The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-14
A WORLDS FAIR In 1892.
Four.hundredth Anniversary Of
the Discovery of America.
important Action Taken by the
Citizens Of New York City.

Successful meetings of the Chamber Of
Commerce, the Mayors committee and the
Spanish-American Association took action
In New York city to formulate plans fol
holding Worlds Fair there in 1892 to cele-
brate the four-hundredth anniversary OF the
discovery Of America.
At 3:15 o'clock the gentlemen who had been
Invited to confer with the Mayor began to as.
semble in the Governors room, and by 3:S(
there was hardly standing room. Chairs to
the number of 10 had been provided, but
these were inadequate to accommodate ali
those present.
It was big gathering, and it was unani-
mously in favor Of having the biggest fair
the world has ever seen in 1892 in New York.
All the banks were represented by their
Presidents and directors. Railroad Presi-
dents were as abundant as at meeting
of the Trunk Line Association. Mer.
chants abounded as If the full roll
Of the Chamber Of Commerce were
present to answer to their names There
were workingmen representing as many
trades and industries as national conyen.
tion of the Knights Of Labor or the American
Federation of Labor There were rspreSen.
tatives of all the industries professions,
businesses and trades Of New York city.
They were all there, the heads Of firms, the
men whose names are as well known II
London and San Francisco as they
are in New York. Billions Of dol.
lars Of capital we're present in the men who
control the railroads, the steamboats,, the
real estate, the hotels, the manufactures and
the trade Of the city. The assemblage proved
the unanimity and enthusiasm OF all the citl-
zens of New York about the Worlds Fair
which is to be held in 1892
The Mayor, in opening the discussion on
NAL in 1892, said: 49,
"I have invited you to this meeting In or.
der that you, as representative citizens OF
this great metropolis, may consider the de-
STABILITY Of COMMUNICATING the dis
co7ery of this continent by holding
an international exposition In this,
the chief city of the Western Hemisphere.
This event which we intend to commemorate
is the discovery Of new world. !ts
importance is not to be measured by
a mere addition to the sum Of geographical
knowledge; it's fruits are observable In
the happiness and prosperity Of Q nation
while It has acquired boundless wealth, and
in the general Improvement which the success
of one government has wrought in the condl-
tion of mankind throughout the world.
'The city Of New York is the capital of
this new world, whose achievements are but
a promise Of still more glorious future, and
in this the most powerful and poEulous OF
the cities of America, think it elninently
desirable that we celebrate the triumph OF
Columbus by a Worlds Fair, which will
eclipse all former industrial expositions"
Mayor Grant was then unanimously made
Permanent Chairman and William M. Spear
Secretary.
Mr.. Charles G.. Haven suggested that the
name Of the committee be the Committee for
the international Exposition Of 1892. The
matter of the appointment Of committees was
Immediately taken up. Controller Myers
offered the following:
Whereas, It is fitting that there should be
q suitable recognition Of the four-hundredth
anniversary Of the discovery Of this conti:
nent, such anniversary occurring in 1892; and
Whereas, Public opinion indicates that an
international exposition Will most satisfy and
meet the requirements Of the occasion and
afford o desirable opportunity for foreign
countries to testify to good will in our nation
al regard; and
Whereas, In its location, through which it
holds the key to commerce, through its many
and varied Industries, through its resources
of capital, through its unlimited facilities for
the reception and entertainment OF visitors,
through It's liberality in the promotion OF
all that constitutes national success,
through its acknowledged supremacy as the
metropolis Of the Western world, New York
Is indisputably the proper site whereupon
such an international exposition should be
held; therefore, be it ..-. II.
- Resolved, That 1t Is the sense Of this meet
ing that an international exposition shall be
held in the city Of New York In the year 1882
and that all present do pledge themselves to
devote their best energies to the promonon OF
the success Of such exposition; and
Resolved, That general committee OF
twenty be appointed by the Mayor, whose
duty shall be to formulate detailed plans for
organization Of such an exposition and re-
port at public meeting to be called by the
chairman when the committee shall be ready
to report. :,
Charles S. Smith offered the following sub
situte for the closing resolution:
}Resolued; That the chairman appoint the
following committees, namely, one on finance,
one on legislation, one on permanent organ1-
zation and one on site and buildings, each to
consist of twenty five members; and that the
chairman be allowed such reasonable time as
he deems proper to select and name such
committees. ,
Mr.. Smiths motion for the appointment
of the four committees was carried unanl'
mously. The Mayor and Secretary Spear
were made ex-offcio members of the -four
committees, and the meeting adjourned sub
ject to the call of the Chair.
The New York Chamber Of Commerce, at
its meeting the same afternoon, appointed o
committee of sixty memberst cooperate
with the National, State and city authorities
in regard to taking measures for the holding
of Worlds Fair in 1892.