New-York tribune., 1881-10-04
THE ATLANTA EXPOSITION.


. pryIFW OF THE ENTERPRISE FROM ITS NCfP-
TroN TO THE EVE OF ITS OPENING-EFFECr OF
THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD-THE CITY
THRoNGED WITH vIsIToRs-PRoGRAMME foh
To-MoRRows INAUGURAL EXERCISES.
tFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNE'l
ATLANTA. Ga. Sept 3O.-As the International Cot
ton Exposition will open its doors to the puohc On
Wednesday next. the dav after Tomorrow lhiS
would seem to be an appropriate time fora review
of its history. The fact is well know that st lan
Edward Atkinson. of Massachusetts,, in compliance
with an invitation from the Chamber OF Commerce
of Atlanta addressed the citizens of this city on the
general subject of growing marketing and manu-
featuring cotton. lie suggested the holding OF an
Fvnosition which should combine exhibits OF the
stonle and the machinery in any way connected
with IL with a series of meetings for us
cussinc the various questions that would nat
urally arise az such time. Last Decemner
few gentlemen met at the Once OF mayor
Cummings an extensive dealer in the staple ana
considered the propriety of acting on Mr. AtknsohS
suggestion. Other meetings were held temporary
organization was effected and IN March charter
was obtained. On the 10Th Of that month the SUD
scription books were opened, ana IN less thah SIX
hours tbirtv.fye thousand dollars were subscribed
bv tn. merchants and business men OF Atlanta
Following this initiative step meeting Of stock
hoders was held a full board of officers elected and
work bepun in good earnest. Prior to this on the
9Th of March Mr. Atkinson wrote letter to the
Hon. H. l. Kimhall in which h referred to the ben
efts Kansas had derived from the display male ~
itself and Colorado mt the National Centennial tN-
poSitiGn and suggested the wisdom ot indnclng the
railway companies owning he roadsrnnningthroush
the mountain regions of the Soulh to initiate the
example of the Afchison, Topeka aud Santa Fe
Company which had furnished all the funds that Sc
cured the KanSas-C Colorado exhibit. tie drew
glowing picture of the future OF the region ne re-
ferrcd TO- and prophcsicd that II would become the
centre of vast and prosperous population and the
seat of numerous manufacturing Industries Oh' oil
tbe earliest things done by the Executive Managers
after they were fairly organized was 10 lay this mat
ter before the ailway companies. They responded
to the proposIon with aacrity and early in the sum
me, plans were set afoot Tor preparing display OF
the character suggested.
Direct r-GenrIal kimball visited the Northern
States in March and April and was heartily received
by the various mercantile organizations upon whom
he called and secured large subscriptions to the cap
itaI stock of the Exposition Company. Wherever
he went he was asked whether 1t would not DE pos
sble 10 increase the scope OF the Exposition so That
all practical industries might have "a chance for rep
rcsentation in it, BY id>umDer this demand had
become so urgent that the Executive Committee re-
worlds industries From that time until th"
10th of Septcmber, when it WAS decided 4
admit nothing more. there was steadily increasing
stream of applications from merchants and manu-
factnrrrs. and. although twenty days have elapsed
since then, an urgent and mporinna'e demand Tor
space has continued with almost no abatement.
The result of this was to drive the Executive Man
ayers to extraordinary cxcriions to furnish baid-
ings for all that ha been promised admission. The
work was in the hands Of energetic chiefs oi dep r-
mnnts and nothing was allowed to lag. The build
ings themselves afford the best possible evidence OF
their energy and capacity. Every exhibitor who
has arrived the grounds has expressed hi'
astonshmcnt at the extent the beauty and solidity
of the different structures And one Of them today
said to me that if anyone had told him hc should
find any such buildings a OgethoIpe Park hc
would ha We considered il Muuchuusru story.
The death of President Garfield has made i'm
portant changes necessary rs the clahorat" pro-
granrno that had been PFC arcd for tie opening
ceremonies Had the Prc,id nj lived aud rcgaiucd
his health sufficiently 10 have made the trip South,
he would have been the recipient Of the graudrs'
ovation that was ever given any pubic man In thi-
part of the United States. 1t was otherwise OF
dcrcd and in no part the land has sorrow been
more general sympathy moro pro ound, than u .
these southern States, Here, ~ well as rl~cNlcrr,
the death of the President has been bike personal
highest TO the lowest. No city ia all
the country was more shocked than
this when on the 2d day Of July news re-
ceIycd q. th. deadly assault upon the President.
The p.Oplr were filled with horror and indignation
aud gathered in great numbers it the Opera House
at two hours notice to CIV" expression to their ir
ings. Since then, through al the trying weeks. /
they have pursued their prrpara' for The coming
industrial festival with ~trl g. S"u Oi Nh" I.,-
sibIlity that great calamity would briall the
country lt was entirely void of any cnu>ldord- /
ton a. 10 how the Exposition would bc Affected rN-
cept tina thrr" were many who thought that >nO ld
he President die they wound have no heart e. |
90 Oh with the work OF preparation. But after
they had advanced too far 10 let even
"a National aililctou int rlrrc with their plans And
consequently, after suSpcndng active Op ratIons for
the few days that gwen To the obSrques, they
resumed their work and pressed II forward with |
greater earnestness and determination
BY the time this reaches yGu he full programme
for the opening ceremonies will probably be- sent
over the wires. All that has been made public ~ lar
is that Senator Vance. of North Ca DINA, will make
the address oi welcome behalf of the southern
people and that senator voorhees,. of IndIana, VIII
deliver an Grafton. chorus of 500 voices under
effective leadership with the 9th United States Ar
tery Baud for an Orches ra, will render ilavdns
Haehjah Chorus" Paul II. llayne. he poet of
the South, has written an Ode, which will be read.
Strangers are pouring INTO the city IN great mum
bers, and by Tomorrow night the town will be we'll
filled with visitors.