Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-11
Mr.. WESTON EXPLAINS.


Mr.. WESTON EXPLAINS
EDrroE HExALp.--ScsDAY's HERALD
publishes the June 20 financial state
meat Of tho state worlds fair board.
and. commenting on the balance shown.
asl<s Why some of il is not expended TO
complete the several Indifferent exhibits
AZ the falr." The balances on hand az
per statement aggregated $45. l2l.5. OF
this, the $1,000 appropriated by the
last legislature Is not available until
September, as immediate effect" was
refused the hill. The billie unpaid July
8 and Z, when the board audited the
accounts. amounted 20 10000 That
leaves the amount available % msiotsin
the state building state exhibits. end
all general and board expenses,
Just elc,i925 Tie building ex-
penses are S2.UuO month.
The expenses Of the Ag,i-
cultural. fruit. mineral, forestry and
other state exhibits are nearly ss much
more, and the general expenses Of the
board. clerk hire, stationery. etc.. are
about $1,000 a month; % that il will
take all the available funds TO pay cur
rent expenses for July and August
During the present month the states
exhibits OF dairy products. wool ai.i
honey are being installed. all Of which
require. beside supervision, expensive
glass cases. which must be purchased OF
the Exposition company at worlds fair
prices. Tie latter part Ok August the
live stock exhibits and the root and ad-
dit.onal horticultural exhibits must be
put In. For these branches u the work
and running expenses for September
and October the last 81. 900 are avail
able only.
Further. is the board responsible for
indifferent Michigan exhibits at the
fair!' The act creat.n. the board says
it may employ such agents and em-
ployes as ii may from time TO time deem
necessary" and .sh II have charge ct
the exhibits OF the state and IFS citi7ens
in the preparations and exhibition
thereof" 1t may sbuild and furnish an
adequate state administration building in
jackson park" and obtain and dissem-
mate through the state all necessary in
formation regarding said exposition"
Except as above quoted, :. I'd paying its
members % per day for tine actually
spent and subsistence and trsnsporta-
tion. there is no authority. direct or i'm
piled, for the expenditure OF a single
dollar. The amount appropriated by
the legislature was only intended to
cover expenditure for the above pur-
poses. The board has neither
money nor authority to buy
exhibits. 1t disseminated infor-
nation by pamphlets, circulars,
etc. II provided a state build
ing and it hired competent superinten-
dents and assistants to receive. prepare
and install all exhibits sent in repres-
enting the agricultural. fruit. forestry.
mineral. educational and other import
ant interests Of the state. II fitted up
the spaces and paid transportation on
/ all such exhibits. IL the fruit exhibit
| is not what il should be. il is only be.
cause the fruit men did not send in the
fruit, and the same - true Of all other
| state exhibits. The members OF the
board went further They left their
/ business and went out without pay, for
/ time or expenses. and raised money by
/ donations To aid exhibits. The lumber
men contributed over nine thousand
I dollars. from which was put up a model
/ Michigan logging camp and the finest
outdoor forestry exhibit in jackson park
as well as fair exhibit in the forestry
building. The miners contributed
three thousand dollars in cash toward a
/ mineral exhibit and have fine one
( The school children gave four thousand
/ five hundred dollars for public school
exhibit and made successful showing.
Grand Rapids and other cities gave hive
thousand dollars worth 81 furniture for
the State Building, and o. much more
WAS given in other material and finish.
ings Mrs. Pond. Of the commission
also collected over one thousand five
hundred dollars to III up the Press Room
and other features Of the State Build.
ing. Altogether about thirty thousand
| dollars was collected in this way by the
| efforts of the board. Yet the members
have drawn from the state sn average OF
less than two hundred and fifty dollars
each per year for their entire services
/. NJ WESTON.
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