Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-11
The Centennial Exhibition.

address of the Centenaidl Board Of
Finance to the People.
To THE PEoPLE OF THE NORTH
WEST : 1t is right tho people of the
United States should know that the
day and year which closed the century
of American independence--July /,
1S76-wiu be commemorated with GER
emonies 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 pres
ident of the board:
The original law Of Congress, enact
ed March 3, 1871, provided for 1.-The
celebration of the centennial of Ameri-
can independence by an international
exhibition Of the arts, manufactures,
and natural resources of this and other
countries, under the auspices Of the
government of the United States.
And the act June l, 1872, fixed the
capital to complete this great commem-
Grafton at $4,000, ,000, which was by
the Commissioners apportioned among
the several states and territories on the
basis Of population.
Of this the state Of Pennsylvania
alone, aided by subscription Of $1OO-
900 from the state Of New Jersey, has
raised in the form Of subscriptions to
the stock and by appropriation from
its Legislature and the Council of Phil
adelphia, about 81, ,000,00 or nearly
one-half the amount necessary to insure
success. This provision having been
made, designs for suitable buildings
were approved, and other preliminary
and Incidental arrangements have 50
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, ap-
preparations, and preparations, to
maintain the spirit Of the two laws
above referred to, and the correspond
ence of the state department with for
eign powers has induced the govern
mants of the Netherlands, Belgium,
Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Libe-
ria, Ecquador, the Argentine Conteder-
alton, Chilli, Mexico, Hayti. and the
Sandwich Islands to express their in-
tention to participate, and they have
every reason to believe that this appeal
to Congress will be generously respond
ed to.
Subscriptions to the stock have also
been made by individuals in the states
and territories Of Missouri, Illinois,
Nebraska, Montana, Indiana, Nevada,
Oregon, California, Louisiana, Florida,
Maryland, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan,
Arizona, New Jersey. Delaware, Rhoae
Island. Arkansas, Alabama, New ork,
Virginia, Iowa, and Kansas.
Such. in brief, is the condition OF
the organization for the international
commemoration of the close Of the
century of American independence.
The city of Philadelphia was select
ed as the most fitting locality at which
to celebrate the birth Of American IN
dependence for these reasons:
/. That from Philadelphia the Magma
Charta of human liberty, the immortal
Declgr ton, was uttered. The build
ings in which the convention sat re-
mains substantially as they were on
that historic day ; and,
2. OF all the points of revolutionary
interest, Philadelphia is the most cen
tral and acce ssible to the whole coun-
try. 1t is the Republics celebration
Of its birthday at the very place OF Its
birth.
The 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 mementous in history, that the
commemoration is to take the form OF
an exhibition of the stupendous pro
gress made by the American people IN
the first hundred years of their indie
pendence. in everything relating to the
natural resources OF the country ana
their development, and especially It's
progress in those industries, arts anu
institutions that benefit mankind.
How diversified are the objects that
must ,enter into that exhibitlon--ho"
vast the buildings and the space re-
quired to present them with full effect
are Suggestions that need only to De
mentioned to bring home to every
American the colossal magnitude oI
the undertaking.
Consider for moment the indus
tries, products, and devices necessary
to an adequate expression OF the pro-
gress of your own state, and the space
that will be essential to their tull pre-
sentation, and you can hardly tail to
perceive that your state alone VIII re-
quire an area in the exhibition build
ings and grounds equal to that occu-
pied at Vienna by England or france
This IL true of not less than ten OF the