New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-02
TIE EXPOSITION or 1873.

One of the matters of public Importance
which ought not to wait until the next session
of Congress is the appointment OF CommlS-
sioner to the French Exposition. Is it posi-
bic that Congress intends to adjourn without
providing for SO simple matterf The ne
ccssity for immediate action will appear from
the following extract from the decree of the
French Government under which the EXPOSE
ton is organizing:
ART. 7. The Foreign Commissions constituted at the
demand Of the French Government are invited TO enter
AZ soon as possible into relations with tue DIRECTOR
General or havp themselves represented by delegate
The delegates Will be empowered 10 treat concerning
questions which interest their nations especially those
which relate to the partition OF space between the differ
ent countries and about the mode Of installation OF each
national section in the Palace. Consequently the
Director General will not correspond directly WITH
foreign exhibitors.
No application can be made for space, there
fore, until somebody Is delegated to represent
the United States at Paris. No step of any
sort can be taken. The exhibition will have a
more important effect upon the commerce OF
the United States if possible than that at
Philadelphia, yet the whole work of prepara-
ton for it must remain i'll allegiance until the
appointment of Commissioner. The time IS
already short 1t will be recollected that the
Commissioner to the French Exhibition of
1867 was appointed fully two years i'll adj
vance. The Commissioner to Vienna was ap-
pointed over a year i'll advance. Prepara-
tiOns for the Philadelphia Exhibition were
begun in the United States five years before
the opening of the Fair. In none of these
eases was work begun too soon. Neither at
Paris nor Vienna was the American depart
mcnt ready on the opening day. There now
remain, before the concourse OF the nations
in 1873, only year and two months. This
is scant time to work in az it is, but 1t would
be fatal to defer work until next Winter.
1t il said that the consideration of expense
deters Congress from action. 1t cannot he
possible. The French exhibition cost the
United States only $4,000. The Commits
sioners to Vienna had $250.O0O placed at
their disposal, and they returned $4,000 to
the Treasury. With Government vessels to
transport the goods-one from Boston, one from
New-YOrk, aud another from Philadelphia
the expense of the Exhibition of 1873 to the
United States should not exceed 100000.
Congress is blind to the extraordinary advan-
tages of these exhibitions now to our com
merce if this consideration of expense is any
obstacle to immediate action.
What is needed is resolution appointing
Mr.. Goshon or somebody to represent the
Government at Paris during the coming Sum
mer, leaving the main question Of expense
until next Winter. That will be time enough
to provide for it. If the American Minister ut
Paris is asked to act until other arrangements
are made, as was done in 1867, that would
be sufficient for present purposes. The matter
is too important to be neglected. Every ex-
hibition has been followed invariably by an
immediate expansion of American commerce
A creditable representation at Paris IN 1878
would be attended by another. failure
would be blow to American commerce and
industry.