The Washington critic., 1886-02-17
WASHINGTON, FEB. H. 1886,
WAsHINGTON THE PLACE FOR
A IIRNIANENI INpOsINInN.


CRirlc came into the hands of It's pres.
cnt management, we have suggested
that early steps be taken towards the
establishment of Permanent EXposi-
tion in the city of Washington.
Believing that the times are now pccu.
liarly -uspicious for such % movement,
we again submit the suggestion to Con.
eress and the people, but in more
elaborate form and on the assumption
That nowhere else in the country can
such an enterprise be safely undertaken
either with private capital or public
aid, or both conjojned; while all the
conditions of an enduring aud profit
able success exist, or can readily be
brought into existence at the seat of
Government.
We assume further that the National
Capital is, above all other locations
the most appropriate for a National
Exposition, fully representative of our
national character and resources.
Such an exposition might be in.
uguratcd through the energy and LID
erality Of individual citizens, but thus
instituted and maintained it would ne
ccssarily have to start from small be-
ginnings and be Of slow and uncertain
growth. Besides, TO reach the high
standard proposed, it should be re.
lieved Of all speculative features and
all danger Of collapse.
The better, in fact, the only feasible
plan Is to first enlist the aid of the Gen.
oral Government to the extent of au-
,horizing the necessary reservations to
he set apart for the purpose, and con-
jrihuting as n nucleus to the contem-
plated exposition, the valuable and
multiform variety OF material it al
ready has in possession and immedi.
atcly available, together with such pro.
ducts of nature and international art
and industry as It may obtain from the
exposition 81 New Orleans or else.
where. The Government, after pro.
vidine a central building for the exhi-
bition Of such articles of interest, as
might not find suitable place in, or
properly pertain to, the Smithsonian,
the National Museum, Botanical Gar
den or other institutions, might also, at
n comparatively small expense, erect a
Mechanical Hail and lay the plant for
such motive power as future needs
should require.
This much to be done through Con.
gress and under the direction of duly
appointed Commissioners to represent
the Government interests.
The next step would be to invite the
cooperation of every State and Terri
tory In the Union, Offering to each the
space it might desire for State and Ter
ritorial buildings and all necessary ac-
commodations in the Department Of
Mechanics and Scientific Invention
There is probably no Statc--no Terri.
tory-that would not gladly avail it.
self Of the privilege and take pride in
appropriating such annual sums as
were found requisite for complete
and continuing exhibition of its varied
resources and industries under its own
= roof and through its own directors.
Foreign countries should also be ad-
mitted TO the grounds, with franchises
and privileges similar to those of the
States, with view to their agents and
representatives taking up permanent
residence among us and thus giving to
the exposition an added grandeur and
an international rank.
The Government has reservations eX.
tending from Capitol Hill to the Wash.
ington Monument-onward to Obscrva
tory Hill and riverwards to the re.
deemed fats, twelve hundred to fifteen
hundred acres in all, abundantly am
pie for all the requirements of such a
scheme and for building within our
great and beautiful city another busy
and beautiful city, as it were, with its
streets and parks, its avenues and
aquariums and splendid edificcs, typi-
cal of the country's growth in all tina
makes its civilization glorious.
This would constitute Worlds Fair
such as the world has never seen o.
dreamt Of before; yet the plan, vast a
it may seem in its details and illimita
BILE in its possibilities, straining tn
Imagination to delineate them, Is a
plain Of comprehension and as practi
cable of execution, rs The Organization
of an ordinary State or county agri
cultural exhibition.
1t would involve to the Governmou
but an insignificant outlay, compare
with the results to be reasonably eN
pected of it, and necesstate on the par
of the several States and Territories br
a small expenditure to each, conside
ing the returns that might safely b
predicated upon the investment.
Who can begin to estimate the MAJ
velous effect upon trade, and commerce
and immigration, and industrial deve
opment, which such an exposito
would have?
What greater or better educator {
the people can be conceived Of, 50 ia
as the material progress and natur
characteristics, not only of this cou
1ry, but of both hemispheres, are CO.
cernedY
1t would also add immensely to u
population, wealth and renown Of Il
city of Washington, attracting hith
thousands and tens of thousands Of s
journers year by year, many of them
become permanent residents, many
invest their means in opportuntl
such as the new era would unfoi
Last, butnot least, would an expositlt
such as we have outlined serve as
new bond Of union between the stat
and stimulate to an unprecedented d'