The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-30

citizens OF St Louis to cooperate IN
the matter. Plans were devised for
raising money to build the exposition
buildings and defray the expenses, and
it was fixed that $15,000,O00, the
amount paid for the territory, should
be raised, one-th1rd by private sub
scFiptfon, one-third to be paid by the
city, and one-third to be asked from
the United States government.
The committee was increased in
/ membership to 200, and work inmed-
June f. 1900, promising government
Support and 100000 appropriation
/ if the citizens of st. Louis raised S10,-
/ 100000. On Jan II, 1901 it was an
nounced that the St. Louis popular
subscription list, by the sale of stock
reached $4,000, 900, and on Jan. 80
1901, an ordinance was passed by the
municipal assembly authorizing the
issuance of city bonds to the amount
Of $5,000,000. The bill appropriating
I $1,000, 600 was passed by the House
of representatives on Feb. 8 and by
the United States senate on March 8
and the sum SIS, 200, 600 was assured.
President Mckinley Immediately sign
ed the bill and on March u, 1901 ap-
pointed the National Commission of
nine members. 1t was then decided to
to open the exposition on April 80.
1903.
Officers were elected, the company
was Incorporated and the site for the
exposition was chosen in Forest park
ern border of st. Louis Trees were
felled, some hills were 1eveled. the
course of the river Des Peres, which
ran through the park, was in part
changed, and the mammoth enterprise
was under way, by the time that, on
August 20, 1901, President Mckinley
issued a proclamation addressed to all
nations of the world and extending
them an invitation to participate in
the Worlds fair. Acceptances receiv-
ed indicated the official participation
of nearly all the civilized governments
of the world.
The site was made ready. embracing
1,240 acres of ground, practically an
area two miles long and one mile
wide, requiring six miles of fence to
enclose it. The Worlds Columbian
exposition at Chicago embraced 633
acres. the Paris exposition in 1900
occupied 336 acres, the Pan-American
at Buffalo 500 acres, the Centennial at
Philadelphia 236 acres, and the Trans
Mississippi at Omaha $50 acres The
Chicago exposition buildings covered
a total of 200 acres while over $50
acres are covered with buildings at the
Louisiana Purchase exposition.
The main exhibit palaces at st
Louis have under roof 128 acres
Those at Chicago covered 50 acres, at
Buffalo Is acres, and at Omaha 8
acres.
AS the time passed and the exposi-
0On increased IN magnitude the en-
thusiasm of the project correspond
ingly increased. Additional appropria-
tons for the erection of buildings and
exhibits were made by the United
States government; Missouri alone ap-
prOpriated $1,0O0,00O; foreign nations
increased their original appropriations
and asked for larger alIOtmentS of
space for their exhibits, and the expo
sition was practically replanned on
the most liberal basis. 1t finally be-
i'm nj 7 Gi nj
the enterprise would preclude its COM
pletement and formal opening to the
world on the date originally appoint
ed, April 80, 1903, and the time was
extended one year and officially an
nounced.
on April 80. 1903, twenty months
after the first stake for the location
of the exposition buildings had been
driven on September 3, 1901, the ex
position stood over half completed, |
and on that day was officially dedi- |
Gated to its memorial purpose by the |
president of the United States. Theo-
dore Roosevelt, and other national
dignitaries, and officials of the expo |
sition company. Some of the smaller
buildings had been erected most of
the large exhibit palaces had been
completed, although machinery hall |
and the transportation building, two
of the largest on the grounds, had !
just been commenced, and Mexico had |
the only completed national pavilion |
In the dedication ceremonies former |
President Grover Cleveland also par |
ticipated. marking an unique epoch in !
the history of the United States when |
a president and a former president of
the United States assisted in ceremon- |
les commemorative of a national event. |
In the years additional time grant |
ed every effort was made to hurry the !
work of completion of the exposition, |
and to collect and rush forward the |
exhibits to be installed from the four /
quarters of the earth. In the EXPOSE |
ton grounds the force of 5000 WORK
men was constantly augmented until /
%, 900 were daily engaged in rushing the |
work to a finished termination
At the opening, excepting in a few
minor details, the louisiana Purchase |
exposition stands practically compile |
ted at a cost of almost $50, 100000.
The United States governments to- |
tai appropriation amounted to $7,063,- |
600, and in addition the government re-
Gently loaned to the exposition COM /
pany $4,000, 600, making a grand total /
of $11. 663. 900 secured from the national |
government. The state, municipal and
other appropriations of this country |
made a total of almost s.. 600. 900, and /
St Louis and her citizens The bal |
ance Of the total cost of the exposi-
ton was expended by the other nations /
of the world.
No previous exposition has had 4
more beautiful site. The Chicago expo
sion had Lake Michigan stretching in
to the distance as a background, but |
the St. Louis exposition is bordered by
Verdant hills and charming vistds,
formed by shallow valleys, involving
landscape features embraced by no pre-
vious exposition. and surrounding the
", rio