The sun., 1889-11-10

Circumstances that DIseouraged Americas
.,lntsrsst in the ParIs Rxhibition.

| Circumstances that DIscouraged Anerienu
.slntersst in ths ParIs Exhibition.
PARIS, Oct. 19-Unfavorable criticisms
have been the rule In reference to the Ameri.
can feature Of the Universal Exposition. II IL
not uncommonly remarked that II the display
| here was criterion OF American enterprise
and taste. the Exhibition OF 1892 will be sorry
affair. That the exhibit In the Paris show was
not a fair criterion Of hls eountrys enterprise
every visiting American feels; but few II any
know how It came to be so comparatively un.
attractive. and few understand how really sue.
cessful It has proved. There may be sugges-
tions OF value to the projectors OF the 1892 affair
in a statement Of the faete concerning the
United States share In the Phrls show
The first decree OF the French Government
signed III regard TO the Exposition OF 1889 vas
dated Nov 9, 1884. The United States received
official notice and Invitation to participate on
April 8. 1887. It was not until May IL, 1883.
that Congress passed the act accepting the in.
vitation. and tho United States Commission.
ers were not appointed and confirmed until
late In juno. Their instructions bear the date
July g. 1883. The amount appropriated was
s25000o. out OF which freight to and from Paris
had to no paid. and tho space allotted to the
United States fitted up. The space com.
prlsed about $4,000 square feet, scattered
In various lots oil over the Champ do Mars,
tLo QuHl u OEbdy, anu 6ib0WueTo In the EXhis
bition. The United States, having come In last
OF oil the participating nations, had to be con.
tent with HobsonB choice for location. They
simply took what was left. The fitting up In
volved the laying Of floors. the building OF par.
titions between sections the providing great
linen shade under the Glass roof to protect the
exhibits from the Elarecof the sum the fur
nlshinR OF stean engines for power. 30. France
provided simply some plots of bare ground
under o roof ~, ,,. ..
1t was found impossible to secure additional
space beyond the allotment. for mono was to be
had within the grounds, and there was not suf-
special building Countries which did erect
6ndngs OF any did 60 out ap
that Of the United States. For instance Mex
ico With an e ssoo Soe and the
f YER country began work two years ahead of the
without exhibits in $Sehinery Hall SheFe, Be-. bes
sides side aY SraaSe are only the United ststes Eng
sections there were two oommittees Of
eeasts aesEhs EiSn BB'sssxak ana al sSo
tion was left in the hands Of these com.
miltees. In many instances; such as in the
whatever on the part OF the United States sus
the amount OF money which the ComIDissioner.
General was able to devote for purposes of in
countries which have been highly praised viii
be found on ANALYSIS to consist mainly Of ar:
States almost depa
ment by utility. For exhibits Of SUCH charac-
ter the elaborate ornamentati9n Of the per-
tumery section would be absurd: and yet the
fact remains that In nearly every section the
American exhibits showed to poor advantage.
countries expended large sums % Of
money in preparing their allotted spaces,
sivey. This done, their tommissioners S esesh ssd
to would-be exhibitors: here is your spsce;
That is the GoSernment mrs rst @ ARRANGED SSn t6e I n
stallation. and then compelled each exhibitor
pay his Pre- rata share space
subserved. The result, OF course was much
where each exhibitor FOL lowed bis own 1ssst sweet
exhibit..- People who should know something
about about the matter say that when Il was suG-
ment be intrusted with the entire installation,
they Pro promptly ~ tS declined to peEtiSipate
psd o one e
officially connected and highly. too. with tho
But individual parsimony doubtless had little
2 2 do with the so-oalled me9gre display from
Tned
.hird OF all the nations represented here with
libits To manpfaeturers who are familiar
With exhibitions the tardlness Of tho Govern
nent in accepting the invitation. and its com.
Ther sre eG sfoss
opportunity to establish commercial eonnec-
ion Nv with "a South out American States. on oppoI.
France, and England. Many Ameri.
exEbors % sSsr
sfprn for the expanse. 70 such the sttit1de
TRs s Re ESs q to ths
Whole situationT There was a very general
ear that the. Exhibition would not, OCCUR By
,ertain political parties In France. inifnical to
he republic. foStered this In every way, and
FFoduced FSn an effect not 9niy tp the United
lory Of this remark kable enterprise has been
wonder and surprise to the world at large.
Is qoused Ua hN come me
.acency to exclaim over the startling success
judged By Its merits the American contribu-
on has been eminentlV euccassfnl.t 1t was
cry little more extensive than tho correspond
~ exhibit in the affair OF 1878 at the Troca-
US. especially in the higher grades. - The fol-
wing table shows how American exhibits com.
are this year'wi those OF eleven years ago:
. 800. ~ q -'- Hii. Fl ASIA 1880
rand prizes, zeB,................~,-o....,,., 10, IS
ID mdSdas. -. la2
!ohse medaa 525
Totals ~. 800 - eJ9
note Tint three Of the GRAND nrizes are In
10, 9rtS,and twenty-fourln the Department of
. dgcatton and Liberal Arts In electricity
!. of which the United States Gel three.
heTe are also Grand prizes for printed cotton
hnar In m chi NJ