The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-26
AN EXPOSITION OF AMERICAN
MANUFACTURES

a year before that in Paris. Some people
hereabout will probably wonder, also, why
Congress should keep making appropria-
tons for expositions at Omaha, Philadel-
phia and so on, when it is too poor to erect
much-needed public building in this city.
The exposition business has been overdone,
and the practice of making appropriations
for them is liable to grow into an abuse, if
it has not already. The Philadelphia bill
had a close call in the House. 1t originated
in the Senate and passed that body at the
last session by a unanimous vote. cam
vass by its friends showed that a large ma
jority of the members would vote for it, but
the Philadelphia members wanted it taken
up out Of its order. and this required a two
thirds vote. On this motion it CHANGED that
four Pennsylvania members were absent,
but they were paired with four opponents
Of the measure. The bill was taken up by
a bare two-thirds vote, but if the eight MEM
bers not voting had taken part in the divi-
sion the bill would have failed for lack of
the two-thirds vote required The bill now
goes to the President for his approval
As already indicated, the Journal is OPP
posed to the government becoming regu-
lar supporter of expositions but the one to
be held in Philadelphia is an enterprise of
national interest. It's object is to promote
American manufactures and foreign trade,
and it will be conducted more as a business
undertaking than as a sightseeing affair.
1t originated with the Philadelphia Iu-
scum, an association organized few years
ago for the purpose of collecting and dis
seminating information of value to Amer
lean farmers, merchants and manufacture
ers in enabling them to control the home
markets and acquire foreign ones BY COM
municating with consular and diplomatic
officers in all parts of the world the associa-
tion has already done considerable work on
the line indicated. In appreciation of what
it has done the city of Philadelphia has do
mated valuable tract of land on which to
erect permanent buildings, and the State of
Pennsylvania has appropriated $4,000 and
the city of Philadelphia 100000 towards the
erection of an exposition building for the
holding of continuing annual exhibits of
American products adapted for export 1t
will be seen, therefore. that the enterprise
is more, national than local in character,
since it aims at establishing permanent OK
hibit of American products of all kinds and
from all parts of the country for which
there is or may be a foreign demand. The
bill also provides that there may be adj
mtted to said exposition such articles not
of American manufacture and such other
objects as may conduce to the interest of
the exposition and may be useful for COM
parison with American products and manu-
features" The bill further provides:
That for the purpose of enabling the col
lection in foreign markets of samples of
merchandise, of the character In favor and
demand therein. of illustrating the manner
in which merchandise for such markets
should be prepared and packed, together
with necessary business data concerning said
samples to be displayed at the said EXPOSE
ton for the instruction and benefit OF Amer
lean manufacturers and merchants, and
thereby laying the foundation of a great
system of national commercial education
there is hereby appropriated out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise appro-
priated to the board of trustees of the Phila-
delphia Museum the sum of $4,000; and TO
aid in providing buildings necessary for the
purposes of the exposition. and for the pur-
pose of collecting, installing and caring for
eminent as may be found eXpedient and
desirable, there is hereby appropriated out
of any money not otherwise appropriated the
sum of 100000.
PvNVfNvS
priated shall not become available until the
managers of the proposed exposition shall
have secured an equal amount by subscrip-
ton, donation or appropriation from other
sources OF the amount thus TO be raised
$4,000 is Immediately available from an APP
preparation made by the State of Pennsyl-
vania, and 100000 is expected to be realized
from a loan authorized by the city, but now
held up by litigation. This will leave $4,000
to be raised by popular subscription, and the
raising of this amount is said to be already
assured. The exposition is to open in Sep
tember 1899.
The movement is of general interest as
illustrating the intelligent efforts that are
being made to introduce American manu-
features into foreign markets. 1t means,
first, the organization of bureau for the
collection and dissemination of information of
practical value to American manufacturers,
and, second, the establishment of perma-
nent exposition of the manufactures of this
and other countries, which will be open at
all times for the reception of exhibits and
for exhibitors and visitors. AS the exposi-
ton will be confined to manufactured prod
ucts and manufacturing and shipping pro-
cesses, to the entire exclusion of works of
art, curiosities, literature, etc, it will APP
peal exclusively to business men, but for
them it will be an object lesson of great in
terest. 1t will be the first attempt in any
country to establish a continuing EXPOSE
ton of this kind. and should enlist the CO.
operation and patronage of all American
manufacturers.