The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-05-04

were formidable rivals. These we're New
York, Washington and st. Louis, and the fight
soon became so hot that the latter two dropped
out The contest between Chicago and New
York grew in ferceness until the battle was
ended on February %, 1890 when congress by
o Int resolution located the fair in Chicagp.
The act of April Is, which really authorized
the fair, provided for the establishment of a
local corporation, to be known as the
Worlds Columbian exposition. to prepare
site and buildings, Worlds Columbian
commission the representative body of
the government, to be composed Of two repre-
sentatives and alternates from each state and
territory Of the union and the District of Co
lumbia and eight commissioners at large with
alternates. and board OF lady managers made
up like the commission, with the addition OF
nine members from the city of Chicago.
On April 4, 1890, the local corporation met and
elected board Of forty-five directors. On
April 30 the board elected the officers. who
served for one year. The first president was
Hon. Lyman J. Gage There have been two
presidents of the board since Mr. Gage-W. y.
Baker and H. N. Higinbotham, the present
presiding officer. Mr.. Baker was elected
for second term, but resigned on August 5,
1892 The present officers Of the board are:
President, H N. Hginbotham; first vice presi-
dent r. w. Peck: second vice president, r. A.
Waller; secretary, H. o. Edmonds; treasurer,
a. T. o0cUcFbcEs 6uuICOE, W. r. AckCCuaus
attorney, w. K. Carlisle.
The National Commission.
The members Of the national commission,
the governments representative body, were
appointed on May 26 and met Tor organiza.
ton in Chicago on June 26 Ex-Sena tor
Thomas w. Palmer, who gave up his post
as minister to Spain to be one of the eight
commissioners at large, was elected presi.
dent, and John T. Dickinson was chosen secre.
t0w oil AL I'D Ao11z
ing gentlemen as vice presidents: Ex-Gov. T.
M. Waller, of Connecticut: M H. De Young Of
California; David B. Penn. Of Louisiana; Cor.
ton w. Allen, of New York, and Alexander b.
Andrews, Of North Carolina.
The Board of Lady Managers.
The members OF the board Of lady managers
were nominated by the members of the
commission, President Palmer naming the
Chicago nine, and were confirmed by
President Harrison They met for organiza.
ton on November 20, 1890, and elected Mrs.
Potter Palmer, of Chicago, president, and
Miss Phoebe Couzins secretary. They also
elected nine vice presidents, of whom Mrs.
Ralph Trautmann. of New York, is first and
Mrs. Russell B. Harrison ninth. or the vice
president at large The board of lady man.
ayers has done q grand work. They have
guarded and promoted the interests Of women
at every point and have relied on the resources
Of women in all their undertakings wherever
that was possible.
The Workers Appointed.
AS soon after organization as the plans for
the development of the exposition became clear
to the local directory and the national commits
sion they began to appoint technical and execu-
tive men to carry out the work. George h.
Davis was chosen director general on Septem-
Der 49, 1890. by the national commission. D. H.
Burnham was made chief of construction and
j. w. Root consulting architect in the same
month.
The Site Chosen.
The selection of site for the great buildings
of the fair was the first great question for the
BOARD of directors after organization. Dozens
OF sites were offered or proposed the
two principal ones being the narrow lake
front park and Jackson and Wash
ington parks, of the south park sys-
tenn. The question was argued between
those two for months, until it was finally de-
Plaisance and Washington park added for
the overflow. 1t was also decided to
have one permanent building down town
as q memorial of the expositon-the
Fine Arts building, now nearly finished,
on the lake 'front.' This building is
to be used for the meetings of the worlds con-
gress auxiliary during the fair and will after
ward pass into the hands OF the Art institute
trustees. The worlds fair gave 800 600 toward
its construction, the other $500, 900 being real
lied from subscriptions and the sale Of the old
Art institute building
The Dedication.
Ground was broken for the first building at
Jackson park, that of Mines and Mining July
2, 1891. One of the most important epochs in
the Worlds Columbian exposition was
marked by the dedicatory exercises held in
Chicago October 10, 20 and 81. The first
day was devoted to parade of United
States troops at Washington park and
to the inaugural reception at tho Auditorium at
which Vice President Morton was the guest
of honor in President Harrison's place, and
which was attended by members of the cabinet,
the supreme court, tho diplomatic corps and
the governors of the states. The second day
was marked by a great civic parade IN which
$4,000 men were in line and a reception to the
military. For the last day was,reserved the as
semblage of representatives from almost every
civilized nation on the face of the earth, to wit.
ness the dedication of the buildings.
THE WOMAN'S BUILDING.