The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-26
THE WORLDS FAIR CATALOGUE.
work on That Mammoth Volume VIII
Soon Begin.


CHICAGO, Nov. "a .-Preliminary work
upon the catalogue that is to serve as a
beacon light next year to the prospec-
tive millions of Worlds fair visitors
will very soon be in order. Five months
there are in which to commence and
complete it.
The task will be no mere child's play,
but rather one of considerable magni-
tude. Such a catalogue, to be of any
earthly use, must of necessity combine
accuracy with reliability. Not only this,
but it must be gotten out on time, to the
end that it may be of service to the adj
vance army that will take time by the
forelock and do it's sightseeing before
the crush commences. Herein lies the
problem, how accuracy and prompt pub
location may go hand in hand, and the
success of this important adjunct of the
exposition work be thus insured.
The Columbian exposition manage
ment will be its own compiler and it's
own publisher. incidentally it will
gather in all the shekels that may ac-
crue as profits on the undertaking. At
Philadelphia fifteen years ago certain
people paid round hundred thousand
dollars in good American gold by way
of concession, and relieved Director
General Goshorn and his associates of
all responsibility relating to the Centen-
NAL catalogue.
Both parties-and especially the con-
cessionaires -repented later of their bar
oi,.oc Oh
least SO say the musty court records of
that time, little glory and less profit.
The exhibitors, failing to appreciate the
Importance of the work, were backward
in coming forward with the necessary
data, and as consequence the initial
edition was so incomplete and mislead-
ing that each and every page had of
necessity to be corrected for subsequent
issues, and there was not page of the
last edition that resembled the first.
Then confusion confounded resulted
from the fact that the concession was sub
let, the typesetting being done in one
state, the mechanical work in another
and the binding in third, and what
with these troubles and the fact that
display and reading advertisements were
run in with the regular lists until the
most careful reading could scarcely de-
termine which was the o1e and which
the other it is very little wonder that
the catalogue in question was regarded
by experts as very much in the nature
of a freak
But the catalogue of the Columbian
exposition will profit by the mistakes of
its predecessor. The committee on press
and printing proposes that it shall be a
model of its kind AS a first step in that
direction it has intrusted the task Of
compilation to Major Moses P. Handy,
who will be able to utilize as assist
ants the entire force Of his we'll organ
lied bureau of publicity and promotion,
as well as to call to his aid such expert
advice and cooperation from outside as
may be found necessary.
Much of the detail connected with the
task has yet to be agreed upon, but in a
general way the ideas Of the committee
on certain leading points have been
clearly defined. For instance, no delay
on the part of exhibitors in furnishing
the necessary data will be tolerated.
Each exhibit will be entitled to three
lines of mention, and the material there
for will have to be turned in as a pre-
requisite to the issue Of a permit for the
installation Of each and every exhibit.
No display or illustrated advertising
will be tolerated, and matter relating to
proprietary medicines and patented arti-
cles, together with puffs and testimonials,
will be strictly barred. Exhibitors who
desire to add limited number of lines
of descriptive matter to the official desig-
nation of their exhibit will be permitted
that privilege at specific charge yet to
be decided upon, but the copy will be
subject to editorial supervision and ap-
prevail.
The catalogue will be published in
English, and English only, although
each foreign government will be granted
the privilege of issuing catalogue of
its own section, and in its own language,
should it be so inclined.
There will be a volume for every de-
partment or section of the exposition, or
thirteen in all. Hence, if visitor is in
UClCSUC0 OllJ Ill OilO joAUAOd1cA pCCoIOAA u
the show, he will be enabled to obtain the
catalogue relating to that section at the
outlay of silver quarter, and need not
tax himself for the entire publication.
On the other hand, those. who may
prefer the catalogue in its entirety will
find the thirteen volumes neatly bound
in one, and procurable at an outlay of
$3.50. These are some of the details
that have been or are certain to be
agreed upon by those in authority.
"Our idea of catalogue says Major
Handy, sis complete registration of
exhibits and exhibitors, properly and
concisely classified, together with such
information as is pertinent and needful,
and to be. in such form and at such
price as to make it available without
unduly taxing those DESTROYS of consult
ing it," And this, in brief, describes the
sort of catalogue that Chicago will offer
to her guests next year.
HENRY M. HUNT.
Frances Military Expenses.
Since the Franco-Prussian war it is
sold tb ot tho mi % rxJ aynaDspc nf EroYoa