Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-05-02
GATES OPEN.


by the Memorial Art Palace, adopted a
resolution favoring national commemora-
ton of the quadri-centeunial of the discovery
of the American continent by Christopher
Columbus. II is doubtful, however, whether
the imagination of the mover of the resolu-
ton or Of those that voted for it could have
conjured mp the stupenlous results that
were to spring from tneir simple but patri-
otto proportion. The idea. however, at
tractod instant and widespread attention,
and early in the following year the board
of promotion was organized in New Eng
land, with ex-GOv. Clafilin of Massschu-
sets rs president, for the purpose of secur-
ing congressional action favorable to the
proposed commemoration. Through the
efforts of this board resolution was intro
duced in the Senate on July 81, 1856, by
Senator George +. lIoar of Massachusetts
for the appointment of a joint committee of
fourteen to consider the aiyisability of
holding Worlds Fair. At this time the
leading spirits in the movement favored the
national capital as the location, and the
erection of both temporary and permanent
exposition buildings. A favorable report
WAS rendered, but for while the matter
Jagged, and it was not until three years la
ter that Chicago took up the matter in earn
est
July %, 1889, the city council adopted
resolution ins,ructing Mayor Cregier to ap-
point committee of one hundred to proceed
to the national capital and advocate thu
selection of Chicago as the location of the
fair. Three weeks afterwards number of
citizens organized corporation with the
title THE Worlds Fair, 1892" which was
chartered under the laws of the state If
Illinois with capital stock OF five miiior
dollars. By this time the interest in tie
proposed commemoration had become ma
tional. On December 10 of the same year,
Senator Culiom of Illinois introduced
the first Worli's Fair bill in the
Senate. For two months thereafter Their,
was a fierce rivalry betw cen the diff
fcrent cities that were eager foT the honor
of being selected as the site of the fair.
Chicago, New York, and St. Louis were thu
principal contestants. Delegation after del
,gstion swooped down upon the capital, and
life WAS made burden to the legislitc of
both branches of the government Each
city was accorded fair hearing to present
its claim. In its last stages the contest be-
came marked with considerable bitterness,
but the sgony was ended on Feb "A. 1890, |
when the national Congress selected Chica-
90 rs the site for the exposition. AMI the I'LL
was signed by President Harrison on the
25th of the same month.
In the mean time the directory had met
and organized, and Lyman j. Gage received
the distinguished honor of being elected az
the first president. A special session Of
the Legislature held in June of
the same year authorized the city of Chi
cago to increase its bonded Indebtedness by |
five millions of dollars in aid of the enter
prise. Thereupon the name of the corpo- |
ration was changed to the Worlds Colum |
ban Exposition, and its capitalization in
creased to ten millions of dollars.
The first meeting of the national commits
sion, a body brought into existence by the
act Of Congress. and composed of represen
tatiye men designated by President IIarri-
son, anil by the governors of the various
states and terrifarIr-, ~as he'll in Chicago
on June p, 1889, and Ex-senator Thomas
W. Palmer o. Michigan. was chosen
a. president Subsequently George +
DAVIS of Chicago, was selected by this
boiy "a director general. The selection OF
q site WIS new in oriYr. There was a
fierce rivalry for the honor between the
southern ami wsst-rn sections of the city.
but the lick of ample facilities on the west
side was evident from the start, and on
July 2, 1880, tie ard of directors de-
'iici to locate the fair at Jackson Park, a
large open space on the southern outskirts,
AMI having frontage on Lake Michigan
Of one and a halt miles, and containing.
" it'll the Hidw#y PlsisAnce, which forms
a connecting link betrcen jackson AMI
Washington Parks, a totsl of over six
hundred acres I'm Christmas eve Of 1890
President Harrison extended an invitation
10 the nations of the earth 10 participate in
the exposition. aI4s the responses were
mnse5siste aai eortiial About the same
time the lady boarl of managers was
brought into existence. and Mrs. Potter
Palmer of Chicago, selected 80 president
Of the bury IT,. work of constructing
In. Mines and Mining Building, the first
structure undertaken, vas began on July
!, 1891. ani from that time on the work Of
Iuil.iiug mp the Whit Cav was pro-ecut.ti +,
siIli rim and yicor. One structure rose
|, fter another, and on October 81. 1892 In
he Presence of arr assems.iage Of over one |
hundred tiieIsaBd people the grounds AMI ,
bull hngs ~ere formerly d.dicstei TO the
purposes designed by the art Of Congress.
{ . - the last financial statement the total
Expenditures on account of the fair had
reached the enormous aggregate OF Si3.- 4
NO, 800, q sum equal to fwic- the cost of I
he Paris Exposition. of this amount over i
5l5 ,000, 600 had gone into the buihinss Of