The National tribune., 1884-06-05
GOTHAM CHAT.
Abont Men and Things.

NEW YORK, June 4.
Considerable interest begins to be manifested
in the Cotton Exposition to be opened in New
Orleans in December. 1t is understood that
substantial support will be given the enterprise
by New York business men, who do not wish
TO yield their hold on Southern trade to Balti-
more, Chicago, and st. Louis. It is a little
singular that Chicago should be regarded as a
more dangerous rival, even for Southern COM
mercial favors than Cincinnati, situated as the
latter is right at the very border, with rail-
road recently built for the express purpose of
controlling the business of the cotton States.
Major E. A. Burke, the director-ge of the
exposition, is expected here in a few days. To
Major Burke is chiefly due the Inauguration of
the great enterprise, the discussion of which
he started some time ago without very fatter-
ing promise at first of outside support. There
were some circumstances against it. Exposi-
lions had become very common of late. In
Chicago and Cincinnati they were annual
affairs Boston had recently had big show.
Several were under way or ia contemplation
abroad. Atlanta and Louisville had but yes
terday gone into such enterprises, and the most
promising feature of such venture
could not be made trump card. In spite Of
the circumstances, Major Burke conceived the
bold plan of insuring success for the New Or
leans show by making it the biggest on
earth" If expositions were common he would
dwarf the rest and boldly attempt to eclipse
the Centennial exhibition of Philadelphia.
He came to Washington and, by management
that viii make the late Sam Ward turn over in
his grave, secured an appropriation of million
dollars, and at the same time put the affair SO
prominently before the country, that, already
by his tremendous effort alone, the project is
on the highway to success.
81.
Major Burke has had wonderful career. 4
gentleman who knows him well told me the
other day the various steps by which, with
little TO aid him but pluck, he had advanced to
the most commanding position of influence
probably in the Gulf section. He owns the
Times Democrat of New Orleans, the most prof
liable newspaper property to-day south of the
Ohio River, and can have anything in politics
IN the gift Of the people Of Louisiana. lie viii
succeed Jonas in the United States Senate if
he viii accept the position, as he probably viii
if he shall be able to arrange his business as
to leave home. II predict that you will see
this man as the acknowledged leader from the
South at Washington within FIVE years." con-
Guided my friend.
It is reported that Willard did not go to
Europe, after all, but is quietly engaged in
planning some new enterprise.
There are those who profess to believe that
Willard will again loom up in Wall street as
potent as ever. That he is wonderful diplc-
mat is shown By many things that have come
to light since he came tumbling down from the
dizzy height where he had iutrenched himself
as the guiding spirit in the Northern Pacific
enterprise. A friend of his told me yesterday
that when he started out on his grand $3.50, COO
| picnic last summer he knew that ruin wa.
staring him in the face and that he was living
over magazine of dynamite, but he believed
he could conquer adverse circumstances and
weather the storm that ne knew was about "a
burst.