The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-04

me year or the exposition has been
fruitful in occasions for displaying the
/ good viii that exists between this country
/ and France This great competition
/ brought together from every nation the
I best in natural productions, industry. sci
( ence and the arts submitted in generous
rivalry to judgment made all the more
/ searching because Of that rivalry. The
I extraordinary increase of expectations
from this country during the past three
years and the activity with which our in
yentions and wares had invaded new mar
kets caused much interest to center upon
the American exhibit and every encour-
agement was offered in the way Of space
and facilities to permit Of its being com
prehensIve as whole and complete IN
every part.
American Exhibitors Met Difficulties.
1t was, however, not an easy task 10
assemble exhibits that could huy illus
trate our diversified resources and manu-
features. Singularly enough, our national
prosperity lessened the incentive TO ex-
hibit The dealers i'm raw materials knew
that the user must come TO him. the great
factories were contented with the phe-
nomenal demand for the output, not
alone at home, but also abroad where
merit had already won profitable trade
Appeals had to be made to the patriot
ism Of exhibitors to induce them to incur
OUTLAWS promising no immediate return
This was especially the case where it be
came needful to complete an industrial
sequence or Illustrate a class of processes.
one manufacture after another had to be
visited and impormned, and at times.
after a promise to exhibit in a particu-
lar section had been obtained it would be
withdrawn, owing to pressure of trade
orders, and a new request would have to
be made.
The installation of exhibits, too en-
coUntered many obstacles and involved
unexpected cost The exposition was far
from ready at the date hxed for It's open
ing. The French transportation lines
were congested with offered freight. Be
lated goods had 20 be hastily installed in
unfinished quarters with whatever labor
could be obtained In the prevailing con
fusion Nor was the task of the com
mission lightened by the fact that. owing
to the scheme Of classification adopted.
It was impossible to have the entire ex-
hibit Of any one country ia the same
building or more than one group Of ex-
h.bits in the same part of any building
Our installations were scattered on both
sides of the Seine and I'm widely remote
suburbs of Paris. so that additional assis-
tauts were needed for the work of super
vision and arrangement
Despite all these drawbacks the contri-
button Of the United States was not only
the largest foreign display but
was among the earliest in place and the
most orderly in arrangement Our ex-
hioits were shown In one hundred and
one ont Of one hundred and twentv-one
classes and more completely covered the
entire classification than those OF any
other nation. In total number they rank
ed next after those Of France. and the
attractive form in which they were pre-
scented secured general attention
Great Success of American Exhibits.
A criterion of the extent and success
Of our participation and Of the thorough
ness with which cur exhibits were orga-
nized IS seen in the awards granted 10
American exhibitors by the international
fury. namely, grand prizes 90. gold med
ais a9t, silver medals Ilt. bronze med
ais. $751; and honorable mentions 322-
AS I'm an. being The greatest total NUM-
her given 20 the exhibit of any exhibit
ms nation, as well as the largest NUM-
Der in each erade This significant rec
ogniti1n of merit in composition with the
chosen exhibits ~ an either nations ana
ST the hands Of iares almost wholly
made MP az REPRESENTATIVES ~ France
and other competing countries IS NOT on
ly most eratfyins. but is especially wall
liable since f sats us to the front fin
internaitnaI questions ~ supply ana de-
man3 while the large proportion af
awards In the classes he art and artistic
manufactures afforded unexpected proof
~ The stimulation 81 national culture bv
The nros0e~ity that slows FROM natural
pro5uetiveness ioiued 70 Industrial ex-
celence.