Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-01-25
EXPOSITION coMsrssioNtRs' REPORT.

EXPOSITION cOMsrssIoNhRS' REPORT.
Trials and financial fluctuations Exp.r-
fenced BY the Board 10 It's WORK.
The New Mexico commission Of the
Trans Mississippi exposition has made
Its report to Governor Oter0, and the
following Ia q synopsis OF the amt The
commissioners were appointed by the
governor April "a, 1897, under ciapter
81 Of the laws Of 1897 and at the time
Of organization, the commission con-
sisted OF ex. Governor l. b. Prince. OF
Santa Fe; j. I. Mclaughlin, OF San
Pedro; John Morrow. OF X ,ton; ". ).
Bopewell. Of Hill iboro; ". IA II Llewcllyn,
OF Las Cruces; j. j. LeesoU. OF SOcOrrO;
y. II. Day, OF Santa Fe; r. ]. Cufran. OF
subsequently Msjor Lie sellyn resigned
ami Louis H0stetter, OF Las Cruces, was
appointed In his place. Ex Governor
secretary, aud 3. III. Day treasurer. 10
the last eighteen months the mem
bers OF the commission attended many
meetings nj Albuquerque and Santa Fe,
paying their own expenses because OF the
ctutCtty VI tttt ttDt tuuuN uHIfttf ihNfl
for the purpose. and the praiseworthy de-
donnd with credit TO New Mexico. The
financial difficulties under which the
commission we're laboring may be the
better appreciated when 1t Is known that
this commission had not half AZ many
hundred dollars az Its disposal a. the
Worlds fair commission had thousands.
H.. .al. nxeup...t. .asI A. ..w
son In connection with the exhibit was
that allowed To the executive commits.
sioner, 30 that he might devote his whole
time 10 the collection and transportation
OF exhibits to Omaha and remain there In
charge throughout the exposition season.
The amount allowed him was barely suf-
ncient 10 cover his actual expenses.
Commissioner Lesson was unanimously
chosen TO the position OF manager. He
began his duties March 10, 1868, and con
tinued In charge until the return OF all
the exhibits ~ their owners. The board
In their report say that "the ability and
efficiency manifested by him during the
entire exposition are recognized through
out tho whole territory. and call for the
hearty thanks OF the commission"
The legislature appropriated $1,000
from the territorial funds, aud half the
balance Of the exposition fund amounting
to t4s5. The legislature gave the differ
ent counties permission 10 appropriate
funds In aid OF the exposition commits
sion, and II was hoped that considerable
would be realized from this source; but
not q dollar was received. although ap-
peals were made several times TO the
county boards, and an earnest request
was made to them by the governor. This
failure 70 respond was owing to the
shof tend condition OF the finances OF the
various counties. The Santa Fe county
commissioners were the only oDes who
made an appropriation, and that WAS ex-
pended locally In securing q mineral ex.
hibit from that county.
The exposition authorities asked that
two ladies In each trans Mississippi state
aud territory be designated whose photo
graphs might bs used In preparing a
composite typical head TO be used oil Off
cial medals, The selection was by ballot,
and the voting contest realized $122.2 20
The ladies thus selected we're Mrs. NJ. A.
0tero. wife OF the governor. and Mrs. Sol.
onion Luna, Of Los Lunas. The total
sum from oil these sources aggregated
but ti,556, which was inadequate to meet
the expenses Of the most economical ex
hibit. Much difficulty was experienced
In securing the necessary space for ex-
hibits owing to the charge per square
foot. and II the regular rates had been
insisted on all the funds at hand would
have been exhausted for this alone. The
santa Re and the Rio Grande roads gen.
erously carried the exhibits free ~ far AZ
Kansas City. Thus the freight on the
Pecos valley exhibits was $142, and each
car from Kansas City TO Omaha cost over
$55. The fresh fruit from the Horticul.
tural fair had 70 be sent by express In
order TO arrive In good order, at consider
able expense.
Notwithstanding the cramped finances,
the display made ct the exposition was
very cfeditable. and all New Mexicsns
who visited Omaha expressed themselves
a. highly grstiHed that the territory was
no we'll represented. The number Of pre-
miums awarded to the New Mexico ex.
hibitors was larger in proportion to the
number OF exhibits, than In any other
state or territory. The board reports that
the small amount appropriated was in
sufficient TO meet the necessary expenses
OF the board. The total expenses we're
t2,352; the total receipts 1851, leaving
u deficit OF $795. The greater part OF
this deficiency was advanced personally
BY Commissioner Lesson to keep the ex-
hibits In proper condition and return
them to their owners. and the Legislature
Is asked TO appropriate enough to meet
this obligation. The thanks OF the COM
mission are especially due TO the gov
ernor for his active and uninterrupted
interest. TO Secretary Wallace for his
valuable assistance, and to President
Wattles, Of the Omaha exposition, for his
consideration, to the press OF the terri
tory. to the railroad companies and 10
others who assisted.