Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-11
THE BIG FAIROF 1898.
INTEREST IN THE COLUMBIAN EXPO
SiTioN INCREASING.
The Countries which VIII BE Represent
sd-Tsxas to the Front--what
Other states are Doing.
Written for tn. Dispatch.

holding this the greatest exhibition OF the
country and the grandest Of the world had
been satisfactorily settled public interest,
except in the successful city, seemed to
flag. Our people accepted the situation
and were generally and vaguely pleased
that we were 10 have great celebration
and another opportunity to glorify the
great republic. But the mass OF our coun-
trymen were too busy TO think very much
about it. They we're engaged in business,
politics, speculation, or the still more I'M
portant work of earning livelihood. Each
State had its own political financial, and
social problems to occupy its citizens, and
besides the tair seemed long way on.
The TIME FoR WORK
But as time passes men are beginning to
rsalize that the great exhibition is drawing
hear, and now that 1891 has dawned so
auspicously upon our land and only little
over q year and half remains before the
dedication of the exposition buildings, in
terest is increasing and concentrating, and
people everywhere are rousing up to the
fact that the eliminating celebration OF
the century I'm all it's overshadowing i'm
menntyn looms in the near future.
Nor Is this interest surprising. The ex-
position commentaries the most momen-
tous event probably in the history of the
world-an event that has powerfully at,
fected the destiny of mankind the world
over and the full significance of which
has never yet been realized. The exposi-
ton will illustrate the progress OF all the
centuries; il will be international ana
universal. All the nations OF earth have
been invited to participate and all indus
tries. arts, products, and manufactures
will be represented, the aggregated results
Of natures productions and OF mans skill,
thought, and imagination.
WHAT FOREIGN COUNTRIES WILL EXHIBIT.
Great Britain will set before US her vast
and varied manufacturers; France will con-
tribute creations of beauty and utility (;
Russia, Germany, Austria, and Italy Will
display their riches of material and artistic
achievement; Spain will send US in addi-
ton to her fruits and pictures, a rare hlsto-
rical treasure, one of the three vessels which
comprised the modest feet Of Columbus
on his voyage of discovery and which
now lies beneath the waves OF the harbor
OF Palos; China and Japan will contribute
their curious and mate bless workmanship
Turkey and Persia will lend rich aud strange
Oriental wares aud drugs, and the isles of
the Pacific will send spices, balms, and fruits
and the great South American state will
contribute millions TO an exhibition OF their
| immeasurable natural resources, their
achievements in manufactures and art, and
| to secure for themselves the advantages OF
extended commercial intercourse with
their northern neighbors.
STATE EXHIBITS.
Among the States of the Union several
are already preparing for their exhibit.
| The great State of Texas. an empire IN it.
self, contemplates the princely appropris-
ton of 81. 100000 to adequately show forth
her great resources. The grand young
| State OF Colorado will contribute $3.50 900.
New York, the empire State, claims that
she will have the finest display at the Ex-
position. The commissioners from Indiana
| have addressed the Governor and Leglsla-
| ture asking an appropriation, ana the
| leading papers of the State urge that
| $3.50 900 be set apart for the purpose.
| The commissioners from Pennsylvania
and the most influential journals
advocate O liberal policy on the
part of their lawmakers; the Governors
| of Alabama and Georgia will recommend
| their Legislatures to make suitable and
sufficient appropriations for those States,
and the recent convention OF Leading real
estate men from fourteen of the southern
| States held at Asheville, N. g., passed reso-
| buttons recommending to the Governors
of the different States here represented, to
Municipalities. to railroads, and TO other
CORPORATIONS, and individuals, the proprle-
| ty of making suitable appropriations to
secure a proper exhibition of their re-
sources and advantages at the Worlds Co
| lum bian Exposition" in 1893, to attract
immigration and ITO invite capital look
| ing for investment to share our prosperity
and become partners in the development
| Of our country"
WHAT OF VIRGINIA
And what part will Virginia take in this
friendly rivalry of States and nations!
| There can scarcely be two opinions as TO
the advisability of having the Old Do
| minion represented. Leaving out all SEN
timents of patriotism, or national or State
pride. and looking at the matter from O
business point of view merely, as an adj
yertisement of Virginia's lands, minerals,
| and produce, its importance can scarcely
| be oyerestimated and any outlay by the
State would be fully repaid.
The great fair, with It's splendid attend
ant "pomp and circumstance" and It's
grand opportunities, will certainly be held.
| IL in that magnificent display OF the states
| Virginia is left out, or is but lnadequately
represented, the world will take her at her
! own measurement ID will say that we are
not a progressive State, not enterprlsing
enough to attract capital to our midst ;
| that we are provincial and absorbed IN
ourselves, and that our boosted advantages
exist only on paper.
REALIZATION OF HOPES.
Virginia has grown accustomed in aquar-
| ter of a century to being poor Her people
have had unsettled debts, State and indi.
vidual, hanging over them so long that
they are slow TO accept a prosperous state
| of affairs II is difficult for them to realize
the era of prosperity on which they have
entered, and to believe that in the future
wealth and greatness will crown the mother
OF States again. When they do fully realize
! this there will be no hesitation about
claiming her rightful place among her SIS
ter States. She will stand forth beside
New York and Pennsylvania, California
and Texas, and if the losses of war and
| long financial depression render her offer
| ing to our national festival less imposing
than theirs she yet will not lack for honor
from States whose every inch OF SOIL she
gaye,n from the whole Union, and from the
world.
We cannot hope to rival the munihcent
appropriations Of greater and richer States,
| but we can do much. The year that opens
before US will see wonderful things brought
| to pass in the Old Dominion. Among
other things it is to be hoped that the
proposed State Exposition will be held IN
| Richmond on better and .grander scale
than ever before; that IL will reveal to our
people the possibilities OF our stout Old