The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-25
PALACE OF SILVER.
Plan to Use the Bullion in the
Treasury.
Plates of the Metal for Building
Would Have Grand Musical Fete
TO Open the Twentieth Century and
Attract Millions of People to New
York.

Five thousand American citizens
within the coming week will receive Cir
cuiars asking them to cooperate with
Robert Flaherty of 800 Broadway, this
CITY. in a grand, dazzling scheme to
erect. somewhere in New York, a silver
palace. to be constructed of the silver
bullion in the United States Treasury,
In which a musical exhibition and fest1-
val may be held in 1900 to celebrate the
opening of the twentieth century.
Mr. Flaherty believes that such
building constructed of such material
would pass into history as one of the
wonders of the world. The circular
which he proposes to distribute broad
cast is, in part, as follows:
In all ages, large cities have held as
semblies for festivity and instruction
OF the people, and lately great exhibit
lions have been much in vogue. In .ool
London commenced with the Crystal
Palace; Paris followed, in 1850; London
again. in 1862; Paris in 1861; Vienna IN
1875. In 1876 our neighbor, Philadel-
phia had its fair, in cOmmemorat1on OF
our centennial year. The seventh eA-
position was held in Paris in 1913; the
SlSnIn was also He1Q III dI IL, III
The largest and greatest of these talrs
was held in Chicago in 1890, ana at
tracted nearly 10000, 900 visitors,
greatly to the profit of all kinds OF bus
iness in Chicago, it being estimated
that over $500, 1000, 900 was expended by
the people on account of the World
Fair.
New York has never had fair worth
mentioning and if this project is car
ried to a successful termination it Will
make much profit for all classes of bust
ness in New York in the year 19OO, and
add greatly to the instruction anQ
pleasure of our citizens and of the World
as well, and celebrate the opening Oh the
twentieth century by a magnificent dlS-
play of all the best musical talent Oh the
age.
This project is UNIQUE and original
These qualities will attract the atten'
ton of the world and make it more eel
ebrated than any exhibition heretofore
held
The Government of the United States
has in the vaults of its Trasury over
10000 tons of silver in coin and bullion
It is possible to get authority from Con-
greSs to use this metal and cast II into
plates, or other desirable shapes, ana
build OF it the most magnificent hall o.
palace this world has ever seen, the de-
sign to be open to competition to all ar
chitects of the world. In this hall (Which
would seat go, 900 to 100000 people) the
exhibition would be held. There could
be no loss from the use of the metal, as
the work of casting the silver could all
be done under the control OF the MINI
and guarded from loss by theft at all
times by a regiment of United states
troops; S427, 000, 600 in silver dollars
were coined since 1892, and S3Io, OOO,Uoe
are still in the treasury. The cost OF
casting the 10000 tons of silver would
not be great AS the silver is to be used
for the delight of the people, Congress
will hardly refuse its use. 1t is as good
security for the certificates-issued as
money against it-built into palace as
it is stored in vaults of the treasury, and
the people can enjoy it.
Congress gave Chicago S2,3OO,OOO IN
Columbian coinage. 1t could not con-
slstently refuse New York the use OF the
silver now in storage.
It is expected that the preliminary
cost will be betrayed by contributions
from the different business concerns
that will be benefited by the exhibition
the public, and advance sale of seats
The city would undoubtedly grant US
the use of a part of one Of the parks for
site.
The revenue from admissions, sale OF
privileges, etc. will greatly exceed any
possible expenditure
A palace Of silver worth S4O0,OOOOOo
will attract great many people from
all parts of the world.
If this matter could be handled with
like spirit and enthusiasm to that dis
played by the men of Chicago in hand
ling the Worlds Fair, it ought to bring
an expenditure of at least 500. GOO, O0O
among the various interests in our city
and to make it the grand success desired
it can only be done by the cooperation
of all our leading citizens.
Mr. Flaherty was enthusiastic yester-
day when reporter for the New York
Times questioned him about his
scheme.
II am sending these circulars" he
said. ito President Cleveland, Senator
Hill, Governor Morton, Mayor Strong
Thomas A. Edison, Chauncey NJ. DepeW
and all the other eminent citizens of this
country to the number of 5000. l an
certain many of them viii consider the
proposition favorably, and as soon as
get a few good Endorsements / will cal
a meeting to organize and elect a BoarC
of Management to take the affair in
hand and push it through Congress"
as this plan all your own?" asked
the reporter
ut is entirely my own conception, >
said Mr.. Flaherty, proudly.
How did you come to think of it?"
1T occurred to me while preparations
were under way for the Worlds Fair al
Chicago. ] saw there was not an origi-
nal idea put into execution there The
United States Treasury was being load
ed up with silver, and I wrote to Assist
ant Secretary of the Treasury A 3
Nettleton proposing that the surplus
silver bullion be melted and cast into
plates for a silver palace at Chicago
The letter was published, and received
letters from all parts Of the Union com
mending my proposition. It was not
acted upon, however. Now there is
nothing in sight for the celebration Of
the beginning of the next century in
New York, and I thought I would re-
yive my silver palace scheme and
Spring it upon the public"
Where would you place the paIace?'
''In park Bronx Park or Contra
Park would be good localities for suc1
a building, but better still would ot
Governors Island Enough silver
could be taken from the Treasury Il
build a structure 600 feet long. 400 fee
wide, and 80 feet high, by casting i
on steel staging. Whether alloy would
be required would rest with the Mini
people
Persons with whom I have talked
say there is no question but that the