The Progress., 1893-11-04

- tS . in San Francisco
IN m W in t Ell
when. although the greater part
of the United States will be suffering
from the frosts of winter, the Pacific
coast will be enjoying the delights of
per ect New England day in June.
The Fair had its origin in the tears
sheC over the Chicago Fair. MANY of
the visitors to that have actually
cried when they realized that Nov. /
the vision of love mess would vanish
and the work of demolishng what
had been built with such infinite pains
wouli begin. 1t came into the heads
of some OF the foreign commission
ers : at il wou be a good idea to re-
produce the best part of the exhibit
tion in some other city. Mr.. NJ. III.
DeIoung, Vice President of the
Worlds Columbian Commission. and
some other enterprising Californians
were struck with the idea and resolved
to transfer the choicest of the exhib
its TO the Pacific coast The idea
gained ground at once and was backed
not only by the unanimous decision of
the people of California, but by the
majOrity of exhibitors from all parts
of The world who are now attending
the Worlds Columbian Exposition.
In regard to the success of the Ex-
position from a commercial stand
point, it may be we'll to quote the
expressive words of Director-Ge nrral
De Young: 81 have no doubt that at
least 10000 of the best exhibits will be
sent from Chicago, and deem it con-
servative to estimate that no less than
100. 600 people will come from other
states than California and foreign
countries. "
A few words about Mr.. De Young,
the director general of the EXPEDITION,
would not be inappropriate. NJ ii.
De Young, the editor and proprietor
of the Sar Francisco Chronicle, is one
of the best known and most successful
newspaper men in the country, though
not vet A. years of age, having been
born in St Louis in lSis be has
achieved a success in his chosen voca-
ton, such as has fallen to the lot of
but few men. The oft-repeated story
of the foundation of the New York
Herald and the consequent growth of
that great journal has its counterpart
in the history of the San Francisco
Chronicle, whose commencement was
even more humble, if possible, and
not less wonderful.
In 1889 he was appointed commls-
sioner from his state to the Paris
exposition, and he devoted much time
to a study of that affair. His criticism of
the manner in which this country was
represented. or rather misrepresented
there. attracted much attention and
at the same time enabled him and
others to perceive what would be
necessary to make our own Exposition
a success. He left no detail of con-
struction or arrangement of plan un-
studied. and. consequently, when ap-
pointed a member of the National
Worlds Fair commission from this
state, he brought to the task thorough
knowledge of what was essential
This wss quickly recognized and he
was made a member of the board OF
control and subsequently chosen vice.
president of the national commission.
He made his mark at the outset,
when the question of classification
came up. He saw at a glance the
fatal defects of the syste m proposed,
and that was on the point of being
adopted by his colleagues. and lost no
time in pointing them out and expos
ing their faults. Challenged TO pro-
duce a better system of classification
he quickly did so, and so successfully
explained its valuable features that 1T
was adopted.
The next matter that engaged his
attention was the grouping and ar
rangement of the various principal
buildings. 1t is now q matter OF
history that this, too, as originally
proposed, was defective IN the ex-
treme. The experience of Mr.. De
Young enabled him to suggest a
remedy in this direction also, and his
plans were adopted and carried out.
Besides his phenomenally successful
newspaper business MIR. De Young has
been fortunate in other ventures in
which he has engaged, and long since
has earned the right to be classed
among the milliopaires of the Pacific
coast. The appointment of Mr.. De
Young as director general of the Mid
winter fair was q fitting testimonial
Of his ability.