The Portland daily press., 1874-04-22
The Centennial Exhibition.

10 the Peopte of the State of Maine:
1t is right that the people of the United
'taies should know that the day and year which
closed the century of American independence
July 4, 1S76-will be COMMUNICATED with GER
emonies expressive of the gratitude and pride
Of great nation; and, in accordance with the
act of Congress of June /, 1872, which created
the Board of Finance, the following report is
made over the signature Of the President of the
board t
The original law of Congress, enacted March
3, 1871 provided for 1.-The celebration of the
Centennial of American Independence by an
international exhibition of the arts, manufac-
lures, and natural resources of this and other
countries, under the auspices of the govern
ment of the United States"
And the act OF June l, 1872 fixed the capital
to complete this great commemoration at $10,-
100000 which was by the Commissioners APP
portioned among the several States and Terri
tories on the basis of population
Of this sum the State of Pennsylvania alone,
aided by subscription of 100000 from the
State of New Jersey, has raised in the form OF
subscriptions to the stock and by appropriations
from its Legislature aud the Councils of Phila-
delphia, about 100000, or nearly one-half
the amount necessary to insure success. This
proyision having been made, designs for suta-
bie buildings were approved and other prelim
mary and incidental arrangements have SO Tar
advanced as to Justify an immediate commence
ment of the work of construction.
The Commissioners have appealed to the
Congress of the United States, on the basis of
these subscriptions, appropriations, and prepar-
>ations, to maintain the spirit OF the two laws
above referred to, and the correspondence of
the State Department with foreign powers has
induced the governments of the Netherlands,
Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Lii
IBERIA, Ecuador, the Argentine Confederation,
Chill, Mexico, Hayti, and the Sandwich Islands
to express their intention to participate, and
thew have every reason to believe that this ap-
peal to Congress will be generously responded
to.
Subscriptions to the stock have also been
res of Missouri, Illinois. Nebraska, Montana,
Indiana. Nevada, Oregon, California, Louis
lana, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Arizona, New Jersey, Delaware,
Rhode Island, Arkansas, Alabama, New York,
Virginia, Iowa and Kansas.
Such in brief is the condition of the organi-
cation for the international commemOratiOn Of
the close of the century of American Indepen-
dence.
The city of Philadelphia was selected as the
birth of American lndepence for the reasons:
/. That from Philadelphia the Magma Charta
of human liberty, the immortal Dec aratlon,
was uttered. The buildings in which the con-
vention sat remained substantially as they were
on on that historic day; and
q OF all the points of Revolutionary inter-
est, Philadelphia is the most central and acces-
sible to the whole country. 1t is the Republic
celebration of its birthday at the very place of
it's birth.
I,a:- FL
countrymen to keep in mind the great fact that
the event to be commemorated is the grandest
! and most mOmentOuS in history, that the COM
memoration is to take the form of an exhibit
ton of the stupendous progress made W the
American people in the first hundred years of
their independence, in everything relating to
the natural resources of the country and their
| development. and, especially, its progress in
those industries, arts, and institutions which
| benefit mankind. 8ll
| How diversified are the objects which must
| enter into that exhibition-hew vast the build
| ings and the space required to present them
with full effect, are suggestions that need only
| to be mentioned to bring home to every Amer
lean the colossal magnitude of the undertake
| ing. t-
Consider for a moment the industries, pro-
ducts, and devices necessary to an adequate
expression of the progress of your own State
| aud the space that will be essential to their
full presentation, and you can hardly fail to
perceive that your 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 Territories will each of them
require space in proportion.
That the stock of the Centen NAL 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 handsome steel engraved certificate, exc.
cuted by the Treasury Department of the Gov
eminent, and f1ttingly designed in commemo-
| ration of the event. The board in soliciting
subscriptions to its stock feel assured that there
| is a patriotic desire to render the exhibition
| worthy of the occasion. sEs+
Notice is hereby given that checks and drafts
| can be addressed to the Financial Treasurer
Frederick Fraley, No. 904 Walnut street, Phil
each, and certificates of stock will be promptly
returned. The International exhibition will
commence on the 10Th of April, 1876, and C lose
on the 18th of October. 1876.
The undersigned, President of the Board of
Finance, speaking for his colleagues, and, he
believes, for the great body of the American
people, Oes not doubt the answer of that PEG
pie to this earnest appeal. They are not un-
mindful of the patriotic interest i'll the Cen
tennial of their own independence, nor of the
high duty of honorng it as it deserves. Phila-
delphia, the scene of the immortal Declaration
not only in the old hall where it was written,
and whence it was proclaimed, but in the ex
tensive park where the exhibition is to be held,
sacred as the resort of Washington and the
Revolutionary worthless, has given many times
her share to the memorial 1t is not her cele-
bration-it is the nations. History has SIM
ply designated that city as the spot where the
national sentiment can be historically express
ed. Every other city and State is inspired by
the same sentiment Every man and woman,
North and South, is stirred by the SAINT i'm
pulse. All the people of the earth are earnest
spectators and students Of our progress. The
work, therefore, is at once national and inter-
national. 1t reaches every class and every in
terest. 1t will be the most remarkable COM
parison and interchange of ideas and inven-
tions, of art and science, of the product of the
earth, the brain and the hands-the most
friendly and complete intercourse between the
races of all countries in modern civilization. 1t
is impossible to believe that any portion of the
American people will hesitate to unite in what
is sacred memory and sacred obligation.
JOHN WELSH,
President of the Centennial Board of FL
nance.