The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-11-27
New Orleans Exposition.

In 1854 eight small bags of cotton wer
shipped from Charleston. S. c., to Eng
land. This was the first expectation o
the article ever made from this country
and it is the one hundredth anniversary Of
this event that it is proposed to common
crate in New Orleans, commencing the
middle of December. 1884. and closing in
June, 1885. From the small expectation
named the cotton traffic has reached to
immense proportions, aggregating into
| millions of dollars annually. and become
! an important factor in controlling the bal
| ance of trade between the old and new
world. There is really no competition for
the American cotton, for its texture is
superior to that of the production of any
other country. and all efforts on the part
of FL gland to have cultivated in her pos
sessions substitute for it have prove d
failures. While Cotton is not exactly
King, as was once claimed. ruling the COM
merce of the world by arbitrary exactions,
! it Is a controlling item in the industrial
projects and the trade relations Of all civ
ilized countries.
! The scheme for Cotton Centennial at
New Orleans in 1884 was suggested by the
National Cotton Planters Association at
Little Rock, Ark, about two years ago.
| This same body will hold universal Cot
ton Convention in New Orleans in Febru-
airy. to which delegates from every part
of the world will be present.
| Congress in the spring of 1883 placed The
Exposition on a substantial foundation by
providing that it should be held under the
joint auspices of the National Govern
ment, the city of New Orleans and the
Planters Association. It followed this
up by the loan of a million dollars and the
appropriation of 100000 for the govern
ment exhibit. The city of New Orleans
has appropriated 100000 to the EXPOSE
tion and the State of Louisiana similar
amount. and fully half million dollars has
been received from private contributions.
All the States and Territories of the
| Union will be represented at the Fair, and
also number Of foreign countries. Mex
| leo has special building for her own ex-
hibits, and has donated $780, 600 to defray
the expenses. Some of the larger cities of
this country have made preparations for
their exhibits. Russia sends fifty-two tons
of miscellaneous products. and China will
have large representation of her handi-
craft and natural resources, while Italy
will ornament the buildings with splen-i
did ooJloction NJ ra ro uropto of ort VIZ
ginia gives $4,000 to have her products
represented, and if all the commissioners
are as alive to their works, and as indefati-
gable as is Maj. Jed. Hotchkiss, in charge
Of the collection of minerals, the Com
monwealth will present creditable APP
pearance on very small appropriation.
The scale on which this great enterprise
is to be conducted may be inferred from
the fact that its buildings are more spa
cions and imposing than those at the
World IS Fair, Philadelphia. in 1876. The
site is the Upper City Park. pleasure
ground of nearly $50 acres along the Mis-
sissippi River bank, studded with fine
groves of live oak. The main building of
the Worlds Fair of 1876 was very extern
sive and excited the wonder of all who
saw it, but the main building of the New
Orleans Exposition is about one-half larger
1t is 1873 feet long and 905 feet wide; it
is the most spacious iron building in tie
world. In its hall fifteen thousand per-
sons can be accommodated at Conventions
or at entertainments. There are three
other great buildings-the Government,
the Machinery and the Horticultural-of
which the first named measures $50 feet
by 558. while the last is larger than any
ever before constructed for such purpose.
The horticultural premiums alone aggre-
CRATE $4,000. The machinery building
will have a special interest in illustrating
the processes CT gathering and milling cot
ton, sugar and rice.
The time for the opening-the middle of
December-is suspicious. The mild eli
mate will draw many from the more
Northern States, to escape, for time, the
rigors of Northern blasts, and to enjoy
the splendid attractions that will be Of
fered at the Exposition. The railroads |
will adjust their rates. doubtless. so as to
make the cost of the trip come within
reasonable figures and thus augment the
number of visitors.
Maj. Hotchkiss is collecting large and
creditable variety of Virginia minerals,
and will have them so arranged as to show
to the best advantage. He is peculiarly |
qualified for the department. he has in
charge-in fact it is a labor of love with
him, and we hope the results Of the exhi-
bits to be made will be followed by bene-
fits to the State.