The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-24

fects and amusement features as to hold the attention and win the admiration of visitors.
 Tn the history of expositions, three facts stand out in bold relief. First large initial subscription is necessary. Second, the original subscribers must re- gard their stock payments in the light of a donation, as final returns to them are small. Third, the burden of financing ane prosecuting the work of an exposition in- variably falls upon the people of the city where 1t Is to be held The hrst substantial essential after an exposition
 Is decided upon and it's location deter mined is for corporation to be formed for the purpose of conducting the expo sition and books of subscription to it's capital stock should be opened.
 The amount of capital stock to be [ aid in should be specified and great CT amount should be authorized, In case lt should be deemed advisable to in- crease the capital stock. After suf- iicient subscriptions are received, there should be a meeting of the stockhoid- CTS, who should name board Of di- Iectors to be composed of representa- tive citizens of the state, but of whom a majority should be residents Of the exposition city. These directors should elect president vice president, secre- tary and treasurer, and from their number should be appointed commit tees on finance Legislation, grounds and buildings. transportation, exhibits
 and such other committees as may from time to time be deemed neces- sary.
 During the formative period all officers should serve without compensation, but later on. when everything is ready for actual construction work. director gen. eral should be selected who should be the active business manager of the ex- position company. This official snould have full power and should devote his entire time and attention to the work in hand and he should receive such com pensation as may be necessary to secure the services of a first class man.
 ''The Worlds Columbian exposition al Chicago yet ranks as the largest under taking of it's kind. Nearly $33,VOOoo were received and disbursed during the period Of construction and operation. The ex- position company was originally capital ized at s5, GOO 600 and later at Sl0,00o,0O0. A special session of the legislature of H. linois was called to submit to the peo- pie a constitutional amendment authoriz- ing the city of Chicago to issue s5,O00,0 600 of bonds These bonds were duly author ized and sold at par. proceeds being con tributed to the exposition.
 There was also issued by the expo |sition company $5.000000 of per cent debenture bonds, of which $3,600, 900 were sold. The United States govern ment appropriated s2.500000, and these amounts constituted the nucleus upon which the work was carried forward. Large debts were constracted during the period of construction, but these ob- ligations were finally liquidated by the gate receipts and by amounts paid by concessionaries. After the exposition was closed various amounts were re- ceived from salvage. The bonds and other obligations of the exposition com pany were paid off, and out of the re- maning surplus the original subscrib CTS received a final return of about 20 per cent. The fair grounds comprised 6S6 acres, of which 131 acres were un- der roof. From first to last during con struction and operation 76.406 persons | were employed by the exposition com ] pany.
 We cannot. of course. dream of an exposition that will rival those of Chl- | cago St. Louis. nor can we approach l in point of magnitude, the Panama Pa | cific exposition in San Francisco, as we have in this section neither the money | nor population which are essential, but i we should lay plans for an exposition that | will surpass anything that has ever been 1 held in the south. The exposition con- pany should be organized with a capital | stock of at least S2000.0OO of which Gi
  struction plans are made. Public interest l should be aroused. small popular sub | scriptions should be invited, merchants l and bankers should contribute and the | aid of industrial and railroad corpora | tions should be enlisted. Steps should also l be taken to secure large appropriations | as possible from the state, and from the | county and city in which the exposition Is | located The first work of the board of d- | rectors should be the appointment of | proper committees to solicit these sub | scriptions and secure these appropria- l tions. The undertaking is a gigantic | one, and it's successful attainment will | require a patriotic spirit of co-opera- | ton. business ability of the highest | order. and years of the hardest kind | of work. but the material benefits that | will accrne to the people of the state | will justify every effort