St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-19
OFF TO THE SOUTH.
Commissioners Depart for the
Other American Republics.

Commissioners Depart for the
Other American Republics.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s.-The army
and navy officers who have been de-
tailed as special commissioners to carry
the invitation from the government OF
the United States to the other Ameri-
can republics and the West Indian
coloniessto participate in the Columbian
exposition have received their let
tiers and instructions from the
department of state. and will start on
their missions at once. Lieut.. Baker
left Washington for Mexico Saturday,
Lieut.. Harlow sails for Chill, and Lieut..
Stafford sails for Peru on Tuesday;
Lieut.. Welles sails for Venezuela Satur-
day. and the others follow on the first
steamers that leave for their respective
countries. Their instructions are very
comprehensive, and, if carried out, will
make the Latin-American department
one of the greatest features of the
exposition. Their first duties will
be to explain fully to the
proper officials the plan and scope of
the exposition. to secure the appoint
ment of commissioners from the several
countries and the consent of the several
governments for the erection of sep
arate national buildings to contain
their exhibits, 1t being desired that such
buildings shall represent the peculiar
forms OF architecture of the American
republics. The commissioners will pub
liSh for the information of the people the
plan and classification Of the eXposi-
ton, the regulations for foreign eX-
hibitors, and for the admission of
goods through the custom houses and
establish headquarters where the public
may at any time obtain any infOrma-
ton. They will also visit the several
provinces of the countries to which they
are assigned for the purpose of inter
esting local authorities, commercial
bodies, and the people generally, and
securing exhibits that will illustrate
the resources. industries and history of
the country and the peculiar character
istics, social and educational conditions.
and the customs and manner of life of
the public.
They will place themselves in COM
muncatiOn with the directors of muse
ums, botanical gardens, scientific socie-
ties and private collections for the pur-
pose of obtaining such collections as
they may be willing to furnish, and Sc
in making additional historical, ethnO-
logical and archaeological exhibits
These commissioners not only repre-
sent the department of state but the
Smithsonian institution, the agricult-
ural department, the national mu-
scum. the medical museum, the
fisheries commission, and other
branches of the government also, and
have detailed instructions from each.
They are all provided with Photographic
outfits capable of making 500 views
each, and additional material will be
furnished as needed in order to secure
full collection of views, showing the
customs and daily life of the people, as
well as public buildings, private resi-
dences and other objects of interest.
Realizing that one great object of the
exposition is to stimulate trade, the COM
misSioners are particularly instructed
to secure exhibits for a commercial sec
ton of the Latin-American department
for the information and instruction of
the merchants and manufacturers of the
United States. showing the various
classes of merchandise consumed and
desired by the people of the coun-
the patterns and designs most
preferred, the best methods of prepar-
ing and packing them, practical Illus
trations of the obstacles In the way of
extending trade, and the advantages
that are secured and enjoyed by Eu-
ropean merchants in competition with
those of the United States. This is par
ticularly important as far as it concerns
articles OF wearing apparel, household
utensils, hardware, implements of in
dustry and machinery, and the value of
such an exhibit cannot be OvereSti-
mated.
The commissioners are also Instructed
to secure full collections of fiber plants,
medicinal plants and dye woods, with
complete explanations as to their prop
critics. the purposes for which they are
used by the natives, the manner of pre-
pairing and applying them, and com
plete collection of minerals and cabinet
woods in which the Latin-Ame rican
countries abound, with detailed de-
scriptions of peculiar methods
of mining, the implements and
machinery used, etc. Each commits
siOner has his supply of tags and labels.
and has been through course of in
struction at the Smithsonian institution
specimens. Each has also set of note
books. indexed, in which description
of every article is to appear, with its
source, history and other information
for use in preparing catalogue.
They are instructed also to secure the
attendance at the exposition of native
artisans representing the peculiar in
duStrieS of the several countries, who
will be permitted to establish their
workshops on the grounds and sell their
wares, and it is proposed to import
village of AZtecS from Mexico, village
of Guatemalecos from Guatemala,
group of IncaS from Peru, a group of
and Patagonian Indians, a
band of Gauchos from Argenta, a family
of natives from Terra del Fuego, and
groups from other countries where there
are peculiar and distinctive races to J
illustrate the aboriginal life of the yari-
GUS sections of America.
All of the American steamship COM
panies and several lines carrying the
English flag have agreed to carry the
commissioners and their collections
free of cost, and advices already re-
ceiVed indicate that they will have the
ernments to which they are accredited.
The ministers and consuls of the United
States have been instructed to render
them all the assistance in their power,
and the merchants of New York
and other cities engaged in trade with
Central and South America are showing
great interest and zeal in forming the
enterprise. The commissioners expect
to be absent until the autumn of 1892,
and will return with their collections
about the time when the exposition
buildings are ready for occupancy.
They will spend the winter at Chicago,
mounting and arranging their collecel
tions.
Do