The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-12

\ the purpose OF Mr. Blgler'5 ugures 10 pIoNo
that subscribers to the stock have reasona-
BILE prospect OF reimbursement at the winding
up of the Exhibition. If his arguments should
be accepted as convincing there is no reason
why all the money needed should not be sub
scribed before il is wanted for use
Governor Biglers financial exhibit presents
some points which deserve attention. The
most remarkable is the general apathy of the
State governments. OF the thirty-seven States
of the Union only three have made APP
preparations in aid Of the Exposition.
and those three are Pennsylvania itself
and two adjoining States Pennsylvania
has appropriated the handsome sum
Of one million dollars, New Jersey one hun
dred thousand dollars and Delaware ton thou
sand dollars. These appropriations arc made
as much from pecuniary rs patriotic motives
for the three States viii be benefited 70 an
/ amount equal or nearly equal to their appro-
priations The immense throngs Of people who
4 will visit Philadelphia while the Exposition
! il open will create an enormous additional
demand for fresh vegetables, milk, eggs and
other products which the country within one
and the appropriations made by the States Of
Psnnsy lyania, New Jersey and Delaware will
come back to tho pockets of the citizens
through the larger market and higher prices
for the products OF their gardens, farms,
dairies and poultry yards. The States which
have made no appropriations have no such
ready means of getting their money back
a. ,kx,L ~ fLa
Exposition will be given in different shape
The city of Philadelphia has appropriated
one million FIVE hundred thousand dollars
which it can well afford TO do, even as
pecuniary investment, If the Exposition should
prove success for the profits made on the
\ expenditures OF visitors will remunerate it,
citizens for the addition to their local taxes.
/ But distant States and cities have no such
pecuniary inducement to make aPpropria-
tons for this patriotic and praiseworthy OBJ
ject. The country at large will contribute its
share of the expenses by visiting Philadelphia
\ in immense multitudes and spending their
money there If the Pennsylvanians, and
especially the Philadelphians, will incur the
\ expense Of adequate preparations 70 make
III
rely on the combined motives Of curiosity,
patriotism and pleas ure-seeking in other parts
Of the country to swell the funds by adj
mission fees.
i Mr.. Bigler's statistical appeal rests upon tho
prospect Of . great income from admission
\ fees. According to his estimate at least three
millions Of people will visit the Exposition,
and if each person pays an entrance fee
three times at a price OF fifty cents
the income from this source will amount
to four million five hundred thousand
dollars He calculates that this will reim-
burse the subscribers to the stock, with q
handsome dividend on the investment 1t Is
on the basis Of this calculation that he appeals
to the public to make the additional advances
necessary . insure the success Of the under
taking.
BIr. Bigers estimates may be open 70 some
criticism, bit, assuming their substantial accu-
racy, the money ought to be easily raised,
though in q manner somewhat different from
that which he proposes. When il Il reduced
to a question OF advancing money certain to
I be reimbursed there is no good reason why
the State Of Pennsylvania Of the city OF Phila-
delphia should not relieve the undertaking
from uncertainty. II may be said that both
the State and the city have already made lib
eral appropriations Most true but those
appropriations are gifts, for which they expect
no other return than the pecuniary profits
! which will accrue from the throng Of visitors.
The State and city, having made these promises,
which they cannot recall, and appropriated
money without any claim on the profits Of the
Exposition. are a. free to make subscriptions
y 10 the stock a. private individuals. They are
as certain 70 get their money back as any
other class Of subscribers to the stock. and
assuming, on the basis Of Mr. Bgler's esti-
mates that there il no doubt OF reimburse
ment, the advances would entail no additional
burden On The taxpayers, No individuals in
other parts Of the country have % much IN
terest IA tho success of tue Centennial o. tho
great state and the great city which have
taken 30 large : venture aud appropriated %
much money which they hive no claim to de-
lnand back out OF the assets Of he enterprise.
Now, ii all the money which remains to be
advanced is certain 70 be reimbursed,
it would be as safe an investment
for the people Immediately concerned
a. for scattered individuals in other
States VINO have no such strong
motives either Of pride or interest
@ make the Exposition splendid event.
When its financial affairs have reached
stage at which nothing further Is required
but 81 advance Of money, which i certain 70
b. repaid, State SO rich as Pennsylvania
may safely subscribe for the remaining stock,
aud rely like individual subscribcrs on the
sources 0f reimbursement pointed ont BY e.
Governor BIgler. II he were soliciting money
a. . giit this argument would not hold. But
when IL asks for an investment with pros