The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-05-20
WORLDS EXPOSITION.
w. A. Clark, one Of Montana,s Com.
missfOners, Returns Home and
Gives His Impressions.

He Says the Exposition was a Great
Success and the Result Uni.
versally Beneficial.
The Hon. w. A. Clark returned to
Butte, yesterday, after an absence OF
nearly half q year. Mrs. Clark and
the children remain in New York,
where the latter are pursuing their
studies. Mr.. Clark has been devot-
ing three or four months of his
valuable time to the representation
of Montana ut the Worlds Fair at
New Orleans and it was upon the
latter subject that q MINER reporter
interviewed him at the Silver Bow
Club rooms, last evening.
He said, in response to a query,
that the Exposition was undoubtedly
q success.
THE OPENING.
"As to the beginning, Mr.. Clark?'
asked the reporter.
"Well, al to the beginning" said
MI. Clark, "that Is the worst part of
it. The undertaking seemed to be
too big an n for the Southern peo-
pie. They had no experience in
that line. They got involved in debt
before they were thoroughly organ
lied. Indeed, they were not thor
oughly organized when I went down
in January, and were then in debt
! very badly, ever with the 1000, 600
they had received from the Govern
ment. The employees were not paid;
no attention was paid to exhibitors,
and some of the States had not re-
ceived their allotments. There was
great dissatisfaction with the condi-
tlon of affairs. The outlook was not
pleasant and it was rather discourage
ing. TO add to the troubles, the
weather was very bad. 1t was rainy
and cOldand remained so to the last OF
January. The attendance was much
lighter than had been looked for and
the receipts were diminished in a
corresponding ratio. Indeed, the re-
ceipts were not equal to the expenses
and did not rise to that point until
the first week in February. The
Mdrdi Qrds, a great event in New
Orleans, where it is celebrated with
greater pOmp than anywhere else,
unless it be in the south and
east of France. brought a great
influx of visitors and then the
Exposition assumed the first bright
outlook. The weather also became
more pr0piti0us and remained beau
tiful and pleasant up to the time I
lefC. The receipts all through March
and April greater than the ex-
penses. The average daily attend
ance during April was about 10000,
which figure does not include the at
tendance on special days Of cities,
States, societies, ETC., on which those
figure were largely exceeded. About
the time the weather changed, Con-
gress also voted the management
$365, 900 more aid, of which Sis, 900
went to the Woman's Department.,
leaving $35O,O0O for the purposes of the
Exposition proper. This windfall
enabled them to discharge all their
liabilities. Then everybody was
happy and since then matters have
been going very p'easantly."
THE EXPOSITION A SUCCESS.
"Is the Exposition really a success,
MI. Clark ?" asked the reporter.
1.-THE Exposition ITSELF" said MI.
CIorh SSfo61n 0o q uyh0V0 10 COR.
tainly the grandest ever given on
earth. This is conceded by all per-
sons who have visited the great
Expositions, both at home and
abroad. The foreign exhibits are in
the main inferior to those shown at
Philadelphia in 1876, but there are
notable exceptions to this. Belgium
and France make very fine exhibits,
and so does Mexico. which made no
show at all in Philadelphia. Mexico
must have spent $50O,0O upon her
exhibit. It is very fine. The
machinery exhibits are far more ex-
tensive and elaborate than were
those ut Philadelphia, and the Gov
eminent building, which contains
the exhibits of the States and Terri
tories, is the greatest aggregation of
the products of the earth ever
gathered in n place. It is a most
wonderful exhibit, arranged in the
most attractive manner, and appeals
to the sense of beauty as we'll as the
grosser one of the material develop
ment of the nation. The Govern
ment exhibit is much more extensive
than at Philadelphia"
THE MINERAL EXHIBIT.
"And as to the mineral exhibit ?"
said the reporter. |
"The mineral exhibit" responded
Mr.. Clark, sis far ahead of that
made at the Centennial. All the
Territories, ave Utah, are repre-
Colorado makes a very good
exhibit and shows that it has profited
it's exposition experience at home.
Arizona also shows a very extensive
of it's most attractive ores,
of which it has many varieties, OF
the greatest beauty. Many of these
are very fine and very rich. New
Mexico makes q very fair exhibit
also. California makes a fine show
SIdaho," continued Mr.. Clark,
g is very ably and very zealously
by Colonel Shoup. He
deserves special credit for the man
ner in which he has exhibited the
mineral wealth of Idaho. He has
remained at the Exposition and has
given the exhibit his constant
personal attention. His headquarters
are noted for their free-handed hospi-
tality and generous entertainment,
and most of the expense is out of his
personal means. Besides a magnifi-
cent ore display, he also has roots,
cereals, etc."
MONTANA's SHOW.
"Now, Mr.. Clark, tell us something
Of our own display" said the reporter.
"Well," replied the modest gentle
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