, 1874-05-02
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.

purified republic, be still lives, and Will HY1 forever.
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
To ths Psopls Of the Eoythtoest:
It is right that the people of the United States
should know TINT the day and year which closes
tho century of American Indopondonce-July 4,
197G-will be commomorated with ceremonies
expressive OF tho gratitude and pride OF great
nation and, In accordance with tho act OF
CongroRs Of juno l, 1872, which created the
Board OF Finance, the following report is mado
over the signature OF the President Of tho
Board
Tho original law Of Congress, enacted March
8, 1871, provided for the celebration OF the
Centennial Of American Independence by m IN
ternatlonal exhibition Of tho artH, manufacturoB,
| aud natural Iesources Of this nnl other coun-
tries under tho auspices OF the. Gogernment of
tho United states."
And tho act Of June !, 1879, lxod tho capital
to complete this groat commemorgtion at s10,-
| 100000, which was by the Commissioners appor-
TONED among tho several States and Terrific
rsoB on the oasaia of population.
OF this sum, the State Of Pennsylvania alone,
aided by subscription Of 100000 from tho
State Of Now Jersey, has raised, in tho form Of
snnsefptens To- tho atosk ana By appropriations
delphia, about $4,000 600, or nearly one Lalf tho
| amount necessary to inBure aucceaB. This pro-
VISION having been made. designB for suitable
buildings wore approved, and other preliminary
| and incidental artauco1nents have go far All.
yanced as to Justify a11 Immediate commence
meut Of tho work Of Constructor
Tue Commissioners haye anneaied to tbe oon.
grcss OF tho United States, on tho basis OF those
subscriptions, appropriations, and preparations,
to maintain the spirit OF tho two laws shove ro-
| ferrod to, and tho correspondence OF the stato
Department. with foreign powers las induced
| tho Governments Of tho N1tharlants. Dair,um.
| dor, tho Argentine Confederation Chill. Moxico.
| Hayti md tho Sandwich IBIapda. to express
their intention to participate, and they have ey-
ery reason to believe tint tins appeal 10 OonptnHs
viii bo geuorouely respoudol to.
Subscriptions to the stock have also boon mado
| by individuals in tho States and Territories Of
Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Montana, Indiana,
Nevada. Oregon, California, Louisiana, Florida
| Maryland, OHIO, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona
New Jersey Delaware, Rhode Island, Arkansas,
| Alabama New York, Virginia, Iowa, and Knnsas
Such IN brief ls tho condition Of tho organiza-
ton for tho International commemoratlon Of
! tho close OF tho century Of American indopond.
ence.
The City OF Philadelphia was selected as tho
most fitting locality at which to celebrate the
| blrth OF American Independence for tho roasonB:
| !. That M from phlladelphia the Magma charta
Of human liberty, tho immortal Declaration, WAS
| uttered. The buildings in which eho Conven-
| s,ou sat remained substantially Us they wore on
| that historic day; aud
2. OF all tho points of Revolutionary interest.
Philadelphia is tho most central md accessible
to the wnolo country. It il tho Republics COLO
bfation OF it's birthday at tho worry place Of its
| birth.
Tho Finance Board earnestly urge their follow
nountrymen to keep in mind the Ereat fact that
clio eYeut to be commemofated is the pranilest
aud most MON eptous in history that tho os coms
memoration IL to take the form Of IN exhibition
Of tho stupendous progress made by tho Amer
icau people in tho first hundred years of thojr
independence, in everything relating to thn
natural resources Of the country and their do.
yelopment, and, especially, its progress IL thoao
Industries, arts, and institutions which benefit
How diversified are the objects which must
ontor into thas exhibitiou-how vast tic build
ingy and tho space REQUIRED to present then, with
full effect, aro suggestlous that noed only to be-
mentioned to bring homo 70 'eyory American tho
colossal magnitude OF tho undertaking.
Cousldor Tor moment the industrlea, pro-
duets, aud deyicea necessary to IN ADEQUATE OK
pressson ct tho progress OF your own Slate. aud
tho space tlAt will 10 esaeptinl to their fui nre-
aontation, and YOU eau hardly fail TO porceive
that your State alono will require an araa IN tho
exhibition buiiiings and grounds equal to that
occupied at Vienna by England or Franco. This Ia
true Of not less than ten Of tho older Statcs. Tho
other twenty-seyen statos aud ten Torritorios
will each Of them require space Ia proportion.
That Tho stock Of tho Centennial board ot ri.
nance might be within the roach Of every Citizen
tho Congress Of the Unitea States fixed every
share a. elo which will ba represented by q
handsome Btool-ongravod certiaca!o, oxeoutcdby
the Treasury Department Of tho aoyernment
and attlngly dcsignod in commemoration OF tho
evous. Tie Board 10 soliciting subscriptions to
ts stock feel assured that thoro Ia patriotic de-
sire to render the exhibition worthy Of tho oe-