New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-10
HISTORY OF THE ENTERPRISE.

HISTORY OF THE ENTERPRISE
The Centennial Exhibition may be looked upon a,
auatural outgrowth Of the Universal Exposition held
at Paris IN 1867. That affair was much the most
extensive international exhibition ever held up to
that time, and it's brilliant success produced a
marked impression throughout the civilized
world Austria took immediate measures 10
rival it, and carried out her ambitious plans
six years later at Vienna. Among the
many Americans who saw the wonderful show on
Che banks of the Seine there were many who ex-
pressed desire to see an enterprise of the Kind at
tempted IN their own country. II is believed that
Gen. c. b. Norton Of New-Hork, one Of the Comnis-
sioners to the Paris Exposition was he first who mg
gested the idea of WorldsFair 10 commemorate the
Centennial Anniversary Of American independence.
This he did while viewing the preparations for tho
exposition in the Champs de Mars in COM
pany with Mr.. Dudley 5. Gregory OF New
York in the Summer of 1866. His plan
was TO hold the exhibition in Central Park Mr..
Gregory returned in the Fall and laid the mat
ter before the American Institute, but 10 does not
appear thai any action was taken. Inc next agitA-
tion of the question was IN June, 1868, when at a
meeting Of Massachusetts exhib tors az Paris, held
r the Susc Hail. Boston for the distribution o. the
awafth forwarded BY the French Goyemment
a solution in favor Of International
exh ton in Washington, TO open July 4,
1870 After some kpctCn-lndklnB Tue lcS"lu-
ton -9s adopted In tie Fai Of the same year a
meet NJ to forward the project held In Chicken
ing II II under the chaitmanslip OF Dr. q. u. Lolng.
4 CON sitee Of nine was appointed but there tho
matter ended There WAS a good deal Of discussion
in Inc newspapers at the time, IN which tue delec5s
of Wa ngtOn place to hoid great idlf III hiu-
summer we're set forth. 4 movement was sci on
foot by tho people Of Washington to indnce Con
gress u appropriate money enough to give vitality
20 the enterprise, but it clnie to nothing.
New-Yo.k had failed to appreciate the grandeur
and importance Of the project. Washington had
hveiier comprehension but rs too poor 10 do any
ching dat involved expent 'ira. IL now remained
for Philadelphia to come forward. In 1869 Nr.
Richard Mucke of The PHILADELPHIA Lnigy wrote
letter to President Grant, urging the holding Of q
Worlds Fair in the city where the Declaration OF
Independence was signed, and this letter, widely
published and commented upon fairly set the ball in
notion. Soon after it appeared the Franklin Insti-
tnte and the Academy Of Fine Arts memorialized
Congress on the subject, and the City Councils
apuointea n Centennial Committee. y ebruary,
1871 a col mittee from the New-Jersey Legislature
visited Philadelphia 10 confer with the Councils, and
in April delegation from Virginia came on the same
errlnd. At the instance of the pennsylvania mem.
heis Congress took up the question IN the session OK
1S7O-71, and ON the 81 OF March passed an act TO
prOvide for celebrating the One Hundredth Ami
versary of American Independence, by holding an
International Exhibition Of arts, manufactures, aud
products of the soil and mine IN the City Of Phlla-
dr pa and State Of Pennsylvania IN the year 1876
II Ter ths act 100 Commissioners were appointed ;
but IL vas found impossible 10 assemble quorum
of this unwieldy bG,ly and the Organization was
changed by supplementary Get providing Ior ono
COMMISSIONER and alternate from each state
aud Territory appointed by the President on the
nomination OF the Governors. No money was
app, opriated In June, 1872. Congress passed
another act creating n separate corporation,
called the Board Of Finance To raise funds by sub
sctiptOus Throughout the country and 60 take entire
charge of Tire finances of the Exhibition which was
made stock concern, with capital Of FlO,OOO,uU0
IL shares Of $40 each. Large Subscriptions |ere nc
once obtained from the citizens OF PHILADELPHIA
The State of Pennsylvania approP riafed u OJ0OOO;
the Citv OF Philadelphia, Sl,JOo,Oo3; the state Of
New Jersey SlUO 0UO aud The States of Delaware,
New IlHpShiIc, and Connecticut. $4,000 each.
sub ,riptions amounting TO about S25oOOO were
men of the NeW-Eugland States also contributed,
but the West gave almost nothing, and The South
nothing. Inc aggregate amount spent by foielgn
.luntlles for the Exhibition Is about 9z,1OOOOO.
On June 2G, 1873, Gov. Hartranft Informed the
President that provision had been made for erect
ing the buildings, Upon that information the
President, on July Of the year, issued
his proclamation declaring that the Exhibition
would be held III 1876. Secretary Fish
the 9th of July informed the representatives
Of foreign nations of the Exhibition, aud invited
them to participate. Formal acceptances were
received before the beginning of 1876 from Great
Britain France, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Swe-
u,
Egypt, Denmark, Turkey, Switzerland Mexico,
Venezuela, Brazil, Chill, Peru, Argentine Confeler
alton Sandwich Islands, China, Japan, Australia,
Canada. Bolivia, Nicaragua, Colombia, Liberia,
Orange Free State, Equator, Guatemala. Salvador,
and Honduras. II ircn 3 1875, Congress approprl-
ated 100000 the arrangeme1 { of oilcI8l
Government display, Of which 81 1000 was to be
appropriated for the erection Of special binding
for the Government Exhibition. On the 4th of
July, 1913. t. Commissioners of Paramount Psrk
formally conveyed 40 acres Of land 10 Lansdo0ne,
in the Park for buildings and other purposes Of the
Exhibition.
In 1873 the Commission sent Prof. W. T. Blake OF
Connecticut to the Vienna Exhibition Special
Commissioner 10 study and report upon it. The Gem
erll Director Mr.. A. T. Gosh0rD, also made
thorough examination of that fair. Ground was
broken for the Exhibition buildings July t. 1874.
Machinery Hall was completed in November 1879,
Horticultural Hall and the Nam Building in Janu-
airy, 1876 and AIT Hall and Acr cultural Hall IN
A5rii. In February If this year Congress sppropn-
atcd ~ JOO,Onp TO complete the payments Tor tie
bindings and thus enab ell the Commission To open
the EXhlbIllou ifee from debt.
THE ORGANIZATION.
The direction of all that relates to the organize
tion and Il anascueLt Of the Exhibition except the