Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-04-28
The Centennial Exhibition

Inc CenUennIaI Exhibition.
1t is right that the people of the
United States should know that the
day and year which closed the cen
tury OF American independence
July 4, l876-will be commemorated
with ceremonies expressive of the
gratitude and pride of a 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.
enacted March 3, 1871. provided for
the ceIebraf ion Of the Centennial of
American independence by an in,
ternati0nal 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 of June /. 1872. fixed
the capital to complete this great
comme moraticn at $4,000 900,
which was by the Commissioners
aPpnrtIoncd among the several States
and Territories Oh the basis Of popu
alton
Of this sum the State PENNSYLVANIA
alone, aided by a subscription of
100000 from tie Site of New
Jersey, las IA sed in the form of
subscriptions to the stock a.d by
appropriations from lis Legislature
and tie courc |, oi Philadelphia.
about Si,Ol 0, 900 or nearly one-aalf
the amount necessary to insure suc-
cess, This provision ha.ing been
made, designs for suitable buildings
were approved and other preliminary
and incidental arrangements have so |
far advanced as to Justify an immed-
late commencement of the work OF |
construction.
The Commissioners a C appealed |
to the Congress o. 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, Belgium,
Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, |
L't eria Encodor, the Argentine Con
federation, Chill. 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
also been made by individuals in the
States and Territories of Missouri,
Nebraska, Montana, Indiana,
Nevada. Oregon, California, Louis
lana, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Wis
consln, Michigan, Arizona, New
Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island,
Alabama, New York, Vir-
ginia, Iowa, and Kansas.
SUCH in brief is the condition of
he organization for the international
;ommemoration of the close of the
century of American independence.
The City of Philadelphia was
as the most fitting locality
It which to celebrate the birth of
American independence for the rea-
Ons: ,
1. That from Philadelphia the {
Iagna Charta of human liberty, the I
Declaration, was uttered.
The buildings in which the Conven- !
ion sat remained substantially as !
hey were on that historic day; t
nd q
,. OF all the points of revolution
ry interest, Philadelphia is the most .
entrAl and accessible to the whole
ountry. 1t is the republics cele- h
ration of its birthday at the very Y
lace of its birth.
The Finance Board earnestly urge y
heir fellow couDtrymen to keep in Il
lind the great fact that event to be b
is the granGeSt and b.,
lost momentous in history, that the q
1mmemoration is TO take the form u u
F an exhibition of the stupendous IL
'ogres> made by the American peo- a
e in the first hundred years of their
in everything relating Z,
the natural resources of the cOun- Al
V and their development. and Csc HI
,cially its progress in those indus Sc
les, arts and istitutionS which benefit a. a.
ankind. aI
How diversified are the objects ki
lich must enter into that exhibi- 81
,n-how vast the buildings and W
e space required 20 present item "a
th full effect, are suggestions that al
ed only to be mentioned to bring G,