The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-07-31
From Washington.
IRON our Regular Correspondent. ]

FIRST president in 1889 is gathering SURF
weight and momentum. Many Senators anC
Members favor it, and encouraging assur
ances of cooperation have been received
from every part of the Union. 1t is proposed
to make this national celebration prelude
TO the commemoration of the grandest event
in the annals of tme-the discovery of the
New World by Christopher Columbus, the
four hundredth anniversary of which whl be
in 1892. In view Of the magnitude and sub
Unity of the enterprise, it cannot be said
tlat its promoters have begun too early to
survey its dimensions, to lay its foundation
in the popular heart, to sketch its super
structure, and even to plan the details OF its
installation.
1t is proposed that the celebration shall
take the form of Worlds Fair, and the
situation most favored is the flats south of
the White House, covering an area of three
hundred acres, and, as il were, in the midst
of the city.
The shape of Washington may be roughly
described as that Of a crescent with its horns
resting on the Potomac-the right at George
town, the left at the Arsenal. Between
these two horns lie the flats, bounded on the
west by the river on the east, north and
saltbsby the Naval Observatory, the War,
State and Navy Department, the White
House, the Treasury, the Smithsonian In
stitute, and the National Museum, In the
midst stands Washingtons Monument, the
highest structure in the world From every
part Of the grounds may be seen the tower
ing Capitol Of the United States, and, for a
background, are the evergreen hills of Ar
lington on the right bank Of the Potomac. |
Never have Nature, Art and History done 50
much TO make an Exposition great and
celebration sublime Al the centennial ex-
position in 1876 and at Paris in 1873, it |
was necessary to travel on an average about
three miles before the exposition grounds
could be reached. Here no part Of the city
will be more than mile and half. Here
on the very confines of the proposed situation
are musems, the COrcoran Art Gallery, and
the finest specimens Of architecture in the
world. In other words there is here already
permanent Exposition, and the promoters
Of the great enterprise find the wo half
finished to their hands.
The enterprise is one Of infinite possibility.
There is strong sentiment in favor Of max
ing.the Exposition permanent--an exhibition
at the National Capitol year in and year out,
o: the products and resources and industrial
progress Of the several States and Territories
Of the Union and not only Of the States and
Territories, but Of the other Governments Of
the three Americas, forming in the aggregate
a vast panoramic display of the art, science ,
and agriculture, the native wealth and skill {
ed industries, the varied chronological phases {
and the civilized development Of the Western '
The magnitude of the results thus sought I
% be reached surpasses all previous concep- I
ions Of a similar character; yet the practi-
cability Of the scheme is easily comprehen- !;
ribe, and its expense within the bounds of q
simple business computation, it being under
.tood that the general Government will grant r
he use Of the necessary grounds and con
ribute its own valuable collections to the =
Enrichment Of the great international exhibit. Il
The States and Territory cooperating in II
he project, either singly or in groups,
would merely be called upon to erect such II
for their own occupation, as i'm ;;
Mediate needs might require. The cost to a
would be scarcely more than that Of an ordi.
lary State Fair. Foreign governments par. U
icipating in the exposition would of course
ave their separate departments and the nee n
ssary space allotted to them. The Govern Il
nent at Washington, having general super
Iisory direction Of the whole, would add
rom time to time such aids and accessories
IS the growth Of the country and develop.
nent Of the enterprise might suggest. u
zation without any extravagant expcndi'
ures yet of such infinite possibilities, the i
Project assumes proportions that are fairly 4
in their immensely. Nothing f,
n ancient or contemporary history ap. a
1roaches it in grandeur-this splendid Bazaar " "
VI the Continent upon the banks Of the Po- h
omac-a constant advertisement Of the won
ierful resources Of the American nations {
hat will permeate the commerce Of the =,
world now with new and vigorous inspira o
ion, and a constant educator Of the people in f
III that pertains to their higher civilization.
Already are many Governors of States, d
exchanges and representative Il
jodies sgnifying their cordial assent to its II
Ian and purposes. u