New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-11
THE GREAT FAIR CLOSED.
cnnfInncd non second rage.

NJ estimate was 10000 day, and it viii rnn over
s0 O0o The grand total viii exceed That "f the IaIis
rvbibltion which Opcn month longer IMAM H7 ana
-, tho advantage besides OF nearly month Of sun
g. ON which DAYS the attendance was always tie
,.r,o.t A comparison with the Vienna Exhibitor "iH
h. found 10 be much more in our favor
Ia replv 10 question rs 10 the opinions Of foreigners
- ,,o rybfldtion. Mr.. Cosbom said: An tine foreign
,ri.souers were accredited to me, and l gave per-
i attention 10 their departments that have Lad
aueut opportunities 10 know the views OF this class
-, b.,rl INIT one expression and that highly favor
III one The commissioners were especially pleased
rin the regulation which permitted them to ar
o,,e the spaces assigned them according TO
mir own ideas. Ny aim was to give them rs
,,cb liberty a. possible, aud 1 found them at all
ems entirely willing to cooperate with the general
Sr.on The administration Of the Customs laws gave
, Good deal Of annoy ance which could not olv1te
.,ston,s officials never comprchondcd the ENhlbi-
49,. instead OF regarding it exceptional and peculiar
,,v treated It like a retail shop and tied mp with al
enc red tape they could apply. Besides, there was
apt Of harmony between different branches Of the Gus
,,os service which added to the troubles of exhibitors
rrsiers have expressed themselves TO me rs greatly
IMMERSED with the character Of visitors their good
order and their inquiring disposition
Discussing in a conversational way other topics CON
ueeted with the Fair, the DrocOr-Geneial continued
"Iuiuk that about GO per cent Of the goods displayed
have been sold and more will be disposed o, during the
revt few DAYS so that the commercial side Of the enter
Prise has so far as exhibitors concerned been fairly
succcssf full good many collections and single articles
Of value have been generously presented by foreign gov
ernmeuts 70 public institutions Ike the Smithsonian
and the Pennsylvania Museum. I expect to see the eN-
hbltion rapidly diSmautlcl Exhibitors must al he ont
the 3lst of December but they viii not take adgan-
tagc Of the seven weeks accorded them for removing
their goods except in few The disposition among
them to stop expenses pack mp and be oil as soon as
possible. The foreigners are in even more haste ~ 2''
home, and have made arrangements for early transport"
ton OF their articles.
A In the awards nv opinion is that system has
proved 70 be good one but for its entire success re-
oures for judges experts peculiarly fitted TO make EN
aminatOns and write reports Wherever we haI such ln
any group the result satisfactory One serious error
was committed. As the reports came in they should
have been looked over by the Executive Committee,
and such as did not correspond with the system should
have been returned 10 the judges for correction This
was not DONE and the whole Of 1000 reports was
laid before the commission after the judges had scat
tered 10 the four quarters of the globe However can
cav this about the awardsthere never was an exhibition
where there was so little complaint about them This is
ber,uSe like articles not examined in competition
with each other 10 determine their comparative eEce
lence but the awards made for merit"
In speaking of the work Of Administration, M Cos
horn said in conclusion: g" should have added that my
system Of dividing the labor and responsibility among
the chiefs OF bureaus giving them fun control over the
details and holding them responsible FOR the general re-
suits in their several departments has had very crafty
inc results This plan adopted before the opening of
the Exhibition, has remained without change"
THE FINANCES.
large share OF the credit fr the successful Issue of
tbe Exhibition belongs 10 IN john Welsh, the Prc.d nt
Of the Centennial Board OF Finance, who in connection
with his colleagues the board has manageable finances
with extraordinary sag3clty and energy. aud with an
economy nicely balanced by the hbcraiIty required for
the fun realization Of the project In word Mr. Welsh
ffl ff.Uffs' los rfrDl V.lIrP
he would have conducted important business enter
p7se confled 10 his care Tie and his associates haze
REGARDED as trust and not speculation a'd they
have felt bound by sentiments Of honor and patriotism
to administer il with discretion, oarnesuc's and fidelity
in answer questions fr0u THE TKBUNEs corr sp5ld
emf, Mr.. Welsh spoke as follows:
1.-THE expectations Iheld out TO the pl5'c hlycia c.uy
respect been realized except ODe-I thought Ur sou
have 100000 visitors, and We have Lad only |
100000 The difference is attributable 10 three ciu-"s
first the ndispOsitOn OF people thrJu lhout th country
70 believe would open the Fair on the 10th Of Nav
second the tariucs o., the railroads iu realizing lc
necessity OF bringing their rates within Tie demands O
The public and third to the extraordinary spell Of hot
weather which hccau in June and lasted the whole sum
through Tie reports in the newspapers That Ia.
Exhibition could not possibly be got ready on the day
advertised for opening deprived OF the aauI1nc, woe
expected during the first month aud tEeu the hot spell
and the high railroad fares kept people away until sep
tember.
my calculations Of The outlay required mp TO tie orcu
me submitted TO Congress last Winter proved accaroi,
amos. to dollar, aud my estimates OF the running ex
penses have been clos j. realized We have surplus o.
about 100000. The total stock subscriptions
amounted to 100000 So We shall be able pay 80
cents the dollar % the stockholders if are
CURED to pay back the million and a half appropriated
by Congress. This is question which tic courts must
settle. The English Of the act OF Congress gives the
stockholders the whole Of their money back before he
Government can claim anything. and the Senate under
stood so but Mr. Springer, the mover Of the amend
ne0t 10 the bin in the House. did not. learn that
resolution viii be introduced by Democratic member
next Winter directing the Attorney General 70 take steps
topreyent us from paying anything TO the stockholders
uniil the United States Is reimbursed. Congress ought
Instead Of adopting such resolution 20 pass one thani
ing the managers Of tho Exhibition, and excmptiug us
rom all demands on the part of the Government We
have been celebrating the birthday Of the nation The
Government refused TO appropriate anyLng-or the pur
pose until the success Of the movement assured
cannot believe that 10 win now step in aud grab all the
assets, and thus throw the whole expense upon its ct
ien' who were patriotic enough to subscribe to the great
enterprise.
ave shall be able TO close up our affairs by the ls Of
January this feature OF the disposition Of the surplus
Esetued before that time All the buildings will be of
our hands on the LIST OF Dec mber Memorial Hall IT,
mans as monument OF the Centennial year. Machinery
nan and Horticultural Hall the property OF the City Of
pnafelphia and viii be retained the latter as an en-
Ushment Of the Park and the former for festivals,
decorations, and the fairs Of the Franklin Institute
4"e Aan building VIII probably be bought by the Per-
"@heat Exhibition Company, recently organized here,
anu 20 viii be preserved, The Art Annex,
Slve ana Leather Building, Carriage Annex, Judges
han, Agricultural Hail. Commission Offices &C. will be
sOu al auction and removed by the purchasers. The
eae buildings viii also be sold, and all the foreign
uCufes so Tar as know, except the British house,
"cn mas been presented 10 the city The restaurants