The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-09
HISTORY OF THE EXPOSITION.
Inception and Progress of the Great Enter
Driae Now Omen.

Chicago, May 1.-Nearly eight years have
elapsed since the idea that eliminated i'll
the formal opening this morning of the
great White City was given root. Appro-
prlatcly enough the suggestion had It's OIL
gin in Chicago. 1t was on November IS,
1885. that the directorate of the interstate
exposition, an organization under the aus
pieces of which an autumnal show of the
agricultural and manufacturing resources
of the western states had been held for
many years in the old exposition building
on the lake front. the site of which il now
occupied by the memorial art palace,
adopted a resolution fayOring Il national
commemoraton of the quAdri-centenniAl
of the discovery of the American continent
by Christopher Columbus 1t is doubtful,
however, whether the imagination of the
mover of the resolution or of those that
voted for it could have conjured up the
stupendous results that were to spring
from their simple but patriotic proposition.
The idea, however. attracted instant and
widespread attention, and early in the fol
lowing year the board of promotion was
organized i'll New England, with ex-Gov-
ernor CIaiiiin. of Massachusetts. as pres
ident, for the purpose of securing congress
sional action favorable to the proposed
commemoration Through the efforts of this
board a resolution was introduced in the
senate on July u, 1856, by Senator George
T. Hoar, of Massachusetts for the appoint
ment of q joint committee of fourteen to
consider the ACCESSIBILITY of holding a
worlds fair. At this time the leading spirits
in the movement favored the national cap
ital as the location, and the erection of
both temporary and permanent exposition
buildings A favorable report was rem
dered but for while the matter Jagged,
ana it was not until three years later that
Chicago took up the matter III earnest.
July %, 1889 the city council adopted II
resolution instructing Mayor Creger to ap-
Doint Il committee of 100 to proceed TO the
national capital and advocate the selection
of Chicago as the location of the fair.
Three weeks afterwards Il number of citi-
zenS organized Il corporation with the title
"rhe Worlds Fair, 1892" which was char
tered under the laws of the state of Illinois
with a capital stock of $1,000 600. BY this
time the interest IN the proposed commence
ration had become national. On December
10Th of the same year, Senator Cullom, of
Illinois, introduced the first worlds fair bill
in the senate. For two months thereafter
there was Il fierce rivalry between the diff
fercnt cities that were eager tor the honor
of being selected as .he site for the fair
Chicago. New York and st. Louis were the
principal contestants. Delegation after del
egation swooped down uGon the capital,
and life was made a burden to the legisa-
tors of both branches of the government
Each city was accorded a fair hearing to
present its claim. In its last stages the
contest became marked with considerable
bitterness, but the agony was ended Oh Feb
ruary n 1890, when the national congress
selected Chicago as the site for the EXPOSE
ton. and the bill was signed by President
Harrison on the 25th of the same month.
In the meantime the directory had met
and organized. and Lyman J. Gage received
the distinguished honor Of being elected
as the first president: A special session of
the legislature held in June of the same
year authorized the city of Chicago to in
crease its bonded Indebtedness by five mill
ions of dollars in aid of the enterprise There
upon the name of the corporation was
changed to the Worlds Columbian Exposi-