The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-13
PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION.
The Commerce That Ought to Come to This
Country and Doesn't.

At Yesterday afternoons session
of the House Col. John 3. Weber.
Commissioner-Gener of the Pan
American Exposition, which is to be
held next year, from May to Novem-
Der. at Buffalo. n. Y. addressed the
members on the subject of the propos-
ed exposition. at which most of the
North American, Central American
and South American nations. and
probably all. will make exhibits of
their products and resources. In
course of his remarks Mr.. Weber said
that notice had been received from
those countries that Mexico. Hondu-
ras. Nicaragua, Salvador, Guatemala,
Costa Rica. Bolivia, Peru, Chilli. Argen-
tina and Brazil will participate. FIX
hibitions are expected from the Do
minion of Canada, and probably some
other of the American countries. OF
course. every State of this Republic
is expected to take active part by dis
playing its products, and to lay the
matter before the people of North
Carolina is the object of the visit of
Mr.. Weber.
He spoke yesterday at length Of
the aims and expectations of the man
progress that it has made; the size
of the undertaking and how the people
of Buffalo had met the responsibility.
at is not as big as the Worlds
Fair, at Chicago he said Eve did
not try to make it that. It's not half
worlds fair, but we are trying to
make up in quality what we may lack
in quantity.
On the advantages to come to the
people of the South from taking
part in this exposition Col. Weber
was especially eloquent. He said:
THE present is pre-eminently q
commercial age. dedicated to trade,
to the exchange among the nations
of the earth of their varied and va
rious products. Worlds fairs are
simply advertising concerns on vast
scale. in which the merchandise and
wares of every country are shown III
competition and for public informa-
ton. In this commercial age the ut
most energy and business enterprise
are necessary to meet the active and
urgent competition in business of
every sort. and all who fail to show
up their own products or to take note
of what other exhibitors have to Of
fer to commerce, will surely be left
far behind in the race for business.
just at this moment there is q loud
outcry about securing trade in the
Asiatic countries of the Far East,
while but little is said about develop
ing commerce with the nations on
our own hemisphere, many of which
are almost at our doors, and the fact
that trade between those nations and
the United States is so small shows
how grossly it has been neglected"
He spoke of the vast trade coming
from the countries in the New World
sout hof us and declared that we only
get one-tenth of it.
''Numerous fleets of wood and steel
pass our shores laden with their pro-
duction on their way TO other ports.
This is pitiful showing for the peo-
pie of the United States in trading
with the nations at their very doors.
But the fact remains that they have
neglected this trade and allowed it to
| 90 to European countries. The ques-
| ton arises: Will the people of the
| United States make an intelligent and
| determined effort to do more of the
| trade? The Pan-American Exposition
at Buffalo is a step towards such an
effort. 1t is to be held for six
months in the spring, summer and fall
| of next year"
Col. Weber closed by urging the adj
| vantages to come to North Carolina
by taking part in such expositions
and by inviting the Legislature and
the people of North Carolina gener-
| ally to visit the fair next year.
1