The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-02
rup r,urs-R1cHMONp VA. TUESDAY MAY 1893

for the Fair. Chicago. New York ana
e. I,ouis were the principal contestants.
Delegation after delegation swooped uo"n
unon the capital, and life was nauy
burden 10 the legislators of both brahcp,9
Of the Government. Each CITY WIS
corded n fair hearing TO present It's o,,-,
Ia ita last stages the contest became
married. with considerable bitterness pue
the agony was ended on FeoFua,s -
$500. when the National Congress seie .,a.,
Chicago rs the site for the tNPoSi -
and the bin was signed by Presldei,' 'i''
rison on the 18th Of the same montH,
In the meantime the directory had met
and organized. and Lyman !. Gage re-
ceived the distinguished honor OF p eliaS
elected as the first president. speCia.
session of the Legislature held IN June ~
- Como vear authorized the city OF
C,bicago TO increase its bonded tndebted-
noes bv 100000 i'm aid Of the enterpi . iso.
Thereupon the name or the 0rp 49, ',e,r''
was changed 20 the World + ar -. a.
bian Exposition. ana It's cap''"'i@"''''
creased TO 100000 -
,rbe ffrst meeting Of the National COM
-,ission a BODY brought into existence oy
tho act Of Congress and composer "a
rorresontative men designated by Presl-
dent Harrison. and by the Governors OK
tho various States aud Territories was
held I'm Chicago on June o. 1890 ara eN-
Senator Thomas W. Palmer, or Mlchlsan,
was chosen az president. subsequently,
George r. Davis OF Chicago WIS
lected by this body as director -.
Tho selection Of a site was now IN oIu'i'
,Tbere was a fierce rivalry for the honoF
between the southern and western sec
tions OF the city, but the lack OF ample
facilities on the west side was eVlueu'
from the start. and on July 2, 1890 tne
hoard 81 directors decided TO locate the
Fair at Jackson Park. large open space
on the southern outskirts, ana haNlhs q
frontage on Lake Michigan or one anu
n half miles. and containing win tle
Midway Plaisance. which forms connect
inc link between Jackson and Washington
Parks. a total Of over six hundred acres.
on Christmas Eve Of 1890 President Harri-
son extended an invitation TO the nations
Of the earth 10 participate ~ the ENposi-
tion. and the responses were immediate
and cordial About the same time the
Lady Board of Managers was brought
into existence. and Mrs. Potter Palmer,
Of Chicago. selected as president Of the
body The work Of constructing the
Mines and Mining Building the first
structure undertaken. was begun on July
1901. and from that time on the work
~ buiIding mn the White CITY was prose-
cuted with vim and vigor. One structure
rose after another. and on october Il.
1892. I'm the presence Of an assembiase OF
over one hundred thousand people the
grounds and buildings were formally dedi-
Gated 10 the purposes designed by the act
Of Congress Up TO the last financial
statement the total expenditures on ac-
count Of the Fair had reached the enor-
nous aggregate OF $4,000 900. a sum equal
10 twice the cost Of the Paris ENposi-
ton Of this amount over Sb0WOol had
gone into the buildings Of the White City.
while the balance had been eaten up by
general expenses outside of the construc-
ton Shortly before the adjournment OF
! Congress n special appropriation Of two
| and a half million dollars In the form
| Of souvenir silver coins was voted by
| Congress I'm aid Of the enterprise. Five
/ million dollars worth Of bonds due on
| January ist OF the coming year. were also
/ issued and disposed Of al a premium. u
| IS an interesting fact that the gate re-
ceipts from visitors prior 10 the formal
| opening to-day reached the total Of a
| quarter Of million dollars.