Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-12-30

ISpeech of COLONEL FRED PAUL
GROSSCUP, president of the West
Virginia commission to the Panama
Pacific International Exposition, de-
iivered before the state board of
trade. Wheeling, Oct. 10, 1e14.l
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the
State Board Of Trade:
Some weeks ago we received an invi
tation from this body. through your ex
cellent secretary. MIR r. H. Naylor. 70
address you on the subject of the Pan
6ma-Paciic Exposition, to be held in
San Francisco. beginning Feb. 20 and
continuing until Dec. 4 1919
l must confess. on receipt of this in
Vitation my first impulse was to write n
courteous and respectful letter Leclin.
Ing TO appear before you, mainly be
cause all Of YOU who know me know
that | am not public speaker. that
have not devoted my life and what lit
tie ability ! may have to making pub
lie speeches and have not used the
press. 10y letter or otherwise to enun-
ciate opinions; but the position / oc-
cupy as chairman OF the West Virginia
commission. having in charge West
Nirginia's interests at this great EXPO
sition, makes it "A duty that l. on after
Thought. felt could not be avoided.
The Centennial Exposition.
We have had many expositions in the
past. In 1876 we had the Centennial
Exposition at Philadelphia to celebrate
the one hundredth anniversary of
American Independence.
In 1892 and 1898 in the great city of
Chicago. was celebrated the four hun
dredth anniversary of the discovery OF
America by Christopher Columbus.
That also was q great subject to be
placed before the minds of the Ameri
can citizenship 1t was the beginning
OF America. and the American boy and
girl today hear the name of Chris
topher Columbus with a greater degree
Of thankfuInesS and with an enlarged
reverence because of having celebrated
that event at the Chicago Exposition.
In 1901 the American people conceiv-
ed the idea of holding the Pan Ameri-
can Exposition. This was not for the
purpose of celebrating any great past
DR. historical event, but the purpose was
to bring together in closer relation
ship and communion of interests the
various nations Of the great American
continent.
In 1904, at st. Louis. we celebrated
the Louisiana purchase, celebrating an
event that extended our country across
the great domain of the plains I'm the
west 10 the place where the sun sets
last upon this cOuntry's shores. and
lastly. in the year 1907. we celebrated
at Norfolk. or jamestown. on the At
lanuc coast the terccnteuuial. the
landing OF the first permanent English
settlement at jamestown in the moth
Ell state of Virginia
Mans Greatest Engineering Feat.
As ] said in the beginning. all of
these. except the Buffalo Exposition.
Were historical and intended 10 re-
fresh the mind and review the history
Of Our country, all Of them celebrating
events which started the United states
Of America toward the greatest nation
of the globe. Unlike these past EXPOSE
tions. we now have before us am FIX
position that is TO celebrate an event
Of the present. 10 celebrate not only
the greatest practical engineering feat
known Co. mIuk.ud-n loat that could
not Doe accomplished success fully by
the great French nation but Wc are 90
celebrate au accomplishment chat
brings the great Atlantic ocean gn our
east to tbe great Pacific ocean ON our
west shaking hand with car. other
and in The process. handing the com
mOdities Of the east 90 The west and
the commodities OF the west to the
east as if TO wore % kernel iu tho
hands Of two men face to face. The
lesson taught by this SIS that the com.
mcrciai relations OF the world from
this date Hre changed
After % contest by many of the states
Of the sou Do and west for the honor of
being host u the celebration of this
great event California was chosen bt
the national congress as being tlc most
fitting state and san francisco. r.
greatest commercial city. %. the most
htting place Tor this great Exposition
There com poe mo- doubt of the wisdom
shown Ono This choice CUmltleaUy TO- f-
almost perfect During tHc month. of
the Exposition the meIn teulcrafura
s. about $50 degrees lu thc last TWEEN
ty years there late been only twenty
seven dal during which fhe trmuera
fure exceeded gJ aud during tine same
period 70 has not fallen below 30 The
difference between dos and night tom
perature D. little The warmpst hour
about o'clock u thc afternoon. has u
mean temperature Of 30 and the cold