Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-06

names OF the Alaskan delegates to the meet
ing of the Worlds Fair Commissioners was
made by the State Department, and, in con-
sequence, the Sirka representatives were
not on hand at the convention.
CHICAGO, September 5.-Director N. 81.
Kohlsaat returned to the city from Alaska
last night and was at the Worlds Fair
headquarters to-day. Mr.. Kohlsaat's trip
to the United States largest possessions de-
Veloped quite sensation in connection
with the Worlds Columbian Commission.
In conversation with Governor Knapp at
Sitka he learned that when the President of
the United States invited the Governors of
all the States and Territories to appoint two
citizens, one Democrat and the other a
Republican, for the Office of National Com
missioner of the Worlds Columbian Expo-
sition, an invitation to the Governor of
Alaska was included. In response to this
invitation Governor Knapp forwarded to
Washington, d. C., the names Of Edward
De Gof, of Sitka, and Judge Williams, of
juneau, Alaska, as candidates for the
place.
DELEGATES WERE NOT NOTICED.
Up to the date of August 20, the day on
which Governor Knapp. met Director Kohl
saat, no acknowledgment was received from
the State Department at Washington of the
receipt of the names submitted. The names
OF the commissioners from the States and
other Territories were promulgated, the
Commissioners Convention was held here in
June and no apparent notice was taken Of
the absence of the delegation from Alaska.
The two gentlemen named by Governor
Knapp have been prepared to start for Chi
cago Tor many weeks, and are only awaiting
the arrival of their formal commissions
from the State Department. The fact that
Alaska had no representation at Washing
ton, and the poor and costly telegraphic
service, the nearest telegraph station being
hundreds of miles distant from Sitka, be-
tween the nations capital and the nearest
military post, account in a measure for the
lack Of prompt communication on the sub
ject between the Secretary of State and the
Governor Of Alaska.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
The communication from Governor Knapp
may have been overlooked or pigeon-holed
on its arrival in Washington, and to this
cause may be attributable the absence from
the National Commission at this time of the
two representatives from far away Alaska.
Mr.. Kohlsaat called on Secretary Dickin-
son in the Pullman building this morning,
and related his conversation with Governor
Knapp. Mr.. Dickinson at once wired the
State Department at Washington for the
particulars of the case.
The Societa Christoforo Colombo, one of
the Oldest Italian societies of this city, has
taken the necessary initiatory steps toward
raising fund which is to be expended in
the erection of fitting monument in honor
of their illustr1ous countryman, Christopher
Columbus. 1t is their purpose to have the
monument completed in time for the lnaug-
ural ceremonies OF the Columbian Exposi-
tion in 1898. They purpose calling upon
Americans to contribute to the proposed
fund, and thus, jointly, realize sum sufi-
cient to erect handsome and permanent
memorial of the great discoverer.
THEY HAD TO DECLINE,
Washington Park will not be rendered to
Worlds Fair directors. Such is the unani-
nous decision of the South Park Commits
sioners. At meeting of the Executive
Board of the South Park Commissioners to-
night the following report was made to the
Worlds Fair Directors:
The South Park Commissioners have re-
ceived from your board request that Wash.
ington Park and Midway Plaisance shall be
rendered for the use of the Columbian Exposi-
ZION. 1ne pldlsance nas alreaoy Deen rendered.
The request for Washington Park, supported
as it is by large number of petitioners. resi-
dents or property owners of the park
district, the Commission, after full de-
iberations are constrained to decline. The
have already made
tender of the unimproved portion of Jackson
Park. They will now add thereto the unim-
proved acres of that park. making a total
acreage in the South Park system SO rendered
80. A mile and half of frontage on the lake
shore is included in Jackson Park, and, when
improved, as may be done now that the shore
is substantially complete, will make
IN attractive feature of the fair The site
We understand, is already accepted by the
National Commission, which has expressed no
wish to reconsider its acceptance.
The Park Commissioners desire to say that
n the preparation of the Jackson Park and
Midway Plaisans for the purposes of the fair
hov will ha 10,