Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-18
DUTY OF THE STATE.
Representative Pittsburgers Think
Pennsylvania Should Show
Up Well at Chicago
AT THE GREAT COLUMBIAN FAIR.
How Commission Named BY the Governor
Could Mold Public opinion
to Encourage an
EXTENSIVE DISPLAY OF INDUSTRIES.
Proper Representation Of the States Resources
Thought Due.

uou is still in an embryonic condition, and
the time for attaining full maturity still
two years ahead, yet it is not too early to
consider what showing Pennsylvania shall
make thereat, and how best to bring about
such a representation of her industrial
wealth and progressiveness as is beftting
the leading commercial Commonwealth in
the Union.
As a preliminary to ascertaining how the
matter should be treated, and especially as
to whether the display from within the
State should be LETT in the hands OF each
city, or taken in charge by the State,
several representative men were consulted
Yesterday, as to their views on the subject.
Their opinions, epitomized, point to the di-
rection OF the undertaking by q commission
appointed by the Governor, and of a
thoroughly representative character, COM
posed of men from every section of the
State, whose business it would be to mould
public opinion toward making the State
take such a position at the Exposition as
is due to her supremacy in industrial mat
ters.
The Necessity of Organized Effort.
W. L. Abbott. of Carnegie, Phipps s. Co.,
expressed his views as follows: "Ihave not,
he said, ''given the question of Pennsyl-
yania's attitude toward the Worlds Fair
any consideration, but, since you mention
it, am of the opinion that the only way in
which the industrial resources of the State
can be properly represented at Chicago is by
an organized and sustained effort. 1 think
that such an effort as would be necessary
for the purpose could be best accomplished
through the instrumentality of commission
appointed by, 1 suppose, the Governor, and
composed OF men from all parts of the State.
1 suppose that Pennsylvaniaus would be
found sufficiently patriotic TO wish to show
foreign nations what the State is possessed
of in the way of material wealth and re-
sources, and they would exhibit true
American spirit in doing so in q thoroughly
representative way"
"You broach the matter rather earlv,"
said Reuben Miller, of the Crescent Steel
Company, "bn: that does not detract from
its Importance. There is no doubt that the
Chicago in '93, and think that the proper
way to further the matter would be bv the
appointment, by the Legislature, of a COM
mission to mold public opinion in the direc-
ton of making a representative display.
The present time would be opportune to
bring the matter forward, as the Legislature
is in session.
A Return for Favors Received.
ut is true that Pennsylvania may be ek-
pected 10 make an unusual effort on this oc-
casion,- IF it were only in acknowledgment
of the support the Centennial Exposition of
1876 received at the hands of her neighbors.
L think that the display should be renre-
sentative of the State as a whole, and not in
any way divided. While much work might
be done locally, still 1 think that no city
should seek to push itself forward beyond
another, but that an united effort over the
State should be made for full and repre-
sentative State exhibit"
A. L. W. Painter had not given the SUBJ
ject any particular thought. However
said he, 81 think the State should take hold
and provide means for a proper representa-
tion of our resources. / am sure that, as
Americans, We as a State will do everything
to present thorough exhibition OF our in
dustrial wealth and progress to our foreign
visitors"
ON. Hartzell, of H. E. Collins & Co.,
was of the opinion that the initiative should
be taken by representative firms in various
trades. Why could not prominent men in
the different branches of trade" said he,
''invite cooperation in arranging for a rep
resentative display in each particular trade,
by means OF a circular letter? When the
matter had been well ventilated cannotsee
L, a.
branch of industry proceeding to details by
selecting from each section OF the State rep
resentative exhibits, and bringing them
together as one exhibit of the State in that
branch.
Some Suggestions as to Exhibits.
"For instance, Messrs. Carnegie, Phipps
s. Co. might, with great appropriateness,
l-e the lead in the iron and steel industry
They might communicate by circular with
other manufacturers, and. by cooperation,
finally arrange the State exhibit of the iron
and steel trade; and so with other indus
tries. The steel and iron trade might be d.
vided in two classes-raw and finished
products. Pennsylvania is largely endowed
with mineral wealth, and that this is so
should be freely made known. She has
lumber in plenty, coal of all varieties, and
many resources which it is unnecessary to
enumerate."
=. Captain w. W. O'Neill expected that the
State would make properly representative
display of the resources when the time came.
So far be had no suggestions to offer.
Many other prominent men of business
called upon had not given the matter suffi-
cient thought to enable them to form any
opinion worth offering to the public, but
most of them said it was a subject they
would consider.