The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-30
The Centennial Exposition.

We trust that the appeal now making, OF
about to be made, to lend helping hand to
preparations for the great International Expo
sitlon at Philadelphia will be literally re.
sponded to by our wealthy citizens, either in
the form of gifts or subscriptions to the stock.
We have no doubt that the tide of visitors will
be so great that the admission fees will ulti-
mately reimburse the expenses, and, in that
view, subscriptions to the stock would be q
mere advance of money that will be paid back
on the winding up of the Exhibition. To be
sure, this hope cannot be realized unless the
preparations are on scale corresponding to
the historical interest of the occasion and the
vast variety of the products which would be
sent from all civilized countries. If the prep
arations are adequate in extent and do not fall
behind in time the Exposition will be self
sustaining; but the money for carrying for
ward the preparations is needed now, whereas
the proceeds out of which it is to be refunded
will not be realized until the end of next year.
Hence the necessity for heavy advances and
of the appeal now made to the citizens of
New York through the agency Of Ex-Governor
Bigler, of Pennsylvania, whose views on this
subject we print to-day.
The local interest of New York in the sue
cess of the Exposition is almost as great as
the local interest of Philadelphia. II the dis
play reaches magnifcence worthy of the oc-
casion New York will be as much thronged
with visitors during the summer and autumn
of 1876 as Philadelphia itself All the visitors
from foreign countries will land here, will
find more objects of interest here than in
Philadelphia, outside the walls of the EXPOSE
ton buildings will spend much of their time
in fitting between the two cities, preferring
New York for every purpose of gaining an &C
quaintance with American life and manners,
and spending in Philadelphia only the time
they may choose to bestow on the Exhibition
itself. The same remark will apply to visit
ors from remote parts Of our own country.
much OF seeing New York as of seeing the
Exposition, and will make purchases here
rather than in q smaller town. Our hotels,
places of amusement and fashionable stores
will find the months during which the Expo
stion is open the busiest and most profitable
ever known. 1t would be as great loss to
New York as to the most important of its
suburbs, Philadelphia, if the Exposition
should fall short of public expectation.
In point of patriotism and pride in national
memories New York will never acknowledge
inferiority to its sister city. We recognize
the fitness, growing out of historical con-
siderations, of making Philadelphia the GEN.
trail scene in celebrating the hundredth ami
versary of American Independence, although
New York would be better point for great
international exposition. But the question
of locality has been decided, and the two
cities are in such proximity that it really
makes but little difference. We are confident
there is too much national pride in New York
to allow the Exposition to be small affair
when such pecuniary advances as our wealthy
citizens could make without inconvenience
would insure brilliant success