Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-07
HE GIVES IT Up.
]. F. Nicholson Abandons the
Big Exposition Scheme.
0THERSMAY WIN,HECAN'T.
he Praises the Local Board, Blames
Pittsburg Enterprise.
A CONTRACT CLOSED WITH PARIS.
Interesting Talk With President Marvin
on the Subject.
A CONTRACT CLOSED WITH PARIS
TWO SIDES OF AN IMPORTANT AFFAIR

weary OF Ine IaSh anu propOSeu nduulng II
his resignation on Tuesday. As the reader
of THE DISPATCH are aware, while the ad
vantages of an Exposition seem perfect,
clear to everybody, substantial aid was SLOW
in coming. 1t was thought that Mr.. Mich
olson's successful experience in similar en-
terprises at Cincinnati would solve the ques
ton here. A large salary was offered him
but he felt so confident that he preferred tt
work for a small percentage. For two
months past he has been, with his family,
domiciled at the Monongahels House.
Mr.. Nicholson now says that life is too
short and time with him too precious to GO
on soliciting from Pittsburg business men
with no better results than he has 80 far
got.
A DISPATCH reporter, to get at the in
side Of the matter, called upon Mr.. Nichol-
son last evening and asked if the rumor was
true. The gentleman replied that it was,
and went on to make some interesting re-
marks besides, which, if not wholly COM
plimentary, are at least instructive. Mr..
Nicholson said:
There is no unaminity of action in this
city; each line of trade watches the other,
and they delay action while they calculate
the benefits to themselves and other lines of
business.
REMARKABLE STATEMENT.
81 leave this city with only regret
for the society; but the climax was capped
yesterday when appointment and well-known
protector of enterprises sent his secretary
out to say that he had spent thousands of
capital in Pittsburg, and had brought mill
ions Of foreign capital into it, but that he
had not been appreciated. On the contrary,
he had been jumped on in the courts, his
ventures were frowned upon as schemes by
the city. and he was not going to put a
cent into an Exposition scheme; the city
could take care of its own public ventures,
and be would take care of himself.
Gas it is now, many lines of business are
not represented at all in the Exposition list
Take music for instance, whose loans to the
fund amount in toto to only whatone manu-
featuring concern offers, and it receives but
one-tenth the benefit. Their apathy is SIM
ply amazing
81 leave here with only one regret, not
that 1 have spent s, 900 for nothing, but
that have failed TO make your business
men understand that ten years effort in
other directions will not bring them the
business of one years Exposition. Just think
of it, SOC, 600 strangers annually, spending
an average of IS a head, means s., 100000
brought into the city; but your so-called
business houses quibble and ask, What has
my neighbor done?'
"Many of your leading manufacturers
here, who have made petty loan, refuse to
increase it at all. Efforts at revival may, in
other hands, 1 trust, prove more successful
than in mine.
THERE is A CHANCE
for raising the fund; but excuse me, have |
not lifetime to spend on you people. q
am going back to Cincinnati, into the real |
estate and stock business, and wish you |
godspeed with your beautiful Exposition, |
Tor such it will be when it is finished.
eff your people do not come forward with |
subscriptions the buildings must be aban- |
doned or mortgaced, and bonds issued, and
then when it is completed and running |
beautifully your conservative firms will
arise and raise a howl and say the stock
holders are making money out of a public
institution. OF course they will be, unless
business houses take hold Of it.
''My resignation will be a surprise Tues
day, and I am sorry TO leave; but 1 have
already accepted contracts for leading
American houses in the Paris Exposition
this year, and have no time to lose. The
Exposition will go through, if splendid
board can put it through; but 1 have no
time to waste. 1 am going back to Gods
country-Cincinnat
"By the way" concluded Mr.. Nicholson,
''I want to say that never before in all my
varied experience have 1 seen the newspa-
pers of any city so ably and unanimously
take hold of scheme and give their best ef-
forts to put it through. If it depends on
the newspapers of Pittsburg to put up those
Exposition buildings, they will be finished
and open for business on the LIST of August"
and the genial, gentlemanly Nicholson had
ended"
THE OTHER SIDE.
Mr.. s. S. Marvin, President of the Expo
sition Society, was interrogated in regard to
Ju6 ldCte IcCllcu dDONSs duO bdlO |
"The project will not be abandoned, and
can say in all sincerity that it will be
mpleted, notwithstanding the adverse cir
instances which we had to contend against. |
=. is supposed that from all the information
e have been able to gather that the present
BOARD of directors will be reelected. This
means that renewed efforts will be made to
hurry Pittsburg business men up, and make
them see the necessity for sending their sub
scriptions in at once.
''If the present board is not reelected,
others will be put in their places who will !
not let tho interest in the scheme lag. /
hardly think that any others want to be on
the board, as the Office, instead of being
light-hearted pleasure, has become burden
some task. If new members are elected, we
will keep harping at them until the raise /,
all the money necessary.
Gas Mr.. Nicholson says to your reporter,
there is a lack of unanimity of public senti-
ment about the Exposition. Rich business
men ask What good will the Exposition do
me?' / know of several jewelry firms in
this city who subscribed 500 each. The I
idea of 500! Why, that amount is made ,
business who subscribe the same small !
amounts who do not think anything of I
making that amount of money in few I
minutes.
OTHERS ONLY WAITING.
''I have received any number of letters
from men who were among the first to send !
IN subscriptions. They tell me that when :
we get hard up and things look as if we !
would have to stop work, they would double ]
heir subscriptions. These letters are from :
men, who take great pride
IN Pittsburg, and know the advantages of
similar expositions in other cities.
81 do not think that anyone can find fault
With the present board. 1 know that the !
majority of the members Of the society are ]
disposed toward them, and have Z
It numerous times commended them for r