The times., 1897-09-27
THE FRENCH EXPOSITION
Seine Americans Have Already
Filed applications for Space.
RAPID INCREASE OF INTEREST
Special Commissioner Handy Says
tie American Exhibit at the Great
Fair of 1900 win BE worthy OF
tile Country Expects "A Generous
appropriation by Congress.

Paris, Sept. 20. The interest Of Ameri
cans in the great French exposition OF
1909 is being demonstrated this early by
the fact bat applications have heen filed
for space from Americans residing in
Paris The special American commission
er, Major Moses p. Handy, has been quite
busy since his arrival here. Major Handy
is assisted by Lieut.. Raker, formerly of
the foreign transportation department of
the Columbian Exposition, and by the
secretary ii tie commission, Col. ChanIet
Long.
The special commissioner has published
Statement of progress up 10 date, from
which the following extracts are made:
There is a rapidly increasing interest
I'm America with regard ia the exhibition
of 1900. There never has been any doubt
about the people taxing hold of it with
enthusiasm. Eut public attention was SO
enrrussed with the Presidential election,
with an extra SeSSiuII of Congress, with
the tariff question, etc, that there was no
time to devote TO the exhibition. Presi-
dent Mckinley is very much interested
in il, ard sent two messages TO Congress
concerning ia. The reason why the bill
apprppris ting S5.OOO,0O0 passed by the
Senate. did not 80 through the House is
because nothing went through. 1t was
thought best not 10 open the door for the
consideration o. any question except that
for Nnich Congress was called together,
because there We're 50 many meritorious
subjects pressing.
Meanwhile American interest in the
exhibition is shown 10y the appointment
OF a special commissioner. I am charged
TO confer with The authorities here. TO give
an earnest OF their good viii, TO secure
ground for om exhibit, and TO prepare A
report for President Mckinley hefoTe Con
gress assemblies. Though We are late, as
compared with other nations, we are
eighteen months earlier than we Were FOR
either the exhibitions OF 1873 OF Of 1853.
For the latter, however, a good deal OF
valuable work was done by our secretary
Of legation, NJ. Vignaud.
i have had personal communication
with the managers OF the larger interests,
such as the bicycle trade, electrical con-
Germs, the furniture trade and such Ike.
Men Ike President Depew, OF the New
York Central President Thomson, OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad, and George NJ.
Pullman, OF the Pullman Palace Car Com
pany, have given me personal assurance
OF their cooperation i have had over
lures from the managers of representa-
tive trades tits better 10 deal with them
IN q classified way
The classification made by the French
authorities j. c2Cellent. II is an improve
ment on all preceding exhibitions. l no
tice that, with great propnety, education
is placed first on the list, and art also
holds 4 high place. In these two depart
ments America has some surprises. / am
In consultation with the leading educators
OF our country, with a view TO securing d
consensus Of opinion, SO as TO form the
best plat FOR showing the world what we
are doing in the field of education. In
ali international exhibitions we have
taken a very high place ID matters educa-
tional, and { think we can do even better
the next time. In the domain Of art We
have never been adequately represented.
] hope 80 secure Il better position for
the displ sy OF the work Of American artists
than they had in 1889. Then the visitors
had 10 go a long distance, with Jaded
sppetites and tired legs, to an upstairs
room before they could get Il look at
what we had TO offer in comparison with
other nations.
cur ambassador, Gen. Porter, who was
unavoidably absent from Paris When
reached there, left most cordial note Of
welcome for me. ] am quite sure I shall
have the benefit OF his priced assistance
a. ell rs that OF the consul general.
hope during my stay here 10 meet the
commissioners Of other countries who may
be II Paris. = expect TO be here two
months and WI be nome in time to present
my report 10 the President before the open
ing of Congress.
"Sinee I have come here, short as it
is, have received many applications for
space from resident Americans. one ap-
pIication received was foI the reproduction
OF the process OF gold mining from day
30 day
i am IN great hope that tie work !
set On foot in Chicago and New York
VIII hiring a fun response, 50 as to enable
us to 5udgc as to space. The Impression
at present is that we can fill credItably
600, 600 square feet. The is no reason
why we should have less than any other