Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-03-07

tc N Oiif eAllDttlJN DN t!lb cAttu', va
riety end excellence cf her products.
1t should Dc remembered the pro.
posed exhibition ia, by the act OF con
gress authorizing it, invested with the
character Of n national celebration oil
the anniversary Of American indepen-
dence, and by the same authority has
been 50 proclaimed and commended to
foreign nations by the president OF the
United States, and that the maximum
amount of capital to be raised was fixed
at 100000, 600. 1t should be consld-
cred, to; the cost of labor and Of
material is greater in the United States
than in Europe. 1t is sumbitted, there.
fore, that the amount to be appropria-
ted by congress should be proportioned
with reference to these facts, and with
Difference also to the degree rof aid
which experience has shown to be re-
quisite from the governments under
whose auspices the latest and most ex-
tensive of such exhibitions have been
held. 1t is the desire of the commits
sion that Vhateverappropriation is made
should be guarded by such wise provis-
ions, and administered under such gov
ernmental control as will insure its ju-
dicious expenditure for the purposes
intended.
The recent almost unprecedented de-
preston in manufactures, trade and
finance, has interfered with the progress
of subscriptions to the stock of the cen
tennial board of finance and with the
payment of the installments due on
those already made. This state OF af-
fairs affords another imperative reason
for such action by congress as will pro-
vide sufficient aud timely appropria-
tions to guarantee the success OF the
national undertaking. Pennsylvania
stands pledged by an act OF her legls-
lature for one million dollars, and the
city of Philadelphia for half million,
to be expended upon building to be
used by the commission as gallery of
fine art, which building will be very
imposing and beautiful addition to the
group, and will remain as perpetual
memorial of the occasion. A copy of
the plans of this building is annexed
hereto.
The people of Pennsylvania, in addi-
ton to these state and municipal appro-
priations, have subscribed to the stock
of the centennial board of finance about
81, 500, 900, which will go into the gen
eral fund for the expenses Of the work
of the commission as it progresses.
This provision for about three times the
quota apportioned to the state may be
regarded as fully counterbalancing and
secular advantage to the state growing
out of the location of the exhibition,
and is as much as could be justly
claimed from her. In view of the ma
tional character of the celebration OF
which the exhibition isthe chief demon
strative element, notwithstanding that
opportunities have been given in all
states and territories by general adver-
tisement, the agency of national banks,
and in other ways, the amount OF actual
subscriptions to date from such states
and territories indicates that from this
source the means could not be secured
in time for use in prosecuting the work,
if at all. The commission has intorma-
tion that preparations are in progress
throughout the country to make the
most creditable exhibits of the products
and industries of the nation, and that
this feature of the exhibition is assured
bevoud any doubt. But as the enter
prise is regarded as a national one there
is an unNillingness 20 contribute money
for the preparation and installation OF
the exhibition, which it is regarded
as specially incumbent on the national
government to provide for. While
many of the states of the union are not
in a financial condition to contribute
money for this purpose, the citizens
thereof express the warmest sympathy
in the success of the enterprise, and
will give it their cordial support SO far
as it is in their power. Steps have
been taken to secure proper represen--
tqtion of the products of every state and
! territory.
To secure the complete and satisfacto-
rv success of the exhibition in every de-
partment, it is absolutely necessary that
such appropriations be promptly made
by the national government as will en-
able this commission to work with
those advantages of government sup.
port that have been enjoyed by the
managers of recent international exhl'
bitions in Europe.