Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-03-04
TIVE CENTENNIAL.
INFORMAL MEETING OF MEMBERS OF THE LEaIs-
LArURE, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON - ADDRESSES
BY jos. @, aRUBB, NON. CHARLES BROWN AND
HON. JCs p. CoMEoYa

LAruRE, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON - ADDRESSES
by Jos G, aRUBB, NON. CHARLES BROWN, AND
HON. JCs. p CoMEGlh.
Spceiai to the Commercial
DOVER, DEL, Feb 81.
Fot day or two, Messrs Joseph G. Grub, of
philadelphia and Lewis Thompson from Will
mington have been in Dover waiting upon the
members Of the Legislature individually, and
representing to thom the claims of the Centen-
NAL Exhibition to be held in Philadelphia in
1876.
In order to lay the question before the Lesis-
lature collectively an Informal meeting Of the
members Of both Houses was held in the Rep
resentatyes chamber as two o'clock this after
noon. At the appointed hour, Speaker Stockley
of the Senate took tie chair and introduced Al,
the first speaker Mr. Joseph G. Grubb. That
gentleman spoke in substance as follows:
Gentlemen OF the Delaware Legislature AT
the request of the Centennial Commits
sioners, appear before you in their
behalf. I am not an officer OF the Exposition.
but as a native Delawarean. have been re-.
qnested by Mr.. John Welsh, Chairman of tho
Finance Committee to confer with the Legala-
ture OF my native State, and to lay before you,
a. best can, n few facts in relation to the Cen
| tennial Exposition. Mr.. Welsh is devotng his
whole time TO the subject and is in charge OF
the finances. am not speaker but a business
man, and as such am desrous OF laying before
you the business aspects OF the Centennial in 80
far as they refer to the State of Delaware.
Mr., Grubb then read from q letter from Mr.
Welsh, az follows:
"Can you not get some of your leading men
to write to members of the Legislature, that it
would be very appropriate in the State OF Della
ware to aid the Centennialp Pennsylvania. you
know, has given $1,000, 900, New Jersey. $780,
900, and if the Blue Hens Chickens would help,
you may depend upon it, New York, aud the 9TH
er old thirteen will fall into line. We are work
ing hard, and we deserve help"
The speaker then read from another letter
from Mr. Welsh
II hope for an appropriation Of !32, 400
which would not be too much for your native
State, but We must take what they will give.
Have you thought of the advantage Delaware is
to get from the Centennial? Do you know that
think allyon have will in 1876 be eaten up?
The peach crop will bring double price You
are too experienced merchant not To- know the
effect of demand five per centin excess of and
beyond the supply but when it comes up to
twenty-five per cent. tile advance is enormous.
In conversation with Governor Parker of New
Jersey, l found that he had thought much on
the material interests of his State in this connec-
ton.
"Every day brings to us additional evidence
OF the enormous d'msnsions which the Exhibi-
ton will assume. To-day the Honorable Mr..
Perraut is here representing the Canada COM
mission. He says their part Of the exhibition
will embrace their products including horres,
cattle, &c, and that tie Cai-u.an t,u,e. nlielL
will appropriate $3.50, 900 10 cover tho expense.
He wants now to got all the details so to
have perfect preparations made in good time.
He intends that that their shelving aud cases
shall be an exhibit Of tie wood of their country
in all its variety"
From Cracow, c1ntiauod Mr. G.nJb, comes
the astonishing intelligence of a proposition to
carry on a restaurant ata ndcd by circnaian
women, but suppose it to be the opinion-of
very many-that American ladies' would do fully
as well as circasians.
II is fit and appropriate that Delaware should
take an active part in tile Exposition. Most
persons coming to the Centennial will have Wis
tied the adjacent States, but few will know much
about our Peninsula between the two bays. 1t
Is terra incognito, the unknown land, II Della
ware would fill up her department with her nat
ural products it would compare favorably with
other States, and bring visitors to the Pe"insu-
Ia. 1t is proper for Delaware to help, for the
Exposition will materially help hor.
There are substantial reasons why Philadel-
phie, apart from her being the birthplace OF our
independence, presents a distinct and certain
| fitness for the ground of the Exhibition. She
is. as some traveller has declared, the paradise
of sman house-keepers tits the city where the
day laborer lives in his own marble-stepped
| dwelling, with bath, gas, and water and the fat
| Of the land, in meats and vegetables at his COM
mand, and it offers a fairer idea OF the comfort
and cheapness of general American life than
more metropolitan cities Philadelphia has no.
bly, sustained this enterprise. She has borne all
the labor, and most Of the cost, more inded than
will probably be returned. She has contributed
81, 500, 900 towards the Exhibition building, and
the State of Pennsylvania has given 81, ,O0O, 600.
1t is estimated that So, $4,000 will yet be re-
quired for all other purposes; Of this 49, 600
have already been secured by subscriptions
to the Centennial stock and it is ex-
pected that further subscriptions from
other sources will increase this sum TO
4.320, 900, which leaves 81 100000 still unpro-
vided 1t is urged by the Commission, which
was, as you know, created by the government
and it is urged with great force and justice, that
this sum should be contributed by the General
Government. or it S400,0 are for the ex-
penses of tho United States Centennial Com
mission, 5500,00 for the awards to be given by
the Commission, and 100000 for the protection
by police of the Exposition. Tie Centen-
nial' Commission states that Great Brit
ain, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden,
Norway. the Netherlands, Belgium, Aus
/ tra, and Hungary are actively engaged in pre-
pairing for the Exhibition, and also all OF the
South American States. Japan, Mexico, Libe.
ria, the Orange Tree State in South Africa, and
the Sandwich Islands will be fully represented,
l ask for no special amount but leave that en-
tirely with yourselves. If you can give the sum
Of s32, 400, which is your share on the basis OF
the census of 1870, your contribution will be a
great boon indeed and will be gladly accepted by
the Commissioners. The amount could be paid
in three equal instalments the first on the first
of July 1875, the second on January lst, 1876,
and the third July lsr, 1876.
Now, gentlemen, If you can give the whole
amount, say as a native Delawarean, and one
having considerable property in the state, that
you will not have given too much, and shall be
heartily glad OF the action which may brne
about such result. 1t will be an incentive te
other States, it will rally your people to the
cause, it will be spur towards developing every
material interest within your borders.
Hon. Chaa, Brown then rose and said he bat
been written to by Mr.. Welsh, valued frienc
and member of the Centennial Commission
about this matter. He answered that but little
had been said in Delaware about it, but though
that as we approached that great event in ou
history warm feeling and decided interest in il
would be manifested by our people, We are no
rich, but should give iiberaliy in IL pro Pre-,
celebration of the Centennial OF the nations in
dependence. The people from abroad who viii
visit Philadelphia during the progress OF th'
} exhibition will overrun that city and many O.
l them will doubtless be compelled to seek ac
commoiations in Wilmington. When they ar
, rive there their attention will be called to ou
State and Peninsula the garden spot, the Par
adise OF this Union-of which go much las beel
. said which foreign visitors will want to see. A
a tax payer he was willing that the Legislature
should appropriate liberal sun
towards making, the exhibition
success In the time of the Revolution GU
Q forefathers were not GLOW in responding az de
. Tenders what would the WOlll tnlnh OF tuel
Q sons should they refuse to do something towar
3 celebrating the Centennial of their might
achievements? We shall display our product
n in Philadelphia in 1876 ard he wanted those VIII
+ visited that place to see what our incomparabl
il so produces and thus become interested in thi
= Paradise of ours. Tie speaker said he WAS get
= ting old and took but little part in public affair
0 now but he thought the Legislature should cor
o slider tho Centennial and the matter OF apprt
: prating money to aid in making it success
3 properly decently and in order.
Speaker Stockey introduced Hon. J. 7. Con
h eggs after the close of Mr.. Browns remarks, VII
Q also indulged the hope that tho Legislatui
y would make a liberal appropriation and endorse
Q all that the speakers who preceded him hs
q said or the subject. II the Centennial were
r. mere scheme for the benefit Of Philadelphia, |
rs would not favor it, 1t has much broader al
ol nificance than this. 1t is to be a demonstrate
10 Of the people Of America over the most impoi
t ant event Of their countrys history.
70 The Centennial celebration is to commem
rate and celebrate this, and my heart approx
it. say to you that you ought to contribu
your fair share towards that celebration, and
), should be in proportion to that appropriated
n other states.
ly At the close Of the remarks of Mr.. Comeg!
H. Mr.. Grub thanked the Legislature for the Q
IT, portunity thus afforded, and for the intert
he manifested by the meeting. He also thank
| tba two for ~