The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-07-16
A STRONG APPEAL.

State of Florida
GENTLEMEN-When was at your
convention at Tallahassee, called ia
consult together regarding the parti,
cipation of Florida at the Worlds
Columbian Exposition at Chicago,
became convinced of q general feel
ing of regret among you at your in
ability to make the desired appropri-
] stion, owing to the possible illegality
Of such action.
As a member of the state Worlds
Fair commission, appointed by Gov
ernor Fleming, and authorized to
collect funds for the production and
maintenance of q state building
and exhibit, l wish to call your at
teution to the present status of the
Worlds Fair matter, the magnificent
opportunity now offered every county
il the state for a legal county exhibit
at small outlay, and the necessity
for immediate action.
That the transcendent importance
Of this greatest of all expositions is
beginning to dawn upon the people
Of every section of the world is evil
denced by the amazing interest and
activity shown by every foreign ma
ton and by our own people. Sew
enty foreign countries have applied
for space, and special commissioners
are either now in Chicago or on their
way, from England, from France,
from India, form Australia; asking
for an increase of the already large
amounts allotted them. Every avail
able foot of the exposition grounds
will be applied for five times over by
people anxious to profit through the
phenomenal opportunities offered to
show to the world the attractions,
resources and possibilities Of the
localities which they represent.
b In addition to the millions OF dol
lars already expended by the exposi-
tion management, congress is almost
certain to appropriate other millions,
such action being unanimously de-
manded by the business interests of
the country, and the representatives
Of all political parties, through their
national conventions.
Nowhere else in the known world
is there exhibited such a strange
apathy-1 might almost say criminal
negligence-regarding this gigantic
industrial enterprise as in Florida.
Successful action cannot be delayed
much longer, and l appeal to you.
gentlemen, for such appropriations as
shall place your several counties
prominently before the millions of
visitors who will throng the grounds
and buildings of the greatest exposi-
ton that the world has ever seen.
Work upon all state buildings must
De begun at once and finished in time
Ior the dedication exercises, begin
ming on the 18th of October next.
From that date until the middle of
April exhibits will be received and
placed. The exposition will be open
sothe world May lst, and remain open
until the last of October, 1888
period of six months.
The Florida state commission at
once needs $4,000, with which to
build the Florida state building "a
reproduction of the old Fort Marion,
man which no more sinteresting will
Oe seen among the state buildings).
ana for the securing transportation
ana placing of exhibits needed to
sOid the splendid space allotted to
Florida in the main buildings of the
s1posltion, and for preliminary work
epon the "Official State Gazetteer -
n this amount / am assured $50, 900
y non-residents having large in
.slest IN Florida, provided $40, 1000 Is
FINISHED = by the people Of the state.
1nas this $50, 900 may be immediate
. secured to the great and lasting
kO0d OF all Florida, / appeal to yon,