The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-10-01
THE SOUTHERN EXPOSITION
A SHOW WHICH Is INTENDED TO
ECLIPSE THAT OF 1875.
How the Enterprise was Started and
What has been Done - The
Grounds and Buildings.

How the Enterprise was Started and
What has been Done - The
Grounds II buildings.
The Southern Exposition, which is to
be opened at New Orleans on December
lis the outgrowth Of an idea that origi-
mated in 1879, when the Mississippi Cot
ton Planters association was organized
with q view to meet the desperate state
of things then threatening the planting
interest by the proposed exodus of the
colorcd population and the apparent ne.
ccssity for replacing the old methods of
raising cotton by new methods and labor
saving machinery.
The New Orleans exposition Is n sort
of centennial celebration of the beginning
of the cotton industry in this country, rs
the first cotton was exported in 1874.
This was the beginning of the great ex-
port trade that has made American cot
ton an important factor in the industry
of the world. The year 1884 also marks
the hundrcdth anniversary of the peace
that closed the revolutionary war, and it
was thought fitting that the occasion
should be made memorable by the expo
sition of the arts of peace. 1t was also
considered that the South had been the
arena of the most remarkable Industrial
progress of this decade, and was, there
fore, the proper center for such a celc-
bration.
The coming exposition is called the
Worlds Industrial and Cotton CcnttA-
NAL exposition, and it is to be held under
the auspices of the United States and
the National Cotton Planters association.
On April 81, 1888, the executive COM
mittce selected New Orleans as the site
for the exposition. Congress approved
the charter constituting q board of thlr-
teen members, eight of whom are ap-
pointed by the President, and seven on
the recommendation Of the association
and subscribers.
Under the act the commissioners OF the
exposition had the authority to invite
foreign governments to participate in the
exposition. In order to make provision
for the guests thus invited, an act of
Congress was passed loaning a million of
dollars to the enterprise, on the same
plan that proved successful with the Cen
tennial exposition at Philadelphia.
Louisiana and New Orleans raised $500,
900 by State and city appropriations and
private effort, and from various sources
funds amounting to about 81, 500, 900
more were raised to help on the enter
prise.
Then the plan was enlarged a little,
and the Federal government decided to
ask foreigners to bring exhibits relating
to the departmental workings of their
governments as a contribution to the
knowledge of the science of govern
mcnt. TO carry out this idea a supple.
mentary appropriation of $500, 900 was
made by Congress, and q board of Off
GERS was appointed by the President.
When the enterprise was started, ono
of the most active promoters was Senior
Diaz, now president of Mexico. Prcsi-
dent Diaz has not lost interest in the OK
hibition, and promises continued CO.
operation. Already the Mexican gov
ernmcnt has appropriated 5000, 900 fol-
its share in the great show. The Latin
countries of Central America will also be
duly represented at the exposition. AL
though, on account of the use of tho
term Southern Exposition, many have
supposed that it will be solely an exhibi
ton of Southern products and things
having some relation to them, the fact is
it will be an international exhibition on
a larger scale than any heretofore at
tempted anywhere.
The grounds cover $50 acres. The
main building is the largest ever built
for such a purpose. The government
building measures SS4 by 5Gj feet, and
is itself larger than either of the two
Paris exposition buildings, and larger
than the Vienna exposition building.
There will be an immense horticultural
hall, art galleries, and other buildings
such as naturally cluster around a great
exposition. The intention is to provide
room for all exhibitors who have any
thing to show that is worth seeing. The
exhibits arc to be %catalogucd in nine
groups with about 1000 classifications.
The primary object of the exposition is to
educate the people, and this will be kept
constantly in view. The president OF
TIC cApOSltlOu 10 IIuIlltlAu leleAaio"oh3
of Mississippi, the largest cotton planter
in the world. The Encouragement is
Major Z. A. Burke, Of New Orleans.
There is an office in New York, in the
Stewart buildings at Chambers street and
Broadway, and another office in Chicago.
Then there is a commissioner in every
State with $1,000 to spend in the inter,
est Of the exposition. There are also
fourteen men travelling in Europe giving
information about the exposition and
getting exhibitors,
The exhibition will be opened promptly
on December 4. Already a fleet of steam
boats is being prepared on the Missis.
sippi to take visitors to the show. There
are ten lines of steamers connecting New
Orleans with New York. Then there arc
the Louisville and Nashville railroad,
the Queen and Crescent railroad, the H.
linois Central, the Louisville, New
Orleans and Texas, and the new system
of Mexican roads ready to carry visitors
from ali directions to the exposition, and
the prospect is that ever in the number
of its visitors the Southern exposition
will rival the exhibition at Philadelphia.
-.Ncm York SIN.