The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-07-17
A Worlds Fair in New York.

The third great exhibition at Paris
seems to establishindustrial gatherings OF
this nature as permanent facts in modern
civilization. They are, Of course, sim
ply expansions of the old-time local
fairs, the development in this century Of
means of travel and transportation rem
dering it now almost as easy to bring the
world together at a great show as it was
q small section of country q hundred
years ago. And, just as the old-time
county fairs were of regular recurrence,
we must now expect these werld-gath-
erings to follow at fixed intervals.
London has had two exhibitions;
Paris is nov dazzling the world with it's
third; while but one, it may be said, has
been held in the United States-for the
so-called Worlds Fair in New York, in
1853, was scarcely, according to the gen
eral estimate of the term, O true exhibit
of the industry of all nations-or, at
least, different countries were too made
quately represented to give that fair
much title to consideration. It is time,
therefore, that New York should pre-
pare for an industrial exhibition that
shall in it's scale and completeness COM
pare favorably with the exhibitions Of
Paris, Vienna, London, and Philadel-
phia. Now, when one part of the world
is visiting the great fair at Paris and the
other part are wistfully reading about
it; when we have abundant evidence
that, frequent as have been these exhi.
billions, the public taste, so far from
being fatigued, seems to acquire with
each occasion a stronger liking for them
now, it seems to US, is the suitable mo-
ment for New York to take the initiatory
movement for the next Worlds Fair.
and by this timely action secure it for
the Empire City. It always takes sew
eral years fully prepare for an inter-
national exhibition, and re therefore
venture at this not too early date to sug-
gest the year 1881 as the time for the
next one. This will be just five years
after the Centennial gathering at Phila-
delphia-. period which, in these active
times, makes great changes, introduces
striking new inventions, opens new
paths of industry, corrects many false
Theories of taste, develops art, and accu-
mulates a vast number of new ideas that
may to general advantage be brought to
the worlds notice. These reasons are
sufficient to show that 1881 is not too
soon for another Worlds Fair in this
country, while there are some others
which r entitled to consideration.
Having thus ventured to name:.a date
and suggested the city for the next
Worlds Fair, we will go n step fur
Their and indicate the exact place where
the exhibition. to III mind, could be
held to peculiar advantage. This is
Governors Island, New York harbor.
This island is one of the general govern
rlent military c~enters, but we may as
sumo that Congress or the Executive,
wherever the power lies, would prompt
ly surrender it for the purpose proposed.
The situation is superb. It is nearly at
the junction of the Hudson and East
rivers, less than a mile from the Bat
terry, and is equidistant from Brooklyn
and New York; it lies directly upon the
channel which leads to the sea; is famed
by breezes from the ocean and the river;
is healthful, salubrious, and every way
charming. Ships from abroad could
land their cargoes for the exhibition at
the doors of the structures without a
foot of land-carriage. Boats down the
Hudson, boats from the East through
the Sound, steamers from Southern
ports, and the lighters from the great
railroad depots at Jersey City, could do
the same. A ferry would have to be
established to the Battery, where are
the termini of the three elevated rail
ways that reach through the city to its
uppermost limits, thus giving ease and
convenient access to the place from
every point; while with the ferry-boats in
addition at points along each river, al
Brooklyn and at Jersey City, the i'm
mense crowd of visitors could be gath
cred and dispersed with 80 much com.
fort and absence OF friction as OF itself
to make this Worlds Fair memorable
compared with all others. Those who
recollect the fatigue and torment of get
ting to and from the Philadelphia ex'
hibition must welcome this feature Of
the prospect with delight; and in all o.
the exhibitions so far the iourneyings
to and fro have been fatiguing and
tedious to a degree almost to overweight
the pleasure derived from the wonders
on display. Governors Island is be-
tween sixty and seventy acres in extent,
and, as the area of the Philadelphia
buildings wal over fifty acres, the place
may at first thought seem too small. This
difficulty can be met by having CALLER
les in the buildings, 81 was the case ir
the first Crystal Palace, and by erecting
some of the structures on piles extending
over the beach. Superb facades coulo
be constructed at the waters edge fac
ing the harbor and the city, and pre-
senting a grand picture to the approach
ing visitors. -APpleton's Journal.