The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-04
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.


The year of the exposition has been fruit
full in occasions for displaying the good
will that exists between this country and
France. This great competition brought
together from every nation the best in
natural productions. industry, science and
the arts. submitted In generous rivalry to
a Judgment made all the more searching
because Of that rivalry. The extraordinary
increase of expectations from this country
during the past three years and the activ-
ity with which our inventions and wares
had invaded new markets caused much in
terest 10 center upon the American ex-
hibit. and every encouragement was Of
fered In the way of space and facilities to
permit of its being comprehensive as a
whole and complete in every part. 1t was,
however. not an easy task to assemble ex-
hibits that could fifty illustrate our di-
versifed resources and manufactures.
~Singularly enough. our national prosperity
lessened the incentive to exhibit. The
dealer In raw materials knew that the
user must come to him; the great factories
were contented with the phenomenal de-
mand for their output. not alone at home.
but also abroad, where merit had already
won a profitable trade.
Appeals had to be made to the patriot
ism of exhibitors to induce them to incur
OUTLAWS promising no immediate returns.
This was especially the case where it be-
came needful to complete an Industrial
sequence or illustrate a class of processes.
One manufactures after another had to be
visited and fmportuned, and. at times,
after a promise TO exhibit I'm a particular
section had been obtained, il would be
withdrawn, owing to pressure OF trade or
oers. and a new quest would have to be
made.
The installation of exhibits, too. en-
countered many obstacles and involved un-
expected cost. The exposition was far
from ready at the date fixed for its OPEN
ing. The French transportation lines were
congested with offered freight. Belated
goods had to be hastily installed in un-
finished quarters with whatever labor
could be obtained in the prevailing con-
fusion. Nor was the task of the commits
sion Hghtened by the fact that, owing to
the scheme of classification adopted. II was
impossible to have the entire exhibit of
any one country In the same building or
more than one group Of exhibits In the
same part of any building. Our installa-
lions were scattered on both sides of the
Seine and in widely remote suburbs OF
Paris, so that additional assistants were
needed for the work of supervision and
arrangement.
Despite all these drawbacks the contribu-
ton 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 exhibits were shown I'm
lOl out or III classes, and more completely
covered the entire classification than those
OF any other nation In total number they
ranked next after those or france, and the
attractive form In which they were pre-
Sented secured general attention.
A criterion of the extent and success of
our participation and the thoroughness
seen In the awards granted to American
exhibitors by the international Jury. name
ly, grand prizes. 240; gold medals. 597; silver
medals, 116; bronze medals, 541. and honor
greatest total number given to the exhibit
of any exhibiting nation as well as the
largest number I'm each grade. This sig
ni1cant recognition Of merit I'm competition
with the chosen exhibits Of all oiher ma
tons and at the hands OF Juries almost
France and other competing countries Is
not only most gratifying. but Is especially
valuable since 1t sets US to the front I'm
international questions OF supply and de-
mand, while the large proportion of awards
In the classes of art and artistic manu-
features afforded unexpected proof Of the
stimulation of national culture by the
prosperity that flows from natural pro-
ductiveness Joined 10 Industrial excellence.
Apart from the exposition several occa-
sions for showing international good Will
occurred. The inauguration in Paris of the
Lafayette monument presented by the
school children Of the United States and
the designing of a coin
by our mint and the presentation OF the
first piece struck to the President Of the
republic were marked bv appropriate cere-
monies. and the Fourth of July was es-
pecially observed In the French capital.