Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19

to the boundless possibilities of the west
and in building up it's interests. He was
followed by II. G. Whitmore, George q.
Cannon of Utah and Howell Jones of Kan
sas. Not a voice was raised against the
resolution and when it was adopted by a
rising vote the delegates united in a volley
of cheers and hand clippings that continued
for several minutes.
Nothing could be more gratifying than
the enthusiastic unanimity with which the
project had been approved by the trans
mississippi delegates, and with this favor
able beginning the citizens of Omaha were
encouraged to go forward. The TranSmissis-
sippi and international Exposition associa-
ton was formally organized at a meeting
held at the Commercial club rooms on the
evening of January IS. u. T. Lindsey was
made chairman and Judge l.. III. Bradley
presented the articles of incorporation which
had been previously drawn up. They fixed
the capital stock at 81, 600, 900 in shares of
$40 each and the association was authorized
to transact business as soon as SIC, 900 had
been subscribed. A board of eleven directors
was provided for and also twenty-five vice
presidents, of whom one should be from
Omaha and one from each of the twenty-four
transmississippi states.
ORIGINAL STOCK SUBSCRIBERS.
On the suggestion of Mr.. Rosewater, who
commended that ninety days Was too short a
time in which to hold such an exposition as
was contemplated, the articles were amended
to provide that the exposition should be
opened in June and closed in November,
1898. They were adopted as amended and
the necessary subscriptions Of stock were
Immediately taken. These original subscrip-
lions were: e.. Rosewater, $500; w. j. Con-
nell, $500; ]. II. Evans, $500; Dan Farrell,
jr., $500; observation-disclosures Hardware
company, $500; W.. r. Bennett, $500; j. Z.
Markell, $500; Thompson, Belden G. Co., $500;
william hrug, $500; Oscar Pickard, $500;
Metz Bros, Brewing company, $500; Frank
II. Hibbard, $500; Dudley Smith, $500; Kel-
ley, Stiger &c Co., $500; John A. Weaver,
$500; A. Clemens, $500; G. S. Amber, $500;
q. 7. Lindsey, $3.50; Lyman Richardson, $3.50;
c. S. Montgomery. 5000; l., II. Bradley, 5000;
I. w. Carpenter, R. w. Richardson, w. II,
Robertson, George n. Hicks, NJ. II. DeLong,
Euclid Martin, j. j. Gibson, j. e. UT, Helm
G Thompson, w. C. Bullard, o. c.. Holmes,
and Fisher G Lawrie, G. w. Wattles, j. A.
Wakefield, G. II. Payne, G. A. Rathburn and
l. E. Burdick, $50 each; total, s10,65o.
The stockholders then met and elected
the board of directors, consisting of II. A.
Thompson, j. L. Markell. ]. II. Evans, G.
w. Wattles, G. H.. Payne, C. S. Montgomery,
w. r. Bennett, /. w. Carpenter, Dan Far
rell, jr., Dudley Smith and Charles Metz.
A committee, consisting of q. T. Lindsey,
w. Il. Bennett. Charles Metz, /. w. Carpen-
ter and C.. G. Belden, was appointed to So
licit further subscriptions for stock.
The board OF directors met at the Millard
hotel on the following Monday and elected
as officers G.. w. Wattles, president; j. f..
Markell, vice president; and John A. Wake
field, secretary.
MANY WERE DOUBTFUL.
The next step which confronted the pro-
moters OF the enterprise was the necessity
OF securing congressional recognition. Even
at this time there were many usually public
spirited citizens who were disposed to re-
gard the scheme as visionary. They said
that not until a bill making an appropria-
tion for the exposition had really passed
congress could Omaha hope to carry II to
completion. Tho difficulty Of getting a con-
gressional appropriation in this year of
economy. when congress was disposed TO cut
down all appropriations to the lowest posi-
Bile MINIMUM, was conceded, but the asso-
citation and IT'S supporters believed that 1t
could be accomplished by united and con-
tinued effort, and events have justified their
confidence.
A bill had already been introduced by
Senator Allen on January 3, which had been
referred to tho special committee on inter-
national expositions, OF which Senator
Thurston was chairman. II provided for the
necessary recognition of the exposition by
the government. tho admission OF foreign
exhibits free OF duty, and for a government
exhibit OF material from the Smithsonian
the United States Fish commission,
the National museum and the various execu-
two departments. At the time OF intro
auction the amount that Was TO be con-
utbuted by the government was left blank, |
an expenditure of 500, 900 MAS author |