Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-22
SOIE POINTERS
On the Worlds Fair-what the states
Did in 1876.

Special Correspondence 0f the Register.
WASHINGTON, January 2l.-Now tn
the question of what the States shall dC
with regard TO making exhibits and ap
propriatiOns fO- the same at the COMING
Chicago exposition Of 1923. it will b,
of special interest To know what VIZ.
done in this direction at the time Of IN,
Philadelphia Centennial. Nearly all tn,
States and territories made special pro
vision for displays OF their products a
the Centennial, and the State Legisla
lures appropriated sums To defray Tho
necessary expenses.
On December /, 1873, Governor Jacob
of West Virginia, called the attention
of the State Legislature TO the plans fol
the exposition, aud recommended action
looking to an appropriate display OF
West Virginia products. On
February $, 1875, Governor Jacob
sent another message TO the Legislature
on the same subject, and again in his
annual message of November 10, 1875,
called the Legislatures attention TO IL.
On December II, 1875, an act Of the
Legislature was approved which pro-
vided for the appointment of board OF
five to act as the West Virginia State
Board of Centennial Managers. Agents
were provided for TO collect exhibits in
each county and the sum Of $50, 900 was
appropriated to pay the expenses of the
board and of the State exhibit. OF
this sum, after the exposition closed,
S3l2.47 was left unexpended and was
turned back into the State treasury. In
making his final report on the subject
to the Legislature, Gov Jacob said:
Il am well satisfied that the posi-
ton which the State took
on this exposition will result in marked
benefit to the State. Probably the same
amount of money could not have been
expended in any other way so advant-
ageouSly."
Pennsylvania, of course, was most
generous in her provision for an exhibit
at the Centennial and the Legislature
appropriated 81. 600, 600 for the purpose
Alabama set aside 81, 600 for making a
State exhibit, Arizona the same amount,
Arkansas, Sl5, ZOO; Colorado, $4,000;
Connecticut, S25, 800. Delaware took
SO, 600 worth Of Centennial stock. The
Florida, Georgia ard Idaho Legisla-
lures took no action. The Illinois
Legislature appropriated so, 900. lndi-
ana set aside $1,000 Iowa appropri-
ated 500, 600. The Kansas Legislature
was generous, first voting s., 900 for the
Beard of Managers expenses then 1t
gave $4,000 to build the Kansas
buildinp at PHILADELPHIA aud
gave $500 additional to defray
the expense of the State exhibit. The
Kentucky Legislature gave $1,000.
The Louisiana Legislature took no ac-
tion. Maine set aside $1,000 for COM
miSsiOners' expenses and State exhibit.
Maryland appropriated $4,000. The
Massachusetts Legislature voted S50,-
600 to enable the State to make fit
ting display. Michigan spent $500.
Minnesota was niggardly, giving only
$500. The Mississippi Legislature ap-
$1,000, part of which was
not expended. Missouri did nothing.
Montana spent $1,000 on her exhibit.
The Nevada Legislature voted $4,000.
The New Hampshire Legislature voted
in all SIG, 500. New Jersey took $780,
600 worth of Centennial stock and
voted $4,000 for the expenses of the
State exhibit. The New York LegiS-
laturc at first voted 1000 and
later IS, coo additional for Il dairy
display. North Carolina did nothing. In
all. Ohio gave SIS, 800, to make proper
display of her products. Oregon gave
81 900. Little Rhode Island kept her
end up with an expenditure of s., 100
Virginia, which was in very bad way,
financially, at the time, did not take
part in the exposition, Gov. Kemper
declining in a memorable letter. Wis
consin spent $4,000 on her display.
The other States took officially no part
in the exposition. This was Is years
ago, when the country was much less
wealthy and prosperous than 1t is to-
day, for at the time the great financial
depression Of 1873 was on.