Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-10-28
ENGLAND AT THE FAIR.
Commissioners Report in Favor of the
Columbian Exposition.

LONDON, Oct. 23.-There is published
to-day the elaborate report of Sir
Henry Wood and James Dredge, the
British commissioners, who recently
returned to this city after visiting Chi
cago and making inquiries in regard
to the steps which Great Britain
could and might take in making a
suitable exhibit 1t the Columbian Fair
in 1898. This report was presented
to the royal commission on We'd
nesday last Sir Richard Webster, the
encouragement, presided at this meet
ing, at which Sir Philip Cunlife Owen,
Sir Frederick Abeel, Sir George Bird
wood and other distinguished members
of the commission were present. The
reports consist of fifteen printed pages,
to which is attached an appendix of sew
eral maps. 1t carefully reviews each
step taken by the commissioners in the
United States, and is full of valuable
statistics as to space, transportation,
etc.
Among other things the report rec
ommends the erection of handsome
building on the site provided for Great
Britain, and says that It is certain that
the juries entrusted with the task of
making the awards will be international
in all groups containing foreign exhib-
it's. The report also commends the
courtesy of President Harrison and Sec
rotary Foster and all of the Exposition
officials whom the British commissioner
met and who, they say, granted all the
requests made on behalf of Great Brit
ain.
The British commissioners, it ap-
pears, were much impressed with the
manner in which the important work at
Chicago has been undertaken, and they
of the ultimate success of the fair. The
commissioners among their conclusions
arrived at say: eve also believe
that our visit was of some assistance
to the executive, as it was part of our
duty to place all the information which
the other exhibitions had given us fully
and wholly at their disposal" Refer
ing to the designs for the fair. the COM
missioners remark: $50 far as we
could Judge great skill and boldness
characterize the general engineering de-
signs, which have all been prepared bv
the construction department" Touch
ing upon the question of decoration,
they state that sit is gratifying to re-
cord that the important work of decora-
ton is controlled by an Englishman,
Mr.. Prettyman."
AS to local transportation, the report
asserts: ''There is no doubt that the
problem involving the transportation of
passengers from the city (Chicago) to the
exhibition will be successfully solved.
The question of railways within the
grounds is very serious one. The au-
thorities have made many arrangements
in this direction, but it will be difficult
to provide too literally for the easy cir
culation Of visitors within the vast en-
closure"
After the report had been read the
commission thanked Sir Henry Wood
and James Dredge for the work they
had so successfully accomplished in be-
half of the royal commission. The
commission also designed to ap-
point committees to attend to
finance, fine arts, Indian exhibits,
colonial exhibits, engineering, science,
education and other branches of Great
Britain's intended exhibit in Chicagos
In addition the commission also decided
to appoint a committee Of ladies to cor
respond with and to act in conjunction
with the ladies' committee of Chicago.
Finally the commission decided to in
vlte the chambers of commerce to act
as local committees for the purpose of
assisting and advising British mannfac-
turers and others as to their exhibits.