The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-08
COM. HANDY ,5 REPORT.


resentation in the Paris Eposition.
Washington, ID. c., Dec. Z. The Pres
ident to-day submitted to Congress the
report of Maj. L. Handy, of Chicago,
Special Commissioner to the Paris In
ternational Exposition, giving the de-
tails of his mission. In his letter of
transmittal the President says the re-
port gives clear and comprehensive
presentation of the situation. The com
missioner recommends that an apprOpri-
alton of $9l9,600 be granted so that n
creditable display on behalf Of the
United States may be made. The Pres
ident, in transmitting the report, says:
Besides securing Il much larger
amount of space than had been reserved
Maj. Handy obtained the gratifying as
surance that the United States will be
placed on footing with the most favor
ed nations, and that in the installation
of every important department the
United States viii have IL location COM
mensurate with the dignity and import
ance of the country and adjoining in
every case countries of the first rank.
In view of the magnitude and import
ance of the approaching exposition, and
of our standing among the nations that
VIII there he represented and in view
also of our increased population and ac-
knoWledged progress in arts. sciences
and manufactures, | earnestly commend
the report of Maj. Handy to your con-
sideration, and trust that a liberal ap-
preparation may be made. Moreover.
the magnificent exhibit of the French
republic Mt Chicago in 1893, on which
Sl,OOO,OO0 wese expended, should be a
strong incentive to reciprOcate literally
on the part Of the government of the
United States"
In his report, Commissioner Handy
| tells how he took measures TO feel the
pulse Of the American people as TO the
| degree OF interest they felt III the cx-
position. by sending out vast number
of circular letters to persons who had
made exhibits ut Chicago or who might
reasonably be supposed to contemplate
making exhibits. In Paris the cOndi-
tiOns were not at first auspicious. Many
of the officials were absent, and those
he did meet told the commissioner how
much they regretted the tardiness SHOWN
by the United States in applying for a
proper place. The fact that the French
government desired the exposition to be
one of selection in which quality rather
Lildu NudulltN SHOuAu Ue regarded, was
impressed upon hm, and the Minister of
Commerce told Mr.. Handy that they
wished to avoid the mere multiplication
of commonplace exhibits. ''Visitors, y
he said, ''are not interested in sardine
boxes and tomato cans, however numer-
Gus or tastefully arranged" However.
in the end, the exposition authorities
gracefully yielded to Mr. Handy's re-
quest that the space to be given to the
United States he enlarged, iuaSmuch as
we were entitled to rs large an allot-
ment as any other nation, and more
than we had in 1850, since the space at
disposal was larger. Mr.. Handy be-
lieyes that in the end we viii be as
signed about 100000 square feet of
space. Already, two years in advance
Of the exposition, he has had applica-
tons by intending exhibitors for 152, 800
feet, or more space than was ever oc-
cupied by the United States in any
foreign exposition. The commissioner
strongly recommends that every intend
ed exhibit be submitted to a critical in
spection by the United States commits
Sioners in order to keep out the COM
mon-place, in view of the great prepara-
tions being made by European nations
to excel in the quality of their EXHIBITS
The report abounds in suggestions look
ing to the adequate representation of
our country at the exposition.