New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-13
THE EXHIBITION OF 1888.


State for meeting of the Commissioners OF
the International Exhibition to be held
in this city on the 10th Of August
ought naturally to arouse the slumber-
ing popular interest In this great enterprise,
ard invite the fullest discussion. After the
Commission is organized under the act OF
Congress, the committees will be named, and
these will be clothed with plenary powers, so
soon as the requisite subscriptions are sec ured
to select site, to decide upon plans for build
ings, to devise ways, means and methods, and
to determine in general and in detail what Is
to be dstinctively the scope and character Of
the Exhibition. The selection of the admins
trative and responsible heads of the vari-
Gus departments will be a matter of vital
Importance. Not only is it essential that
they should be men of undoubted capacity
and large experience, but they must be men
who can command the generous sympathy
and hearty support of the people at large.
For, after all, the ultimate success Of
the enterprise depends primarily upon
the Intelligent cooperation OF the people.
This means not only that the adventure shall
be made TO commend itself to the public so
thoroughly as to insure the raising of the
needful funds, but in broader way that Ma
tional pride as well as enlightened self-interest
shall be enlisted to kindle universal popular
enthusiasm.
The Exhibition is to be held in this
city, and New-York will inevitably assume
leading part IN the undertaking. But New
York will be quiteas unwilling as any part of the
Union TO have the affair narrowed down to any
thing local or provincial. 1t must be broad,
national, catholic. NeW-York is the Ameri-
can city which has the most extensive business
connections with every section of the country
as wei as with the world at large, and it will
be insisted on that systematic efforts be made
to secure for every part Of the country not
only fair share of the display, but
also an equitable distribution Of the pecu-
mary responsibility for its success. Ono thing
more will be insisted on-the control of the
enterprise shall not be intrusted to men
whose most exalted aim is to make this the
"biggest show on earth" Men of taste and
training are needed-men who appre-
ciate the essential yugarity of mere
bigness, and who VIII hardly tolerate a pyra-
mid OF Ghizeh constructed Of bottles Of hair
oil, even if the enterprising perfumer who
proposes to make such an exhibit has sub
scribed for $4,000 worth of stock. The Ex
kibition will be large enough no doubt,
but first of all it must be choice and distinc-
tive.
In determining site for the Exhibition the
accommodation of the public should be con-
sidered before the interests of any syndicate
of property holders or transportation COM
panies Incidentally it may be well if
the Exhibition helps TO build up" any
particular locality, but the site should
not be selected mainly for any such
purpose. 1t must be readily accessible, and
arranged so that visitors by the ten thousand
can lie landed directly at the points OF cen
trail interest 1t must have water front,
not only because this is maritime city,
but for the sake of escaping exorbit-
ant charges for unloading and reload
ing heavy articles-which can only be accom-
plshed when ocean steamers of the largest
tonnage can land their freight directly upon
the Exhibition grounds. As this is to be
Summer display, another desideratum will be
to place it where the dscOmtorts of hot
weather can be mtigated by protecting
shade and cool breezes. Numerous other con-
siderationS of equal moment as TO the con-
structon of the buildings and other essential
matters will at once occur to anyone who sits
down 10 study the necessities of the case.
But very little has yet been actually
decided upon. In four weeks the Com
mission win meet, and it would seem
to be time for some Interested discus
sion, some active canvassing or the advan-
tages and Disadvantages of various sites and |
plans, some declaration of guiding principles, |
some general manifestation of popular inter-
est that will be an encouragement and assur- |
ance of success.