Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-31

efforts of her citizens. We are trying to
raise $500, 900 by popular subscription. The
legislatures Of two states, California and
Pennsylvania, have each actually appro-
priated this amount, while the state of Hi
nois is already at work under its appropria-
ton of $S0O,OO0. That New York. in its
awakened anxiety to retain its preem;neGe
in the commercial world, will outbid Illinois
in the matter of appropriations, is now re-
garded as assured.
Quoting again from official figures, find
that twenty-eight states have actually APP
propriated $2,695, 00o, while other states
have promised to raise, by private enter
prise, 81, 100000. There will, therefore, be
spent by the several states of the Union,
not less than a, 600, 900 in their individual
displays Add to this the sum of 81 500, 600
already appropriated by congress for the
United States government exhibit, and we
have the magnificent total of S5,500,000.
Going still further and taking into account
the sums l have mentioned in connection
with foreign nations, and we have the grand
total of nearly $40, 900, 900 to be expended in
preparing exhibits for the grandeSt expo
sition the civilized world::has ever seen.
In a colossal undertaking of this charac-
ter the one point which every sensible bust
ness man keeps in view is the ultimate re-
suit. He may decide that his business is so
well established that it would be useless
spending money for the further expansion,
or he may rely upon the merits of his
product as sufficient of itself to overcome
all opposition or competition. Such a man
would probably conclude that it would be
useless to take part in a worlds exposition.
He would stay at home and marvel at the
stupidity of people who did not think as he
did. But the chances are million to one
that he would meet with great surprise
after the exposition was over, and in spite
of his self-confdence he would begin to
wonder at the falling off in his trade. Too
late then would he realize that his conceit
and ignorance had led him to commit the
greatest blunder of his life. But if on the
other hand. he be wise enough to grasp
the opportunity offered. his first care will
be to make arrangements that his display
shall be the best that he can possibly pro-
duce. In the preparation of his samples for
exhibition he would spare neither time nor
money TO insure the results being as near
perfection as he could make them. The
statement which is true of the individual
holds good in regard to state or nation.
Hence we find Europe already contemplate
ing the expenditure of vast sums of money
for the preparation of exhibits, and that
almost every state in this Union is doing
likewise.
A word as to the manner in which Chi
cagO is preparing to acQuit herself of the
task imposed upon her by the act of con-
gress in locating the Worlds fair in that
city.
The Worlds Columbian exposition, the
local corporation in Chicago, which is fur
nishing the money for the exposition, has
given abundant proof of its ability to carry
out the requirements of congress- The act
of congress required 0,0O0 900 to be raised
by Chicago, in consideration of that city
being selected as the site for the exposition.
Up to the 18th of this month there had
been raised by stock subscriptions s. Cos
no, and from the city of Chicago bonds
amounting to S., 00D,0 900, making total of
Sl0,60S, 40. Originally it was expected
that this would be ample for the exposition;
but those of you who have visited Chicago
must have noticed the remarkable faculty
of that city for making things grow. Thus
no sooner had the exposition been fairly
landed at Chicago than it began to expand
to enormous proportions, until to-day it is
estimated it will cost the princely sum or
SlS,C00,000 to prepare the grounds and
buildings for the exhibits.
As illustrating the magnificent scale on
which Chicago is preparing for the recep-
ton of the world in 1898, may state that
the grounds upon which the exposition is to
be held constitute j portion of the finest
park system IN the world and comprise
over seven hundred and forty-five acres,
and the total area of buildings under roof
will be in the neighborhood of one hundred
and fifty acres.
Imagine one building alone, the great
manufactures and liberal arts building
covering over forty acres, all under one
roof; the agricultural building, the grand
est ever erected for display of the cereals
of the earth covering an area of twenty
acres, in which will be displayed as COM
plete and representative a collection of
natural products as man ever saw; the
machinery hall, with its anneXes and power
houses, covering seventeen acres, wherein
the most perfect specimens of mans
ingenuity, from the mammoth printing
spected, and, if we wander north through
the palace of electricity and behold the
wonders accomplished since men harnessed
to his bidding, We may see there
in an exposition of itself, such as our fore
fathers never dreamed of; through the
mines and mining building, covering six
acres, the horticultural building, the
woman'S building, the transportation build
ing, the fish and fisheries and the peerless
art building, the magiicent front of which
will almost throw its shadow upon the
Texas site in the prettieSt portion of the
park The visitor to the Worlds fair of
1898 may spend days and weeks at the ex-
position and yet fail to see all the wonders
gathered together beneath the $50 acres of
roofing.
l have endeavored to present, in cur
sorry manner, brief and satisfactory his
tory of the Texas Worlds fair exhibit as
sociatlon and to give you some idea of the
work of preparing for the great Columbian
exposition, its fabulous cost, its magnifi-
cent proportions, covering the southern
section of the city and lying along the
shore of Lake Michigan its colossal build
ings and the amounts thus far appropriated
by states and nations in their preparations
for participating therein.
And after all the sketch have presented
is but meager outline, for the subjects in
volved in contemplating this vast enter
prise exceed the limits of the most graphic
you in vain if l have impressed
upon you, in all seriousness, that the rep
utation of our beloved state in the eyes of
the world, of all the other states and ma
tions, is in the keeping of the public
spirited and intelligent men and women of
Texas.
What humiliating spectacle it would be
to the 20U, 900 Texans who will visit the eX-
position in 1898 if there should be no Texas
headquarters and no state building on the
grounds; nothing with which to mark the
of the sovereign state of Texas
among the other sovereign states of this
Union at this great international congress of
civilization of the Nineteenth century. Let
US light the patriotism and intelligence and
local pride in every county of our prosper
ous state, and see to it that no such dis |
grace or calamity shall befall the Lone Star
state.
The organization of the women of Texas, |
which is to take place at this time under !
the most suspicious, being |
in the presence and under the influence of |
one who presides with such graceful dig |
nifty over the women of America engaged |