The times., 1898-11-14
COMMISSIONER peck HERE
Will Report to the President
on His Work in Paris.
IMPORTANT CONCESSIONS
After Much Trouble He Has Sue
ceedcd In Securing Greater Space
for American Exhibits at the Ex-
position United states Allotted
tion-M. CnmbOn's Aid.

Ferdinand W. Peck. commissioner gem
eraI of the American Government to the
Paris Exposition of 1900. arrived here
early last evening and is registered at
the Arlington. He was accompanied only
by Paul Blackmar, although his wife,
daughter. sons and the members OF MS
staf were among the party which landed
at New York from the American Liner
st. Louis on Saturday, after two months
in Paris.
Commissioner Peck lost no time in
catching an early train to this city yes
terday. as he is desirous of making an
carly report to the President. He Is
r,ratified at the results which have st
tended his efforts 10 secure more space
for American exhibitors at the EXPOSE
ton. He said last night that the space
which was originally allotted for Ameri-
can exhibits had been increased by more
than 10000 square feet
when we reached Paris he said, "the
situation was most discouraging, and we
were officially informed in definite terms
that the final alIotments TO all nations
had been made, and that the United
States had its full proportion. anu no
more space within or outside of buildings
could be given; that we We're too late in
asking for a site for 4 national building.
as the entire area that could be devoted
to foreign pavilions, which was upon the
Seine, had been disposed of and the plans
of the buildings of other nations had
been submitted, and no readjustment of
the area could be made.
This was the situation for about a
month. During that period many iniiu-
ences were brougaI TO bear, and the ar
rival of Ambassador Cambon from the
United States. together with the return
of Delaunay- -Belleville in charge of for
eign space, a man Of great ability and a
practical exposition man. brought about u
change which resulted in concession after
concession, until We had obtained an in
crease in exhibit space of 1900 square
feet tan addition of over % per cent?, be
sides every other grant We had under
taken to secure.
THE United States now has N area
in excess Of any foreign nation. a site
for our national building was assigned
equal In location and size to that granted
Great Britain or Germany, countries
which have the largest areas for theiI
buildings for a similar purpose, and spec
ial facilities were accorded Us In con-
nection Herewith. We also secr-ed a
site for an agricultural pavilion adjoining
the main agricultural building.
"A most valuable space of about six
teen thousand square feet, in the heart
of the Exposition grounds, adjoining the
Manufacturers Building. has been grant
ed. likewise an annex space for forestry.
contiguous to the Forestry Building. 3,OJl
f@ar n al in frar
tation and an annex to this department
of 5000 square feet for the United States
Weather Bureau and special exhibits
I'VE also asked for a place for repre-
sentation among the colonies exhibits,
which we finally obtained, though much
explanation was required to convinve the
officials that the United States belonged
in the category of nations possessing col
onies.
Besides these specific allotments, we
have secured a special concession for the
operation of an American passenger train;
facilities for the exhibition OF our life
saving service; also for field trials of ag-
ricultural and other machinery. and va
rious minor concessions. All of this space
is in the main exposition grounds, in the
heart of the city of Paris. We shall have
in addition our full proportion in the an
mex at Vincennes, which will be a mos;
important part Oh lHe exposition. DclHE
beautifully located and accessible Large
numbers of people will be attracted by
these international athletic sports on land
and water. These will be made a prom
inent feature.
I'VE, of course. gave much considera-
ton to the site for the proposed Lafayett,
Monument, and finally concluded to asl
for place in the historic Garden of tbs
Tuileries. upon the axis of the unrivalet
vista which extends from the Louvre tt
the Arc de Triomphe. The outgoing prim,
minister, NJ. Brisson, agreed to recon
mend this site to the new ministry. Th
Tuileries is controlled by the state. I
would have been much easier to obtain
spot elsewhere in Paris from the munici
pality.
mo foreign nation has yet allotted Il
exhibitors any space Commissioners o
all of them are greatly dissatisfied Will
the delay In securing the official diagrams
which are necessary in order to assign
space yet the members of our staff hav-
obtained in their various departments
greater part of the drawing for tn,
United States sections. and in this as wei
as in many other respects We have re
ceived exceptional consideration.
I'VE realized that the Importance of ou
country in the eyes of the world woult
prove powerful factor in the situation
and We have endeavored to use this fac
TO the full extent in connection with VIVA
we have accomplished. and it is to tn
greatness of our country and its presen
standing that most of the credit is du