Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-18

Figures Prove the Profits to Culture
and Industry.

ana INDUSTRY.
''Have expositions outlived them
selves; is it, in fact, true that it does
not pay to arrange expositions, as j.
frequently claimed" This question
has been answered by the Austrian
commissioner general at a meeting OF
representatives of the Vienna news
papers called for that purpose, says
the Chicago Times-Herald. The
commissioner general gives the fol-
lowing figures:
Of the expositions last year that of
Berlin had 6,750,000 admissions; the
millennium exposition in BUDAPEST
100000; Nuremberg, 100000;
Dresden, 100000, and the EXPOSE
tions in Stuttgart, Geneva and else
where were also we'll attended. The
total admissions to all the expositions
of 1896 footed up 100000. Are
there any other arrangements by
which such gigantic crowds Of people
can be collected upon a limited ter
ritory? The commercial successes of
expositions are also frequently under
estimated, but only because they have
heretofore not been investigated. The
directorate of last years expositions
in Nuremberg was the first to make
an attempt in this regard. The ex-
hibitors consented to have their books
examined, and it was found that in
the exposition buildings during the
fair, 1000 sales, with total of $780,
900, were made, and $500 orders,
with a total Of $375,000. These are
surprising figures if it is considered
that the Nuremberg exposition was
limited to Bavarian exhibitors only.
Figures which are just as in
structive are shown by the statistics
of American imports before and after
the worlds fair in Chicago. In this
import in 1880 England participated
with 81 per cent, France with 10 per
cent. and Germany with Z per cent;
in 1896 England with 81, France
with and Germany with IL per cent.
German industry was represented at
the Chicago exposition in an impos-
ing manner, and the figures given
show the results.
But expositions should not be
treated lightly from other points of
view. Since when does japanese and
Chinese art exercise so great an in
fuence upon industrial art? Since
the Vienna exposition, the first which
introduced eastern Asia to the public.
To what fact does the South Kensing-
ton museum in London, this mother
institution of all industrial museums
in the world, owe its origin? To the
London exposition of 1851. And
thus it can be shown by nearly
every great exposition that it marked
progress upon the field of culture and
industry.
What the next international expo
sition in Paris, in which all 81 nations
of the earth will participate, will
achieve in this direction of course no.
body can even imagine at this time.
But one thing is settled: Owing to
its admirable arrangement it will be
more comprehensive and therefore
more instructive than all prior worlds
fairs. The Paris system, as is known,
arranges for groups and not for states
in the exhibits. The whole field or
work of mankind, so far as it can be
brought to expression,
is divided into Is groups; each one of
these groups will have building by
itself and in this building all nations
exhibit the work Of that particular
group, so that in reality there will be
Is international expositions. A very
welcome innovation to Paris exhibit |
ors will be that they not only will not |
have to pay any space rent, but they
will also be furnished motive power
free of charge. The French are able
to do this, for they are not only rich,
but also very wise.