New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-13
TALKS WITH COMMISSIONERS.


Agernon $. Sullivan, who is one of the Commits
sOnCIs.
al know why you ask" Mr. Sullivan replied,
for in various ways it comes to me that this IS
fcarol My answer shall be frank. 1t is not ccr-
tain, but there is serious apprehension that t must
be So IL nay in the contingency will mention DO
postponed. 1t is not Wise to overlook all the posi-
bllitics Tho hands OF the Commissioners are tied
about beginning work. As the law stands the Fair
must be held in 1888 II ought to be opened IN
May of that year. twenty-five months from this
date, If We could begin work as soon rs the frost
goes to grade sewer and otherwise pre- pare the
extensive grounds requisite say two or hroe hum
dred acres, and to construct the great buildings
needed there would be time sufficient. But we
cannot say that We will begin then, because we
have 10 power 70 make any contract until the stock
subscriptions amount to ono million dollars. You
know rs well as do that we have not Guite one
half that amount assured. We have indefinite
promises; hut they will not do None of the great
railroad companies has made any subscription.
1lat of the New-York Central is provisional and
not available now. IL was believed that the rail
roads w0uld subscribe the needed million dollars
The city surface and elevated roads subscribed
nothing. II can hardly be said of any Of the great
interests which the Fair would most largely benc-
lii that they have subscribed. The Commissioners
faye subscribed nearly I200O00 and the residue is
from a few liberal ctilensIn large sums and from
number OF mechanics and small business men, who
desire the Fair for general benefit"
ITO what do you attribute the failure III sub
sciiutIOns Z!
"'lo nothing that is wrong Some persons refuse
because they io not like lnwood as a site Well, II
was not u y choice hut nevertheless it would do,
ami it las many advantages. | rely on reports of
excellent Judges Some object to the date OF the
Fair thinking il too early. ! did not think So hut
ouiuinns may honestly diilcr. Some objected thaJ
the law associated IN the management CollnlS-
sIoncIs representing the lult"d states, as wei ~
subscribers 10 tnc stock. know that objection IS
not conclusive, because If the National name ana
guarautro are asked for an International EXhb-
ton the manag Sment ought not To be private
money corporation alone.
about the Fair y
" Yes: and vet the masses Of the people want
Far and hone for a success. The more inuuehtlal
pcOpc the ones VINO snow htle ehIlusl21, 5ii 1
When dO you suppose the subject VIII Dc uch-
uitcly settled (" -,
a soon but as to that these interviews have
como npOn unoX peCtcdly IN the midst ot many
prrsslng buancss matters. and | would prefer TO
have avoided them. | have had no consultations
with my associates since Our last regular meeting
Nothinp has occurred since then. We are trying TO
increase the subscriptions. / nope we may IN
tmo; hut such men ~ Mr.. Whcclock, Mr. Bliss. Mr.
Cole NJ racOtt, Mr. ROiStOn, Mr.. Cornell, Mr.
Potts Mr. RuttrG. Mr.. GuiOn and their worthy
associates. with General Grant: viii not palter
when the contingency comes. lhey arc men oI ue-
cision accustomed to large and elective business,
and they will meet the facts. As to the next meet
ing on wednesday, know nothing To JuStly IN" III
expecting ANYTHING 10 hc said on the subject thrn
IL may not be necessary. But soon, anu very sooh'
a decision must be made
II enough money hc raised TO insure the success,
must luWOOd be the site
:" / hay. heard nothing about change. suppose
that the Commissioners have the right 10 change
the site # they should see at to do So There would
have to he some very goOu reason 10 uahc thVui "O
tins. should imagine. r,..- o.,
" How about handing over the Far To ChlcagoI
" ] have heard nothing about II. saw the state
rncnt in the Chicago papers that the cltIcnS OF
Chicago would be glad to have the Exhibition and
that they would the necessary money IN three
days. | never heard such PROJECT mchtioDeu W
anyone OF the Commissioners p
Frederick l.. Tacott was found at hls once at
No - Broad st. He said TO the reporter InaI ~ tno
Fair was going to be "a grand success mere
was no doubt OF il. It would also be held at IN
wood. Matters wero to be onergelcally puShcu,
howeycr before next Wednesday. The work so iar
had been done by fifteen or twenty OF the CoHmis-
sioneTs This should not bo allowed to continue IN
the future II any Of the Commissioners were @ not
willing to take hold and do their snare theIo Mc!o
nlonty Of others who wcrO willing TO take their
place. Tho subscriptions he SAID alhOuhie3 ~ po-
tween seven and eight hundred Thousand u3iIaIS'
but about half OF that amount was Conditional
w A Cole said that negotiations were pending
With several Of tho transportation companies IN re-
card TO their subscr ptlOn9. These wOulu prooaoly
To comnIrted hcforo Wednesday, when the next
regular meeting OF the Finance committee tahes
place. George k. Blanchard the ylce-preSSiu;enC u
and lanes H. Rnttcr the vlce-pTesldeht OF tno
New York Central and Hudson RIVER halIIoau,
were members of the committee who were CARVING
ON these negotiations. and Mr. Cole was COhuuohO
that these would be brought to succeS5lul teIul-
nation. The various transportation cohpahiiIees no
thonvht ought TO AMI would subscribe wlllingly
from a million TO million and nali' No arc
conducting this Fair" continued Mr', COle, oh
business not on phianthroplc principles. anu uu-
less these interests support us properly we can no
expected to carry this Fair on Ihty haSG AWAY
shown "A perfect readiness to do what Is rlRnG, anu
am confident that they will do even more IMAM Wo
ask. Their support Will assure the success Vi lno
Fair ..;,, =, s,,ol, orrouut
=" can't say exactly and | won't guess at any
GJl,res because | wouldn't like to ONcfostnalool vi
underestimate the amount Solo oi ; tlio MI thny
siOnCTs haI been soliciting suoSc ltI iUI,
lave not handed in their accounts recenJIS, ,,,,a
Charles SChesngcr Thought the / alr was oV"iH III
,o sncceed Girorge f. Blanchard declined To talk
on the subject of tho Worlds / ali' 10 Ao A"u "
severe cold. iii, +to Fam,
A gentleman indirectly connected with the Com
mission said Yesterday: - .,..;, %, for boro
All the expenses OF the Exhibition so IaT nave
been maid by the Commissioners. AccorIinR 10
their charter they can contract no 9eotS oi'i9y 9
until the first million dollars OF stoGh 10 'Tbibtian
rent OF the rooms Oh vho 4, c1erlt hire
in Broadway, the money spent IN clegH pHd u'i0 IN
and advertisements and tho sums used III
Getting the necessary bills through congress
and the Legislature, have all hau 10 t, GUlto
out of the pockets OF the twenty ,,o v, '"1t tba1t
men who have managed affairs. L presume od IhaC Nv
III tbcss things have cost them from Y3OUOO 10
RI0 600 One of tho Commissioners tOlu io tuaC ~
had cost him SO OOO Most of them are getting IlIeu
of spending money without any pIospooIJ Io VI IN
oettin0 n hack, Something has got 10 DO done iin-
Snediaiely or tho whole thing will be given up"
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