Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-06
able cost and profit or loss of such an uu-

able cost and profit or loss Of such an un-
dertaking. In due time the people of At
lanta came to feel q special interest in the
SUBJECT, and held meeting last November,
presided over by the then Mayor of the city,
Hon. w. l.. Calhoun. at which 1t was re-
solved to have the Exposition in Atlanta.
subsequently Hon. Edward Atkinson, of
Boston, who had been most actively en-
gagged In agitating the enterprise, visited
the Gate City" and addressed a meeting
held In the interest OF the proposed Expo
sition. Soon after this meeting an Organi-
cation was formed, Ex-Governor Joseph E.
Brown being chosen as President, and the
Work OF insugurating the movement began
In good earnest.
ABOUT oGLBTHoRPE PARK.
1t having been decided to hold the Expo
sition In Atlanta, the first question of i'm
portance to be settled was the selection of
q suitable spot whereon to locate the neces-
sary buildings. At first there was quite q
diversity OF opinion on the subject, but In
the end majority of the committee agreed
thSt Oglethorpe Park should be the place.
Inc objection made to the distance OF
the Park from the Union Passenger Depot
In the city. which is about two miles, was
met by the assurance that the street cars
and the trains on the Western and Atlantic
Railroad would bring the two points into
constant and close connection with each
other during the holding of the Exposition.
heretofore many visitors to State fairs have
walked out to the Park and made no COM
plAint of the distance.
While the Park enclosure was not exten-
s;ve nor remarkably attractive in its natural
or artificial surroundings, 1t offered ample
room for the purposes of the Exposition,
and the buildings already there could be
rdmodeled or torn down and used for other
structures. The inside of the half mile race
IL brE
the location of the main building and sew
eral other smaller buildings. The Two frog
ponds were enlarged aud beautiied, and
made into handsome little lakes, about
which walks and drives have been laid out.
The higher portion OF the park near the
gate, and the slOping hillsides surrounding
1t, required less work to put them in shape
for the Exposition. The old buildings were
connected hy new and imposing additions,
thus making one immense structure. All
the smaller buildings adjoining the gate
have remained unchanged, except that they
have been handsomely painted and other
wise improved in appearance. A fine grove
on the left of the gateway will afford ample
shade for several thousand visitors The
street cars run to the carriage entrance,
while the special trains of the Western and
Atlantic Railroad land passengers in a well
arranged ard handsome little depot erected
for that purpose on the right of the gate
and near the upper end of the main
building.
THB FINANCIAL PROBLEM.
The first thing necessary to assure the
success of the Exposition was a firm finan-
clal basis upon which to work. The lib
eral action of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad, which promptly subscribed for
$4,000 worth of stock in the enterprise
gave the movement its first boon" After
this citizens of Atlanta came forward and
subscribed enough to warrant the commit
tee in charge to go ahead with the project.
Appeals were made to the leading cities
and railroads of the South, the North, and
the West, and meetings held In all parts of
the country to explain the plans and pur-
poses OF the Exposition, by which means
the desired one hundred thousand dollars
was subscribed and the financial success of
the enterprise settled beyond doubt. 1t is
true, however that some of the original
subscriptions have not been paid over to
the Treasurer Of the Exposition, and it is
doubtful If they can be collected.
All of the first subscriptions were made
for the purpose OF holding an International
Cotton Exposition, cotton In all its various
stages, cotton machinery of every kind, and
cotton goods OF all varieties, to be the chief
aud only attractions. But when the sub
scriptions had reached the amount above
named the plan was enlarged and the scope
of the Exposition widened so as to embrace
exhibits of all kinds and from all
parts Of the world, thus making
1t Worlds Fair as well as a Cotton Expo
sition. Several of the leading railroads sub
scribed literally TO increase the original
fund, and their exhibits will be among the
largest and most attractive of any in the
Exposition. Florida also made up a hand
some subscription, and is~erecting suitable
building for her own immense display,
which will be unique and varied Il is safe
to fix the entire cost Of the Exposition up
to the day Of the opening at not less than
500, 900 in round figures.