The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-21
United States Commissioner Peck
Returns From Paris.
Accomplished Much During His Stay for
the American Exhibit.
Has Nothing But Good Words to
Say for the French Officials in
Charge of the Fair, Who Ex-
tended Every Courtesy to the
American Commissioner.

NEW YORK, May 20. Ferd. w.
Peck, United States Commissioner to
the Paris Exposition of 1900, reached
New York on the American steamer st.
Louis to-day. He was accompanied by
Mrs. Peck and j. H. McGibbons, Dr.
rector of Exploitation, and his staff
Mr.. Peck said:
During my brief staff in Paris much
was accomplished for our American
exhibition in 1900. This is the forma-
tive period of our task. The plans OF
all the United States buildings have
been approved by the French authori-
ties, though many changes were made
in them to conform to the require
ments of the French Government and
to meet the limitations of our appro-
priation. Work upon these buildings
will begin Immediately. There will be
five buildings in the main grounds and
two in the Bots de VincinneS, the
annex to the Exposition, which will
be made the most important of the
whole. Our pavilion will be the only
expensive building we will construct.
This Will be ON the banks of the Seine.
alongside of the structures of about
thirty other nations with Austria on
one side and Turkey on the other. The
other buildings will be annexed on the
main structures built by the French
Administration and will be for exhibit
purposes only.
These will include annexes to the
main agricultural building, adjoining
the American section, an annex to the
manufacturers buildings in the Quin
cences. an addition to the forestry
buildings, and also one to the merchant
marine building, where water trans
portation models will be exhibited with
our Weather Bureau.
AT Vincennes we will build struc
ture for American machinery in opera
ton. We will divide with the French
Exposition the cost of the. building for
railroad exhibits and for automobiles.
We have secured a site upon which our
bicycle manufacturers will erect q
beautiful structure.
The Bots de Vincennes is about six
miles from the main grounds and Will
be very accessible by railroads and by
the Seine, connecting with a tramway
for one mile, which latter route will be
known as the American route, the
boats and cars carrying the American
flag. I believe a very large proportion
of the visitors to the exposition will
GO to Vincennes, as it will be made
prominent and most attractive, and the
trip, especially the river route, will be
delightful
I'VE secured over 10000 square feet
at Vincennes, far beyond our expecta-
tons. We also added to our agr-icultu-
raj space and 20 per cent to our wall
area for fine arts. besides obtaining the
privilege of exhibiting sculpture
throughout all of our sections. By the
courtesy of Germany and Switzerland
we added considerably to our mining
section.
m. Picard, the French Commission
err authorized me at our final interview
on Friday, the 18th, to state that
everything would be ready ahead of
time, and that, in some buildings, in
stallations could be made next August
The iron structural work of all build
ings is practically in place."
Did you find the French officials cor
dial in your relations with them?"
''They could not have been more so,
from M. Poulet, who is a charming
and able man and most friendly to our
nation, to the architects and subor-
dinates of the exposition mana cement.
This was illustrated in the incident of
M. Picard, the head of the exposition.
being personally present when the site
Of the United States building was
formally turned over to us. He had
not honored any similar occasion be-
fore, though most of the foreign ma
tons have secured their sites
1.-THE new Minister of Commerce, who
is at the head of the governmental de-
partment representing the republic in
its relations to the exposition, was
most friendly and showed every consid-
Grafton for our wants. M. de Launey-
Belleville. the director of exploitation,
is the practical man of the exposition.
He is most able, prompt and fair, and
his courage and ready decisions remind
US constantly of the methods of the
typical American business man. He
has to deal with the representatives OF
ffty-one nations and must often say
No. but always with adequate reason.
One of the most helpful to US of the
officials was M. KrantZ, who was the
French Commissioner to our Columbian
Exposition in 1893, since which time he
has been in Paris He was appointed
Minister of Public Works last fall
had an appointment with him ten days
ago, from which he was suddenly sum
to the session of the Chamber OF
Deputies, and to his great surprise he
was made Minister of War a few min
utes later I believe he will restore en-
tire confidence in the French War De-
partment, and that M. Krantz will
prove the coming man of France
Mr.. Peck said regarding the EXPOSE
ton work on this side. that he has been
in constant touch with his heads of de-
partments in his absence, and was con-
ffdent that the situation was satisfac-
tory, Notwithstanding the many diff
culties involved in selecting exhibits
over such a vast expanse of country,
in so many cities and to satisfy exhib:-
itors a task which, owing to their
small area, does not apply to other
great nations. The Commissioner
General is to leave for Chicago Mon
day.
Chicago Varsities Won.