Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-28
MR.BLACKDIDWELL
GRAND RAPIDS MAY EXHIBIT,
Provided Posit,ons In Manufacturers
Hall Are Shifssd u Give Proper
Accommodation

Whether or not Grand Rapids furni-
turs manufacturers will make IN exhi-
biz IT the worlds far viii 10 definitely
decsded the evening, when the sssoeia-
ton will hold Especial meeting for that
purpose znd listen 10 the report u
Charles W. Black. who has returned
from Chicago loaded TO tho mu1zis
with complete Information concerning
the tpace and facilities fos showing
Grauld Rapids wares In the manufac-
turers and liberal arts building. Mr..
Black was seen in the Morton last even
ing BY reporter for THE HERALD and
said:
al arrived at the fair grounds ct 3
O'Clock yesterday morning and spent
ell the day and until 10 o'clock last
night in looking over the building and
in .saborlpg with Director General
DAVIS. l found things In an awful
muddie, can tell you. aud all through
the reckless. careless, Encouragement
of Chief OF Department Allison, who ~
now IN Florida and supps sed to DO out
Of lis mead. That man WAS all right
| at the centennial and he did good work
Al the exposition IN Cincinnati, but
when no ackled the biz worlds fair
1 build ing ne had q contract on his
hahds considerably larger than ne
could get away with. The director gen.
erai Is perfectly aware Of this and is
disposed TO censure Mr.. Allison's man
agement. or rather Encouragement,
very severely.
Might Have Been All settled.
tile told me the furniture men could
have had their space allotted within
twb days after tie committee first
spplied-October 20, If Mr.. Allison had
not dail:ed along aud allowed the mat
ter TO hang fire. Furniture men all
over the country are cisCusted and |
| found that most of the largest manu-
facturers have drawn out, as they
haven't time 10 prepare crediiable ex-
tIbsts and they won't send poor ones.
| Nr. DAVIS was very anxious to serve US
In any way possible and IN spite of the
perfectly overwhelming amount Of
! work under which he 10 laboring |
| found HIM very courteous and oblig-
ing. lie wanted 10 know II the posi-
tion taken by Grand Rapids manufac-
turers was definite and final and said
he Was very anxious 70 induce Grand
Rapids men 10 exhibit
Radical Changes impossible
All the space IN the building had
been allotted ten days ago and every
body notified as 10 Just what had been
assigned to them. IL WAS simply im-
possible to mako any big changes. He
could shift the positions of exhibitors
IN the furniture space, but he could
not exchange for the space assigned to
another Glass of exhibits. Outside of
that he Was willing TO do anything
reasonable to relieve the present condi-
ton OF affairs and assure as creditable
q furniture display as possible.
1.-THE assistant chief is also driven al
most to death with work, up to hrs ears in
II IL 81 {, speak. he has twenty-four
clerks working under him and they
labor hard I'LL Il O'Clock each night,
taking their meals right IN the build
i ing and trying 10 get cleared up and
! out of the general muddle. All ex-
/ habits mustl be on the ground by
April TO-
"when left last night the director
general sent me TO the depot in his pri.
N vate carriage and | sat with him at
I'll meals IN the administration building
II He's easily approached and very
agreeable, but OF conrse he can't spare
anyone much of his time. There ar,
always hundred or so people waiting
10 get IN audience with him.
Immediately on my return thu
morning saw Mr.. Gay and We ar
ranged for . meeting OF the associa
r tIon tomorrow evening. At that tins
d we Will decide positively what cours
n to pursue. Personally think II wsuis
be shame not to make good show
J ing for the city and Its industry. and
I know there are others who feel tina
: way. The trouble is we haven't tim
J TO DO ourselves justice"