, and natural resources of this
and other countries, under the au-
spices of the government OF the
United States"
And the act of June /, 1872, fixed
the capital to complete this great
commemorative at $40, 900, 900, which
was by the Commissioners appor-
toned among the several states and
territories on the tasis OF population.
OF this sum the state OF l'eansyl-
vania alone, aided by a subscription
of 800 600 from the state OF New
Jersey, has raised in the form of sub
scripLlons 10 the stock and by appro
priations from its Legislature and
the Council Of Philadelphia, about
100000, OF nearly one-half the
amount necessary to insure success.
This provision having been made, de-
signs for suitable buildings were ap
proved, and other preliminary and
Incidental arrangements have SO far
advanced as to justify an immediate
commencement Of the work of con-
struction.
The Commissioners have appealed
to the Congress of the United States,
on the basis Of these subscriptions,
appropriations, and preparations, to
maintain the spirit of the two laws
above referred to, and the correspond
ence of the state department with
foreign powers has induced the gov
ernments of the Netherlands, Belgi-
um, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden,
Liberia, Ecuador, the Argentine
Confederation, Chilli, Mexico, Hayti
and the Sandwich Islands to express
their intention to participate, and
they have every reason to believe
that this appeal to Congress will be
generously responded TO.
Subscriptions to the stock have al
80 been made by individuals in the
states and territories of Missouri,
Illinois, Nebraska, Montana, Indiana,
Nevada, Oregon, California, Florida,
Louisiana, Mary land, Ohio, Wiscon-
sin, Michigan, Arizona, New Jersey,
Delaware, Rhode Island, Arkansas,
Alabama, New York, Virginia, Iowa,
and Kansas.
Such, ia brief, is the condition of
the organization for the internation-
al commemOrstion of the close Of
the century of American independ-
enoe.
The city of Philadelphia was select
cd us the most fitting locality at
winch to celebrate the birth of
American independence for these
reasons
|, That from Philadelphia the
Magma Charta of human liberty, the
immortal Declaration, was uttered.
The buildings III which the eonven-
ton sat remain substantially a. they
were on that historic day; and,
2 OF all the points of revolutiona-
ry interest, Philadelphia is the most
Central and accessible to the whole
country. It's the Republics celebra-
ton of its birthday at the very place
OF It's birth.
Tho finance board earnestly urge
their fellow-cOuntrymen TO keep IN
mind the great fact that the event to
be cOmmemorated is the grandest and
most momentous in history, that the
commemorate is to take the form
Of an exhibition Of the stupendous
progress made by the American peo-
IL in tho frst hundred years of their
independence, in everything relating
TO the natural resources of the coun-
try aud their development, and es-
pecially its progress il those indus
tries, arts and institutions which ben
eft mankind.
How diversified are the objects
lhhb Iluot OAiSO4 AAibO NuRS OoAAOtGtOA
how vast the buildings and the
space required to present them with
full effect, are suggestions that need
only to be mentioned to bring home
TO every American the colossal mag
nitude Of the undertaking
Consider for q moment the indus
tries, products, and devices necessary
TO an adequate expression of the pro-
gross of your own state, and the
space that will be essential to their full
presentation, and you can hardly fail
to preceive that your own state alone
will require an area in the exhibition
buildings and grounds equal to that
occupied at Vienna by England or
France This is true of not less than
ten of the older states. The other
twenty-seven states and ten terrific
ries will each of them require space
in proportion.
That the stock of the centennial
board of finance might be within the
reach of every citizen, the Congress
of the United States fixed every share
at $40, which will be represented by
ahandscm me steel engraved certificate,
executed by the Treasury Depart
mont of the government, and fitting.
" designed in commemoration of the
event The board, in soliciting sub
scriptions to its stock, feel assured
that there is patriotic desire to rem
der the exhibition worthy of the oc-
casioD.
Notice is hereby given that checks
and drafts can be addressed to the
financial treasurer, Frederick Fraley,
No. 904 WALNUT street, Philadelphia,
for any number of shares, at SO each,
and certificates of stock will be
promptly returned. The information
81 exhibition will commence on the
18th of April, 1876, and close on the