The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-25
The Great csas.nai.i Expssiti.n.

As soon as this Congress adjourns-and the
sands Of its worthless life will have run out in
little more than five weeks-the most popu-
lar and engrossing topic for the residue Of
this year and the greater part of the next
will be the International Exposition of Art
and Industry by which this ma ton will cele-
brate the hundredth anniversary of it's indie
pendence. 1t is q celebration fitted to awaken
every sentiment of patriotism and national
pride, to recall whatever is most venerable
and ennobling in our national history, to
invite proud comparison between the young
est of the great political communities of tho
modern world and those which had the start
of it by many centuries, and to prove the
superior value of free democratic institutions
in developing the resources and promoting
the civilization, prosperity and happiness Of
people. The HERALD has felt the impor-
lance Of this event from tho beginning,
but has foreborne to urge it upon
public attention prematurely, not wishing to
exhaust interest in the subject and render it
stale by premature discussion. But the time
is approaching when it will occupy q large
share of attention, not only in this country,
but throughout the civilized world, and We
shall take advantage of the interest it excites
on its near approach to set forth it's character
as one of the most noteworthy events of the
age, and to communicate to the world all
pertinent information which may be of value
to the thirty countries which will contribute
articles for exhibition. Already twenty-four
nations have signifed their intention to par
ticipate in so unique and unprecedented an
exposition, and no true American can be will
ing that his country should appear to disad-
vantage on an occasion when the eyes Of the
civilized world will be directed toward it.
The preparations for this event, both in this
country and elsewhere. must be completed
during the ensuing twelve months, and the
scale of these preparations will be adjusted to
the ideas which may be formed of its magni-
tude and importance The time has accord
ingly como when its claims to attention
should be adequately set forth and explained.
It's success in 1875 depends on the suficiency
of the preparations made in 1875 and it is
therefore important that the subject be faith
fully reconnoitred with view to correct
estimate, in order that all interested may make
intelligent plans for an occasion which draws
80 near. Before the LIST Of May the HERALD
will have put the world in possession of oil
requisite data for forming correct judgment
on this subject, which is of so much interest to
nations who seek to extend the foreign mar
ket for their productions. We are already
satisfied that, in an industrial view, the Amer
lean Centennial will deserve to rank with the
most important events of the age.
The question of its pecuniary success meets
US on the threshold, and the public needs to
be satisfied on this head before it will en-
bark with much zeal or zest in an under
taking which will be so splendid success if
the preparations are adequate, or so mortify-
ing failure if the industries of the world
should fail to perceive the greatness of the
opportunity. Now, it must not be overlooked
that the pecuniary reimbursement OF the ex-
penses of such expositions depends mainly on
their exciting sufficient popular interest to
/ draw thronging multitudes of spectators,
whose admission fees are the chief source of
income. The productiveness of this source
of revenue depends on the interest telt in the
Exposition in the country where it is held,
since thousands of natives will cheaply crafty
their curiosity for every foreigner who crosses
seas or makes expensive journeys for that
purpose. In this respect the advantage is
immeasuraby on the side of the American
Exposition as compared with its predecessors.
In the first place we have the double advan-
tage which results from the conjoint motives
| IF c,1riocitv and y,otr;oficyp instead of tba
simple motive of curiosity. In the next
place so much larger a proportion of
our population, as compared with that
of any other country, is in such cir
cumstances of comfort and independence as
permit them to make journeys for pleasure
and recreation, that the visitors to q great
American exposition are likely to be in the
proportion of three or four to one, if measured
by any other population of forty millions. The
amount of railroad fares paid in this country
is conclusive on this point of the ability of our
people to visit a great exposition without
pecuniary Inconvenience In the third place
the Centennial is so located as to make it
easier for larger local population to take
part in it than in similar exhibitions since
worlds fairs we're first introduced. Phila-
delphia is sort of centre or nucleus Of our
chief Eastern cities from Boston on the north
to Richmond on the south, distant
by less than q days journey. Boston.
Providence, New York, Baltimore, Wash
lngton, the cities Of Connecticut the
hourishing cities of New Jersey, are
within such easy distance Of Philadelphia
that nearly all their inhabitants, down to the
class of day laborers will visit the Exposition,
some of them once, and large proportion of
them many times, especially from New York,
Baltimore and the New Jersey cities, whose
people can leave their houses in the morning
spend six or seven hours in Philadelphia, and