The record-union., 1893-05-02
in any manner contributed to its crea-

W A4Si lllO
lzed this work to proceed are the Ma
tlonal Commission, consisting of los men
| ana alternates, selected from the several
states and Territories, presided over by
the Hon, Thomas w. Palmer of Michi-
gan; the corporation of the State of Illi-
nols known as the Worlds Columbian
! Exposition, consisting of 43 Directors,
presided over by L. \. Higginbotham of
Chicago, and the Board of Lady Man
ayers, consisting of lis women and al
ternates, selected from the several States
and presided over by Mrs. Potter Palmer
OF chicago. To these great agencies,
wlsely y selected by Congress, each per-
Jude OF the people of this country and
the cordial recognition of all these SOW
erelgn representatives are due.
10 perfect from these agencies an eff
Client organization was our first duty, and
II was successfully accomplished at the
outset, through committees subsequently
selected by the great executive depart
ments, and through the departments the
systematic. vigorous and effective work
| progressed. Through the Department
OF Administration Department of Works
ana the great exhibit departments, the
plan and scope OF the grand international
Exposition was worked out. The De-
partment of Finance, composed of MEM
bers OF the Illinois corporation, has, with
| courage undaunted, successfully financed
the exposition and provided for the great
| work upwards of S20,000,000. The de-
| partment works and it's many bureaus of
| artlstS, architects, engineers and build
ers have transformed these grounds,
| which twenty-one months ago were an
| unSightly. uninviting and unoccupied
stretch OF landscape, into the beauty and
splendor OF to-day. They have con-
splcuously performed their functions,
and these grand avenues, these Venetian
waterways, finished landscape, foun-
talns, and sculptures, and colonnades,
and these grand palaces, stand out as a
monument to their genius and skill, sup
plemented by the labor of great army
of skilled artisans and workmen, all
citizens ofthis republic.
The chiefs of the great departments who
exploited this mighty enterprise, and
gathered here exhibits forming the pict-
ure set in this magnificent frame, have
confirmed the wisdom of their selection.
No State or Territory of the Union
escaped their voice; no land on the globe
that mas language but was visited and the
| invitation of the President of the United
States personally presented. Fortunately
at the inception of this enterprise our
Government was, and still is, at peace
with the whole world. Commissioners
were sent to Europe, Asia, Australia
the seas, so to-day the whole world
knows and is familiar with the signiti-
cance of the great peace festival we are
about to lnaugurate upon this campus,
and all nations join in celebrating The
| event which 1t commentaries.
This lnclosure, containing nearly 700
| acres, is covered by more than 400 struct-
ures, from small pavilion occupying an
ordinary building site to the colossal
structure of the manufacturers and lib
eral arts building, covering over thirty
acres, tilled and crowded with a dis
play of the achievements and prod
ucts of the mind and hand of man, such
as never before have been presented to
mortal vision. The habits, customs
and life of the people of our
own and foreign lands are shown in
the variegated Plaisance. Those stately
buildings on The north, filled with his
toricaI treasures and natural products of
our several States, artistic, characteristic
and beautiful edifces, the headquar-
terS of the foreign commissions, sur
rounding the gallery OF line arts, which in
itself will be an agreeable surprise to the
American beholder, constitute the grand
central zone, the social and friendly amen
tiles among the different peoples of the
earth. Surrounding this grand plaza where
we stand, and reaching from the north
pond to the extreme south, is the great
ricultural exhibition of the resources and
products of the world. These have been
secured from the four quarters of the
globe, and placed in systematic order
under the supervision of these great de-
partments, and while all the material
upon the grounds is not yet in place,
am gratitied to be able to present to the
President of the United States at this
time an official catalogue containing the
description and location of the exhibits
of 1000 participants in the exposition.
The number OF exhibitors will exceed
$4,000 when everything is in place.
The citizens OF our country will always
be proud OF the action of the Congress of
the United States of America in authoriZ-
ing and directing this celebration to take
place, for appropriations of more than
i've millions of dollars in its aid, and for
the answering support and encourage
ment of the officers of the Government:
and to the States of the Union we are
largely indebted for active and substantial
support. y sum in excess of six million
dollars has been raised and expended by
the States and Territories for official use
in promoting their own interests. Con-
jointly with the general success of the
exhibition to foreign nations, who have a
representation upon the grounds never
before witnessed at any exposition, as
shown by the grand exhibits they have
representatives of foreign Governments
who are present on this occasion, we bow
in grateful thanks. More than six mill
ions of dollars have been officially ap-
propriated for the commissions in further
ance of their participation in tie exposi-
ton: The great nations of Europe and
their dependencies are all represented
upon these grounds. The Governments
of Asia and Africa and the republics of
the western hemisphere, with but few
exceptions, are here represented.
To the citizens and the corporations of
the city of Chicago, who furnished SILL
1000 as contribution, and in addition
loaned the management 5000, 600 more,
are due the grateful Acknowledgements
of our own people and honored guests,
who share with us the advantages OF this
great international festival. To the tens
OF thousands of exhibitors, who con-
tributed larger amount than all others
combined, we are under the deepest
obligations for their interest and CO.
operation. To the women of Chicago and
our great land, whose prompt, sponta-
neous and enthusiastic cooperation in
our work has turned the eyes of the
world toward the exposition as toward
new star of the East, an inspiration for
womanhood everywhere we extend our
cordial and unstlnted recognition.
1t is our hope that this great exposition
may inaugurate new era of moral and
material progress, and our fervent aspira-
ton that the association OF nations here
may secure not only warmer and stronger
friendships, but lasting peace throughout
the world.
The grand concerted illustration of
modern progress which is here presented
for the encouragement of arts, science.
industry and commerce has necessitated
in expenditure, including the outlay OF
our exhibitors, largely in excess OF $780,
OOO,00O. We have given it our constant
thought, our most devoted service, our
best energy, and now in this central city
OF this great republic, on the continent