Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-08
THE PARIS EXPOSITION
Report of Major Handy, the Special Com
missioner.
Opportunity of the United States tn
8ress Of the Country,

Il y.
cial commissioner appointed to gather in
formation for Cor gress regarding the Paris
exposition Of 19OO tells how he took meas
ures to feel the pulse Of the American
people, as to the degree of interest they
felt In the exposition. by sending out
vast number of circular letters to per-
sons who had made exhibits at Chi
caSo or who might reasonably be sup
posed to contemplate making exhibits. In
faris the conditions were not at first aus
pclous, many Of the officials Were absent
ana those he did meet told the commits
sioner how much they regretted the tardi-
ness shown by the United States in apply-
ing Tor proper place. The fact that the
french government desired the exposition
10 De one OF selection. in which quality
father than quantity should be regarded.
was impressed upon him. and the minister
OF commerce tol6 Mr.. Handy that they
w.sneo 10 avoid the mere multiplication of
commonplace exhibits.
visitors he said, ARE not interested I'm
sardlne boxes and tomato cans however
numerous or tastefully arranged" How
ever. IN the end the exposition authorities
graciously yielded to Mr.. Handy's request
that the space to be given to the United
States be enlarged, inasmuch as we were
entitled to as large an allotment as any
other nation, and more than we had in
1879, as the space at disposal was larger.
The original allotment of space was 1851
square feet. AS result of further nego-
tiatlons the allotment was increased in
various groups so as to make the total of
space absolutely allotted IA. 4O3 square
feet.
Our Unequnlcd Progress.
In his report, Maj. Handy says:
THE Industrial progress of the United
States and the evolution of its material re-
sources during the hundred years which
the exposition is to crown, has been I'M
equaled by that Of any other nation 1t is
not LOO much to say that the United States
now stands the greatest nation of the
world in all the great lines of industry
according to the figures given by the emf
nent statistician Mulhall in his Industries
and wealth of Nations the United States
leads in agriculture, with products greater
than Russia and the United Kingdom COM
hlned; Ill the manufactures with product
of greater value than the aggregate output
or the factories of the United Kingdom,
france, Austria-Hungary and Belgium
combined; in machinery with a greater
steam power than the United Kingdom,
Australia Hungary and Italy combined; in
mining with a product greater than the
United Kingdom and France combined, or
nearly one-third of that of the entire
world: in railway transportation with a
mileage 40 per cent greater than that of all
Europe; in forestry with products greater
than that of all Europe. and nearly one
half of the total products of the world; in
United Kingdom, Russia and Germany
combined.
Americas Opportunity.
Few Americans realize the pre-eminence
Of America. Foreigners know 1t less. Never
has there been a better opportunity to
show it to the world than Is presented by
the universal exposition of 1900. The proof
Of our superiority means not only tie mar
kets of France for our products but those
of all Europe and that of Central and
South America. For all Europe and all the
Americas will atter.d this exposition In
fact. Paris will be the Mecca of all the peo-
Piles of all the nations in 1900. A creditable
exhibit will mean not only the Offering of
proof to the world of American greatness.
an object which should suffice to stir the
patriotism of every American heart but
will also be followed by an extension of
American export trade which will mean
increased employment for all engaged in
manufacturing, agriculture aad other IT,
dustries. These advantages have been
dwelt Upon at length In the appendix to
this report and to the remarks therein
made on this subject respectfully call at
tention.
an recommending that $4,000 be ap-
propriated by the United States for the eX-
penses of a proper representation of the
products of our industry and the natural
resources of the country. / have Eeen care
full not to propose any expenditure not
fully justified by knowledge ard experience.
In the past the United States has suffered
because of insufficient appropriations for
all international expositions except our
own. These appropriations were less than
they should have been, largely because the
law-making power was not in possession of
information as to what was necessary to
be done in order that We might be ade-
quately represented.
ernments which have been liberal in pro-
visions for participation in international
eXpositionS has been so encouraging that
almost without exception they will spend
largely more for representation at Paris in
1900 than ever before.
Importance of the Exposition.
1.-The exposition Of 1889 more than any
other ever held opened the eyes of the
world to the practical value of such con-
tests for supremacy in the arts of peace.
That the great governments of the world
took the lesson to heart was shown at the
worlds Columbian exposition of 1893, when
those officially represented therein expend-
ed on their exhibits from two to eleven
times the amount reported to have been
previously spent by them, respectively, in
1852 Germany, which was not officially
represented in Paris in 1859, spent $75OOOO
in their organization. display and admins
tration of their particular exhibit at Chi
cago, while the exhibit of France in the ex-
position of 1893 cost the French govern
I'm 1900 we may expect that not only
France. but every other country will meet
the United States at Paris with such DEM
oLstration as was never thought of before.
Germany has been at work for more than
two years already, and the word has gone
forth that no trouble or expense is to be
spared in making her exhibit the best
Russia will make display in which
money will not be considered. Austria
Hungary and Belgium will make every ef-
fort to keep in the front rank without re-
gard to what the cost may be. .
AT every international exposition on for
eign soil the United States has presented
some things worth seeing and taken a
liberal proportion of recompense What
then may not be expected if fNf once we
present ourselves at an International ex-
position with a well-selected, thoroughly
organized, well administered and truly rep
resentative exhibit? Why not take the place
to which We are entitled by our resources
our skill. our industry. our progress and
our achievements on every field OH which
the nations of the earth may enter into