The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-22
PLENTY OF CHAMPAGNE.

Maj Fred Bracket, special agca. C
the United States treasury department,
sent to Spain to explain customs regu-
lations to intending exhibitors at the
fair, returned to headquarters yester-
day. He was abroad eight months and
brought encouraging news to Director
General Davis. THE government of
Spain has really appropriated but four
teen thousand dollars for the fair" said
Maj. Bracket, "but that does not begin
to represent the value of the exhibit we
shall receive from that country. Now.
for instance, the government has de-
cided to reproduce the Santa Maria,
Columbus flagship. Instead of making
an appropriation the government ship
builder was authorized to use all neces-
sary material in the shipyards for that
purpose, and he has been doing so.
When left he had one hundred and
fifty men at work on the vessel. AS you
know, our government will reproduce
the Pinta and the Nina All three
of the boats will be lowed to New
York to take part in the naval
review and then brought to Chi
cago for exhibition purposes during
the fair. Barcelona is the most
important city of Spain commercially,
and found that there considerable at
tention had been paid to the exposition,
one newspaper having published
series of articles written by student
of American history who had produced
some very interesting articles on the
subject of the fair in 1895. We inter-
viewed no less than ten prominent ed
itors of Barcelona, with the result that
on the following day they all devoted
a large amount of space to the expo
sition. At Valencia we found a very
enterprising consul devoting a good
deal of attention to the introduction of
American goods into Spain. A large
firm in Valencia manufacturing ccram-
les from old Moorish designs intends to
be represented at Chicago. At Madrid
he had very satisfactory interviews
with Senior Canovas, president of the
council of ministers, and secured from
him letters of Introduction to the gov
errors of the various provinces in
Spain. During subsequent interviews
with Canovas, and, in fact, during the
entire time spent in Madrid, Minister
Grub coOperated actively with Us, and
because of his very friendly relations
with members of the Spanish govern
ment was Of great assistance to us.
The fac smile of the La Rabida con-
vent, which is to be reproduced on the
grounds at Chicago, will undoubtedly
be of great interest TO Americans, as in
that will be placed most of the exhibit
relating to the life and times Of Column
bus
Maj. Bracket says foreign exhibit
ors are deeply interested IN the ques-
tons of transportation and insurance
and are unable TO get accurate informa-
ton on either subject. The French
commission" he added, ''is now fully
organized and composed of excellent
material 1t includes among its mem |
bers the venerable Jules camain Krantz, |
the commissioner general, member of |
the house of deputies, and an active, |
intelligent gentleman, speaking Eng |
ish very well NJ. Grisson has had a |
very extensive and varied experience |
with expositions and NJ. Monteith was |
attached to the fine arts department in l
1889 and Is familiar with America and |
American customs. All these gentle
men, at some later date not vet deter
mined, expect to take up their residence
in Chicago until the exposition closes.
The commission intends sending an
architect and engineer 70 take charge
Of the erection Of such building as VIII
be put up very soon. Visited the great
champagne districts at Rheims ard
Epernay and found on consultation
with the producers that the sales, not
withstanding the increase Of tariff, had
been considerably augmented during
the last year and that they were very
favorably disposed toward the exposi-
ton Tie fact that three firms st
Rheims had shipped during the previous
year 10 this country 20. 00S cases Of
champagne indicates that there will be
no question about having an extensive
exhibit OF that product"