Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-23
NOT AS HE WISHES.
James Gordon Bennett Will Receive
a Letter From w. E. SchmertZ,
STATING PITTsBURG'S POSITION
As to the Location and Support Of the Ex-
position of 1892.
HEIsWIrHTHEcHAMsER OF COMMERCE

Last evening Mr.. W. E. Schmertz, Presi-
dent of the Chamber OF Commerce, sent a
letter to James Gordon Bennett, proprietor
of the New York Herald 1t was in reply
to one received few days ago from that
gentleman. Both communications explain
themselves. The first is as follows:
NEW YORK, August Is. 1889.
W. E. Schmertz, Esq, President Cha mber Of
Commerce. Pittsburg, Pa:
DEAR SIR-Are you in favor Of having the
Columbus Exposition of 1892 in New York
CityP
What effect do you think such an exhibition
will have on our trade and commerce in gen.
eral?
Are YOU in favor Of launching the exhibition
on the popular bond subscription plan advo-
Gated by the Herald, as opposed to Govern
ment subsidy:
A stamped envelope is inclosed, and your
early reply is requested. Yours truly,
JAMES GORDON BENNETT.
PRESIDENT scHMERTz' REPLY.
Mr.. Schmertz' reply to the above is as
follows:
PITTsBURG. August q 1889.
James Gordon Bennett Esq, New York Herald:
DEAR SIR-In answer to the first question In
your circular letter. will say that the Cham
ber of Commerce, of this city, had already
committed itself in favor of the Columbus Ex-
position being held at Washington City. New
York City. no doubt, is rich enough. and gen.
erous enough to grandly sustain the great
credit. But the Capital City Of Of the nation,
without individual wealth and liberality,
characteristic of your merchants. offers
S0 Uo vSaS oba1 for ctR the
One is the fact that it is the typical city Of our
republic. Nowhere else is patriotism for
American institutions so easily aroused. Wash
of government the most beautiful city in the
United States. The other advantage in its
favor is the abundance of ground there for
such a vast enterprise and the well-known ac-
commodations Of that city (and Its neighbor
Baltimore) for great crowds Of strangers.
Answering your second question, a mere
word will suffice. The handshaking of all the
nations of the Americas would certainly make
us better acquainted. Our guests would have
their eyes opened to our wonderful manufact-
uring resources and see where it would be to
their benefit to deal with us instead of foreign
extortioners. And we of the United States
would be quick to cultivate the new fields of
commerce thus opened to us. Herein lies the
great benefit promised by the exposition Of
In regard to your third question I must say
most emphatically that the expense should be
borne by our Government. Part of the large
surplus now in the vaults of our Government
could not be used for a better purpose than for
an exhibition of this kind. It becomes a ma
tional demonstration. Private contributions,
no matter how generous, could never gild it
with the splendor and magnifcence of the ma
tional wealth, nor give it the substantial back
ing which Congress is able to offer. Let the
people expend their money in strengthening the
industries which they propose to exhibit in that
year to the world. But in order that the nation
the people collectively-and not individuals,
may reap the reward, let the nations Govern
ment assume all the expenses. Then the ex-
position will De success beyond all perad-
venture, Yours respectfully %' e yscumrnrz.
President Chamber Of Commerce.
sUPERINTENDENT FoLLANsBEE's VIEWS.
Superintendent Follansbee, of the Cham
ber of Commerce, doesn't want any pro-
vincialism about the exhibition, and he
says it would necessarily have it if held in
any other city than Washington. New
York is not noted for hberality, and if she
were and would put up handsomely, still
the enterprise is national one, and nearly
all strangers who are enlightened want to
see Washington. So do our own people.
There is plenty of space. many hundreds Of
acres of it in Washington for an exhibit,
and in this respect it is superior to New
York. Some people have objected that
Washington is not able to lodge the multi
tude, but Mr.. Follansbee thinks its capacity
is under-rated, and in addition, it is but As
minutes ride from Baltimore.
Mr.. Follansbee didn't care to express an
opinion as to the effect the exhibition would
have on trade and commerce, further than
that it would be immense, incalculable at
present
"Would you favor raising funds on a
popular bond subscription as opposed to
Government subsldles?"
Mr.. Follansbee-I don't think / would.
don't care to answer this question, but as
the matter is a national one, and the nation
should bear the burden, am not prepared
to discuss the advantages or disadvantages
of local subscription.