The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-15
NASHVILLE: CENTENSrAr..
A Letter Addressed 20 the Governors
of All the Stntcs.

Nashville. Feb. l14.-This letter has
been sent to all the Governors Of the
United States about the Tennessee Cen
tcnniul.
Every day brlngs;about some evidence
which goes to show that the Genten-
NAL will be the Largest ever held In the
South:
To His lSXceliency;
Dear Sir:-rhe Tennessee Centennial
and International Exposition Company
Is especially desirons of securing an ex-
hibit of the resources, products. histori-
cal relics. etc, Of your Commonwealth
10 be displayed at Our exposition open
ing May l. 1897. and continuing for SIX
months. Our Chief Executive wrote
you recently formally announcing the
fact that the exposition would be held
and Inviting Your Excellency and the
people of yN:ir State to join us In cclc-
braiinS this great event In the history
Of Tennessee. The officials of the expo
sition desire to emphasize this invita-
tion and express the hope tha; your
people VIII accept III its fullest mean
ing.
We respectfully ask each, through
the Legislature c9 your State or some
other agency, provided the Legislature
Will not soon be IN session that the
necessary steps be taken looking to the
erection of a State building and making
such an exhibit ns is indicated above.
Or. if preferable, either by legislation
tr otherwise, theanece&sary funds to
make an exhibit, and In addition to fur
nlsh and decorate a room that could be
used for State headquarters for enter
talning the guests of your State IN q
building contemplated TO be erected
by the Centennial Company to he ueed
exclusively by the. different States re-
spending to the call for n State head
quarters
We are very desirous cr cultivating
closer commercial, relations with the
people of the States in the Union and
you can therefore readily see the mate
rial advantage that would accrue to
your people through the agency of the
said exhibit on your grounds Our
plans are laid on bread lines and we
shall do all in our power to make any
expenditure your people may see proper
one. .st
We take the liberty of addressing YOU
upon this subject, feeling satisfied tina
your patriotic impulses and desire for
the material welfare OF your people will
prompt Il favorable response. Your
own suggestions upon this subject
would BIZ gratefully received. and any
pans submitted would be carefully car
ried out
We had contemplated at first open
ing vui' exposition Sept lst. this year.
put for good and sufficient reasons given
IN the enclosed circular. the opening
mas been postponed until May LIST, 1897,
When as aforesaid the exposition will
continue for six mor'ths. This gives
ample time for every y ssibe prepara-
ton
This is the celebration of an event
that has never before in the history
been observed. to-wit:
The one hnndredth anniversary of
the admission of a State into the Union
ana an event of this character womb
be OF the deepest interest to every
patriot in the nation.
Ana again looking to the rcciprocaI
relations between the States, Tennes
see being only the sixteenth State i'm
the Union. we beg to say that I'm This
way VIII be inauGurated Il hearty co.
operation In the celebration of all lik.
events to occur in the other STATES of
the Union
with all tAis in view our centennial
management cn:crtains the hone thnt
your Legislature or some agency con.
nccted with yaur State will seq nrouo,
To make such appropriations as may
be necessary whereby your State vii,
D" represented and will co-operate with
us in the gre \, work we have undcra
Ken. Trusting To have an early r.DIv#
we remain
Very truly yours.
JOHN w. THOMAS
Prcsndent.
r. G.. LEWIS.
Director General.