Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-05-06
STORY OF THE FAIR.
Inception and Development of the Great !
est of All ExpositIons.

Inception and Development of the Great
est of All EXpositions.
1t was on Christmas eve of 1890 that Presi-
dent Harrison issued his proclamation announc-
ing 10 the nations Of the earth the great worlds
fair enterprise and asking their participation in
it To that invitation every civilized country
on the globe has made generous response
Exhibits OF the products of art science and
industry have been brought from the farthest
corners OF the earth and representatives of the
human race from the happy Hottentot up
through the scale of civilization have collected
in Jackson park to make the great show that
has just opened the most complete the
most magnificent the world has ever seen.
The presidents proclamation announcing
government sponsorship for the fair was not,
however, the inception OF the enterprise 1t
followed several months after the congressional
act committing the government TO the worlds
fair and locating 1t in Chicago which was
passed on February 25, 1890, and the subsequent
act of April 25r 1899, prescribing what the fair
was TO be.
The Struggle for the Prize.
The battle for the location of the fair, which
finally resulted so overwhelmingly in Chicago'S
favor was indeed memorable one. In the
struggle among the greatest cities of the nation
TO secure the prize there were stings and dis
appointments which even now, at the opening
of the big show, are not forgotten The men
OF Chicago measured their strength with the
giants of Gotham and other cities and won be-
cause they made the best showing and had the
best TO offer.
Who first expressed the idea of holding a
| worlds fair in commemoration of Columbus
discovery is question hard to decide num-
Der OF men claim that distinction. The
movement that resulted in the location of
| the fair in Chicago however began with
the newspapers. AS early as June, 1880,
| they tested the sentiment of the members
| of congress, and in August made formal bid.
| Meanwhile mass meetings were held, tempo
| rary organization was formed and Chicago citi-
| gems went Systematically TO work TO secure the
| prize, "Chicago" meetings were held all over
the northwest and every one who could help
| before congress was pressed into service.
There were many claimants for the eXposi-
| tion prize, but when the Chicago delegation
went to Washington to fight the battle before
congress they found that only three other cities
were formidable rivals. These were 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 herCeness until the battle was
ended on February 25t 1890, when congress by
| o int resolution located the fair in Chicago.
The act OF April 25, which really authorized
| the fair, provided for the establishment OF q
local corporation, TO be known as the
| Worlds Columbian exposition, 10 prepare
site and buildings, Worlds Columbian
! commission the representative body OF
| the government, 10 be composed Of two repre-
sentatives and, nlternates from each state and
territory OF the union and the District of Co
lumbia and eight commissioners al large with
alternatcs, 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-fiye directors. On
April 80 the board elected the officers, who
served for one year The first president was
Hon. Lyman j, Gage There have been tive
presidents of the board since Mr. Gage-W. ~
| Baker and II. N. Higinbotham, the present
presiding oficer Mr., Baker was elected
for q second term, but resigned on August B
1892. The present oficers OF the board are
President, II n Higinbotham first vice presi
dent, a. W. Peck; second vice president Il A.