San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-11-30
COTTON CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.
To BE Held Under the Auspices OF the National
Cotton Planters Association OF Ameries,
In 1884.
Planters Journal.

Among the resolutions adopted at
the Little Rock convention of the Ma
tional Cotton Planters Association,
was one to hold in 1884 a grand Ex-
position under the auspices of that
body. 1t is to be called the Worlds
Cotton Centennial Exposition, and
will be to the whole country the event
of the century. Never before in the
history of the south was a movement
more enthusiastically inaugurated.
The idea was hailed with universal
appreciation at its announcement, and
not single doubter of the feasibility
of this colossal enterprise has been
found among the numerous planters
and manufacturers with whom we
have since discussed it. Even at this
early day number of manufacturers
have signifed their eagerness to be
among it's exhibitors, and letters of
inquiry concerning it have already
been received. Although cotton will
form the chief exhibit, yet it is pro-
posed to make it's scope universal, so
as to include not only everything APP
pertaining to cotton culture and man
ufacture, but whatever improved i'm
plements may be necessary for the
most approved methods of diversified
farming; in fact, all inventions, de-
vices and fabrics that may possibly
prove of interest to the people of the
south or promote their general indus
tries.
The resolution of the convention
authorizing this mammoth Exposition
provides that it shall be held at such
city as may offer the greatest induce
ment, and it is privilege well worth
contending for. Nearly all the lead
ing cities have had successful exposi-
tons, supported only by local or quasi
local interests and patronage, and
have found it profitable to invest large
sums in such enterprises; but this
proposed Worlds Cotton Centennial
Exposition will command the direct
and united support of the entire cot
ton producing territory Of America.
In view of the vast extent of this ter
ritory and the commercial Importance
of its leading staple, it is self evident
proposition that any city could afford
to spend ten fold more in order to Sc
cure such an Exposition than upon
any mere local affair. So far as ex-
hibits ore concerned, it cannot fail to
attract them from the whole Union,
aye from the four quarters of the
globe. The fact that it is to be a CEN
tennial exposition will likewise give
it great and world wide prominence.
It may interest the public to know
that in the year 1874, eight bales of
cotton were exported from this coun-
try to England, where, upon arrival,
it was condemned as contraband, and
seized, by order of the privy council,
who held that so large an amount of
cotton could not possibly have been
raised in America. Thus the year
1884 will be both an agricultural and
commercial centennial in the history
of cotton. What a contrast between
the opening and the closing year of
this cotton century! No enterprise
could be too stupendous to do justice
to the celebration of such aFcenten-
NAL.
The whole south will be organized
for the purpose of contributing to its
grandeur-indeed, all the cotton pro-
'ducing countries in the world will
doubtless participate in swelling its
attractions.
If we are fortunate in it's location
and can secure men of sufficient
breadth of view to compass so gigan-
tic an undertaking, it will prove but
little, if any, less magnificent than
the national centennial exposition of
1875. So far as its location is con-
cerned, we are inclined to the belief
that New Orleans is the most eligible
site, but the claims of all competing
cities will be carefully and impartially
considered. Correspondence in this
direction will be Immediately insti
tuted, and month given to the vari
Gus cities in which to make known
what inducements they have to offer.
The executive committee has not yet
taken action on this point, but among
the cities that will probably be invited
to compete are New Orleans, Vicks-
burg, st. Louis, Baltimore, Cincin-
natl, Louisville, Richmond, Memphis,
Nashville, Chattanooga, Charleston,
Mobile, Augusta, Savannah, Calves
ton, Montgomery and Atlanta.
1t is proposed to raise not less than
two and possibly over three millions