Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-08
HALF A MILLION
Wanted 10 Advance for Locating the
Worlds Cotton Exposition.
An Enthusiastic Interview With
a Merchant From VieksburR.


An active merchant of Vicksburr
who arrived from that city YESTERDAY
afternoon, laid over in Cincinnati last
night with the intention of contjuu.
ing his journey East this morning.
He was met by a reporter at one Of
the hotels, where a conversation 90.
CURED in reference TO the proposed
Worlds Cotton Exposition in 1884
While not engaged directly in the
cotton business, nor connected with
the association having in charge the
preparations for the Forthcoming fair.
be is thoroughly familiar with its pro.
ceedings and objects.
When asked if any preference ex.
isted in the association as to the
choice Of location for the fair, he said
that while he could not speak author.
itatively he felt pretty sure that
strong sentiment existed in favor of
Cincinnati, because Of the public
spirit OF the citizens aud the complete
success that has attended every effort
OF Cincinnati in conducting expo
sitiOns.
What are the exact conditions re
CURED OF city by the managers at
licksburg as an induoemeut TO secure
the lcoation2"
We'll ,sir, ,as our people have thought
over and studied on the fair, its i'm.
portance has continually grown and
the scope increased. Our frst idea
was that $5O0,0O0 would cover the
entire cost and get up a pretty good
fair. The original plan was to give
the fair TO the Grst city invited
that would contribute 100000
OF that amount, we to raise the rest
sir-S4OO,000. 0foourse we expected
to reserve the right to consider ad
vantages Of location, capacity OF the
buildings to be furnished, etc. Al
the project, however, was considered.
It has extended to greater proportions
In addition to the cotton feature,
which will he the GREATEST in itself,
with the machinery, etc., the most
complete Of the kind the world ever
saw, we now intend to make it a
complete exhibit of the agricultural
products of the Southern States,
and show the world the great
variety of products that our
Southern soil is suitable for.
Considering the prestige that any citY
holding such fair would acquire as
/ the depot and entrance of Southern
trade, and the advantage the city
would derive by practically acquiring
that trade, We have concluded to en-.
large the figure as we'll as the
scope Of the fair. Just before | left
Vicksburg the figure fixed upon as
an inducement was $500,000, we to
raise an equal amount, which would
put the whole cost of the exposition at
81 100000. That is for Worlds Cen.
tennial Fair, sir, that will have on exs.
hibitioD not only the products Of the
South, the Gulf and Pacific Islands,
and may be Central and South Amer
lea, but the machinery Of the North
and Of Europe, dnd will draw visitors
from almost every civilized nation on
the globe"
How do you expect to put such
maehiHerY in motion and have it work
satisfactorily in that tineP"
My dear sir, We already have our
machinery in the shape of our Cotton
Planters Association of America
with headquarters at Vicksburg. We
intend to retain the Presidency of the |
association and allow the city selected |
a. the location to appoint the Direc.
tor General. Then We intend to an.
point commissioners, supervisors, etc.
= What " will be the duties ot the
"They will be arduous, | have noI
doubt. There will be the selection Of |
commissioners aud their assistants in
every State in the South for thor
Ough and complete canvassing Of every
square mile of ground, almost, where
anything is produced, for the purpose
Of obtaining exbibits and subscrip-
tiOns. The President, or it may be
the chief commissioner, am not Ger.
tain which, tor that matter the work |
may be divided will visit every manu-
featuring State in the East and in
Great Britain, aud possible, to some ex-
tent, the Continent, with the object Of
working 1t Up iheFa shouldn't won.
der II 1t would be necessary to make |
a visit to the Sandwich Islands, for |
the purpose of getting samples Of their |
products. They have never figured |
much in exhibitiops-at least not in
such way that they would be reOOg.
nised."
when do you start out in the
vorkq"
We'll, sir. Just as soon as the city
selected raises the money"
"You don't want guarantee fund,
such as is gotten up here for our expo
sitions2"
"0h, no, sir. Guarantee funds are
good enough in the localities where
they are raised, but their value must
necessarily be local. When the money
is raised, then the machinery Is put |
directly into motion. We send out |
our men, and they have to be paid, of |
course, and the whole South BY that |
means is put gnder contribution"
"What will be the duties Of the |
Director General?"
HE attends to the local part of ths
business, the buildings, the shipping
and the transportation arrangements,
advertising, etc. He, with his assist. |
ants and eomMittees, will have full |
control Of the goods on exhibition and |
the general direction Of them. Besides
that, the city where the Exhibition |
will be held will have the privilege Of |
appointing Commissioners, and 50 on,
eqt9l in number 70 our own, 10 that
everything will work satisfactorily
Are your people much interested
in ths matter3'
"1'hey are full Of 1t sir; and l tell
Won again, -iv, they wouldn't be sorry
to see it go to Cincinnati" "