The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-09-21
THE WORLDS FAIR or 1892.

THE WORLDS FAIR or 1892.
OF course 1t still remains with Congress
to decide whether we shall have worlds
fair at all in 1899, In commemoration of the
fourth centennial Of the landing of Column
bus on American shores; but If the decis-
lon of congress Is favorable to the project
then will come up the still more Interesting
question, where shall the fair be held
New York, Chicago, st. Louis, Washing.
ton, Omaha and Kansas City are candidates
for the honor, but In point of fact the con-
test is already narrowed down TO choice
between New York and Chicago. New
York claims the fair not only on account of
being the largest city and the commercial
center of the country, but of being of cas-
lest and cheapest access to foreigners, who
are looked to for the heaviest as we'll as
rarest, most interesting and valuable cen
ributions. Chicago, on the other hand,
claims that she Is not only rs largely as
New York commercial center of the
country, hut In addition Is the geographical
center, and as home vi itOrs and exhibit
tors, 10 make the fair success, must nee
essarily outnumber foreigners twenty to
one, ease and cheapness of access to the
whole country Is of more consequence than
such facilities to foreigners only. Besides,
as to the additional cost and risk of trans
porting foreign exhibits from the Atlantic
ports to the interior, Chicago pledges her
self TO shoulder all these herself.
In the progress of the strife thus far,
New York started out with promise to
raise ten millions to assure the success OF
the fair but thus far has really hit upon
no feasible plan to raise the money. Chi
cago, on the other hand, started out TO raise
five millions, and having within month
or two done it with ease, now calls New
York on her oter of ten millions, and
doubtless before New York has really put
up half that sum, Chicago will have her
whole ten millions In sight.
Thus, on the monetary side of the strife,
Chicago is already far ahead of her great
rival, and II is manifest her superior zeal
and pluck ia that regard are 80 rapidly en-
listing the sympathy of the country that
In the fight of Chicago VS.. New York to
come off in congress, Chicago, from pres
ent appearances, must distance her rivals.
But-settled that there Is to be a fair and
that 1t Is to be held at Chicago, what Is the
show to be )ike-what is 1t to teach-what
Is to be the good of 1t?
David Atkinson hopes It will not, like
the New Orleans, the Philadelphia and
most other of the eXpositions, be "a mere
bazaar In which all kinds Of goods and
wares are displayed mainly for the purpose
of advertising them.' His idea rather is
that 1t shall be an exhibition of such arti-
cles as shall show The progress of the
country in the arts and sciences from the
days of Columbus forward. Thus In arms,
illustrate the advances made by placing
In progressive series all the Improvements
from the rude arrow and tomahawk of the
Indian up to the highest pitch attained In
gunnery at the present day. SO In textiles,
show the progress step by step from the
old spinning wheel and loom to the pres.
ent high advances. And 30 on.
1t Is manifest, however, mat the notion
of Mr.. Atkinson is dream, and that the
fundamental idea all practical men have of
the fair is that 1t Is huge advertising
bazaar, and nothing else. Thus the Ne,o
York Herald, by Its agents, has already
polled the exhibitors at the Paris fair and
obtained pledges from nine-tenths of them
that they will show their wares In New
York In 1892. What else ever Is, or can
such fair be, but the display of goods
which men and women buy and sell?
Yet, with our present enormous tariff
exsctions on all foreign fabrics, what In.
ducements have we to offer to foreigners TO
bring their fabrics here for exhibition by
way of advertisement, when, on account of
our prohibitive tariff, none of them can be
sold here? And what motive can our home
planters, artisans and manufacturers have
to bring their best products for exhibition
to foreigners, when, by reason of all impor.
tations being cut of, there can be no trade
or exchange of goods! and our exhibitors
will be advised by the party in power that
these gocls and wares were made for the
home markets and shall not be sent out of
the country,
Then, what is the good of the fair? All,