Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1894-02-23
NJ. II. DE YOUNG.

markable for the diversified styles and
beauty of their architecture as they are
for the marvellous celebrity with which
they were designed and erected. This
is wherein the Midwinter exposition sur
passes all the exhibitions of an inter
national character ever held anywhere.
1t was conceived, planned and called
into being within few months, where
as the most expeditions of other exposi-
lions required years of planning and
preparation before they were ready for
the reception of visitors.
California had one superlative advan-
tage in the fact that there were gathered
in Chicago thousands of exhibitors who
were willing to take advantage of an op-
portunity to show their products ane pe-
culiarities elsewhere before returning to
their faraway homes. But that advan-
tage was CALIFORNIA; only because she
seized it, and might have Injured to the
benefit of New Y ork or Boston had either
OF those places spoken first.
That California was so quick to seize
the advantage was primarily and almost
entirely due to the foresight and sagacity
of one man, M. Fl. de Young. proprietor
of the San Francisco Chronicle, who was
one of the California members Of the Co.
lumbar national commission and vice
president of that body. He conceived
the idea while attending the Chicago
fair, thought it over for a few hours till
he decided it was feasible, talked it; over
with few Of his fellow commissioners
till they agreed with him and then called
a meeting of prominent Californians in
Chicago and submitted the matter to
them. They all laughed at him at first,
but before he was through talking they
had subscribed $4,000 to the scheme,
and the Midwinter exposition was then
launched.
That was in June last, and the magical
Sunset City has grown up since then in
all its completeness and beauty. Mr.. de
Young is president and director general
Of it's destinies, and the ablest and mott
public spirited of CALIFORNIA; citizens
are united with him in the work. They
have not only seemed to deserve success,
but actually to command it. It will not
be found in any American heart to with
hold from them a need of admiration
and praise.
The bare narration of these facts is
sufficient to show Mr.. de Young's great
executive ability. The history of his pa
per, The Chronicle, gives another illus
tration of it. He and his brother Charles,
both mere boys, in 1865 started a daily
theatrical programme called The ORA
matte Chronicle on a borrowed capital
Of $40. The little sheet was distributed
gratuitously, but the young editors made
it bright and newsy, and before long it
dropped its distinctive dramatic quality
and entered the field of regular journal
ism. Today it is safe to say it pays a
fair income on valuation of $4,000, 900.
Not many people know that Mr.. de
Young is responsible for the huge Manu-
features building at the Columbian ex-
position. It is fact, however, and it il
Illustrates the peculiar bent of his genius.
When the national commission was con-
sidering the plans for the great structures,
it came very near adopting one for the
Manufactures building which devoted a
large space in the center to an open court.
But it was soon found there would not be
near enough room for the exhibits which
| were then assured.
Here was dilemma. What was to
be done Mr.. de Young suggested roof
ing over the central court. Impossible.
The span was too great. He is not fond
of admitting impossibilities and thought
his suggestion perfectly practicable. The
event proved that he was right and gave
to the world the grandest piece Of archi.
lecture it ever saw. The world would
not be worse off IT it had more such
men. Fl. T. WHITE.