Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-16
THREE AMERICAS EXPOSITION.
EFFORTS TO HAVE THE WORLDS FAIR
HELD IN WASHINGTON.
Reasons Advanced Why the Celebration
Should Take Place at the
National Capital.

At the meeting of the Board of Promo
ton of the Three Americas Exposition,
held in Washington, D. c., on the 23d of
October, Secretary Anderson gave some of
the history of the exposition movement,
which is highly interesting. Willard
Hall was filled by the delegates who re-
assembled to the number of about three
hundred. Chairman Amos L. Little
called the meeting to order at 2;30 o'clock,
Commissioner Douglass and Secretary An
derson occupying seats on the platform.
Mr. Anderson was introduced to the
delegates and made an address on the gen.
eral purposes of the gathering, speaking as
follows:
Mr. President and Gentlemen: The main object
of the meeting of this National Board is to per-
feet the plans for Three Americas Exposition,
to be held at the National Capital in 1892 in
honor of the four hundredth anniversary of the
discovery of America by Christopher G 'lumbus
The movement was, as you are well aware
started in this city on the 18th of February,
1886. or more than three years and half ago.
The first Important step taken in It's promotion
was the preparation OF memorial to Congress,
presented in the United States Senate by SEN
ator German, of Maryland, on the Doth of April,
1886, and printed in full in the Congressional
Record the following day. The next step was
the organization of a committee of citizens from
the several states and Territories, called a
Board of Promotion, to invite the attention OF
the press and public to the Importance of The
coming anniversary.
In response to invitations to join the move
ment during the past three years formal letters
accepting membership in the Board have been
received from the Governors of iorty one States
and Territories twenty two of VIII m are still in
office: the Mayors of sixty leading cities, l76
Presidents and secretaries of Boards of Trade
throughout the Uni ed States, and the chief ex.
ecutive officers of thirty state and Territorial
Oranges. More recently, during the present
year eighty principal cities of the country have
appointed standing committees of five each on
this subject.
The fir.t meeting of the National Board was
held in this city in December 1856, when the
plans and purposes were carefully considered
and matured, and further memorial prepared.
1t was presented by Senator GoImau IN he
United States Senate on the 18th of that month,
and printed in full in the Congressional Record
the following day.
Since the movement was inaugurated the fol-
lowing National Conventions and Associations
have, by formal resolutions, in6orsed the move
ment: 1he National Board of Trade. the Ma.
tional Grange in three annual Conventions, the
American Bankers Association, the Inter
nstional Medical Congress, the Carriage Build
citation of Agricultural Colleges, the United
States Potters' Association, the american Ship
ping and Industrial League, the Washington
National Monument Society, the American
Medical Association, and the Mount Vernon
Ladies Association of the Union.
In addition TO this, most of the American
ministers at Washington have, in letters and
speeches, expressed warm interest in the
movement.
On the 10th of June, 1888, the plan submitted
to Congress was, with few slight changes,
favorably and unanimously reported by the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the United
States House of Representatives through It's
Chairman, Hon. Perry Belmont, of New York.
The report of the committee, together with the
arguments and exhibits submitted, were printed
in full III Committee Report No. . col, Fiftieth
fifty-seVen pages. Owing TO the blockade
caused by the rules of the House. the commit
tee did not secure the assignment of day for
the consideration OF their report.
During the entire progress of the movement
we have adhered to certain fundamental ideas,
and your attention is invited to the following
language used in the first memorial TO Congress,
in april, 1856: ITO prevent any possible misun-
derstanding it may be well to state at the outset
that we, who are advocating the proposed cele-
braiionS and exposition at the National Capitol,
desire that they be entirely undsr the auspices
and control OF the General Government. Both
the magnitude and dignity of the project forbid
its management by private corporation"
We have acted on the theory that Washington
is the GUY OF LilG ndIlOl ana all the SLdIeS-Lle
National Capital of GO, 900, 600 American people
a city in which all have common interest and
pride. We claim, gentlemen of the National
Board that It is more your city than ours, for
you have, through your Representatives in Con-
gress, vote in regard to the management of the
District of Columbia, while we, residing in
Washington, are deprived of suffrage and rep
resentation.
We have persistently advocated the erection
of certain permanent bui dngs for the great
Exposition of 1892, in order that it may be the
stepping stone to the enlargement of the present
National Museum into continental or Three
Americas5M uSeum.
To illustrate the necessity and importance of
this feature your attention is invited to the pres
ent condition of the museum. While the build
ing is but five six years old, its capacity is so
inadequate that, according to a recent official
report, there are enough relics and exhibits
stored away, unpacked, to fill another building
the size of the present one. What will be its
condition in 1892 when exhibits of the nineteen
here to illustrate the antiquities, history, and
progress of the New World since its discovery
400 years ago by Columbus?
1t will require at least ten times the present
space. A memorial museum in honor of that
greatest event in American history is then a
matter of tTanscendent importance.
Another permanent building needed is one
for working models of leading American inven-
lions to be under the control of the Interior De-
partment This would be an exposition in itself
aud would be most appropriate tribute to
American skill and progress.
These two are but illustrations of the class of
buildings absolutely needed by the Govern
ment.
In this connection wish to say that there
has been some misunderstanding on the part of
the press and public about the use of the term
Permanent Exposition" We do not mean a
permanent exhibit of merchandise and perish
able products. accompanied by an admission
fee, but rather a permanent museum of the
antiquities, history, arts, industries, aud cviliz
alton of the several sister nations of the New
World.
will not take your time to enumerate in de-
tail the various reasons why, during the past
three years, the American people have with
such marked unanimity, and as matter of
course, joined the movement in favor of an Ex-
position at the National Capital. There are,
however, FIVE leading reasons which 1 will
briefly state.
At the National Capital there is an exposition
nucleus or plant, to Commence with, which has
already cost over $50 100000. mean that the
National Museum, Smithsonian, Washington
Monument, the Capitol buildings, the Patent
Office and various Department buildings, with
their relics, treasures of art and practical work
ings of the Government, are all practically an
exhibit and a constant source of attraction to
visitors. II is much more dignitied to keep these
valuable relics and exhibits at the seat Of Gov
eminent than to further engage in the travel
ing-show business by periodically depicting the
National Museum and departments in order to
take Governmental exhibits to temporary expo
sitions in other cities, as has frequently been
done.
Whatever money may be appropriated for Ex-
position buildings at the National Capital will
be safe investment, for the buildings will be
needed for all time for Government purposes,
and are not to be torn down and the material
sold at great sacrifice.
As Washington is neither manufacturing nor
commercial city, it has no foreign commerce.
hence New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chi
cago, s.. Louis Cincinnati, New Orleans, San
Francisco Louisville. Nashville. Richmond,
Savannah, Kansas City, Pittsburg. Baltimore
and other industrial cities viii derive the trade
benefits of the Three Americas Exposition.
With the Exposition located at Washington,
which is neutral ground, the various cities
mentioned viii have an equal chance in com
petition 1or SpEnish-AmeTican trade, which is
one of the fundamental ideas of the movement,
whereas if located in a manufacturing city, that
place would have an undue and unfair advan-
tage.
For more than fifteen years Congress has ap-
propriated large sums OF money for exposi-
ions at the capitals and large cities of Europe.
This policy should now be reversed, aud the
outside world invited to an Exposition ct our
tel - he