Year: 1874

Difference also to the degree Of aid


which experience has shown to be re-
/ quisite from the governments under
/ whose auspices the latest and most ex-


teneiVe of such exhibitions have been
held. 1t is the desire OF the commits


sion that v hatever appropriation is made
should be guarded by such wise provis-
/ ions, and administered under such gov
| ernmentai esntrol as will insure its ju-
| dicious expenditure for the purposes
intended.


The recent almost unprecedented de-
preston in manufactures, trade and
finance, has interfered with the progress
of subscriptions to the stock of the cen
tennial board of finance and with the
payment of the installments due on
those already made. This state of af-
fairs affords another imperative reason
for such action by congress as will pro-
vide sufficient and timely appropria-
tions to guarantee the success OF the
national undertaking. Pennsylvania
stands pledged by an act of her legis-
lature for one million dollars, and the
cityof Philadelphia for half million,
TO be expended upon r building TO be
used by the commission as a gallery Of
fiDe art, which building VIII be a very
imposing and beautiful addition to the
group anu Will IEL1Aln d . fltbAht
memorial of the occasion. A copy of
the plans of this building Is annexed
hereto.


The people Of Pennsylvania, in addi-
ton to these state and municipal apprO-
priations, have subscribed to the stock
of the centennial board of finance about
81, 500, 900, which will go into the gen
eral fund for the expenses of the work
of the commission as it progresses.
This provision for about three times the
quota apportioned to the state may be
regarded as fully cOunterbalsncing and
secular advantage to the state growing
out of the location of the exhibition,
and is as much as could be Justly
claimed from her. In view of the ma
tional character of the celebration of
which the exhibition the chief demon
strative element, Notwithstanding that
opportunities have been given in all
states and territories by general adver-
tisement, the agency of national banks,
and in other ways, the amount of actual
subscriptions to date from such states
and territories indicates that from this
source the means could not be secured
In time for use in prosecuting the work,
if at all. The commission has informa-
tion that preparations are in progress
throughout the country to make the
most creditable exhibits of the products
and industries of the nation, and that
this feature of the exhibition is assured
beyond any doubt. But as the enter
prise is regarded as national one there
is an unWillingness o contribute money
for the preparation and installation of
the exhibition, which it is regarded
as specially incumbent on the national
government to proYide for. While
many of the states of the union are not
in financial condition TO contribute
money for this purpose, the citizens
thereof express the warmest sympathy
IN the success of the enterprise, and
will give it their cordial support SO far
as it is in their power. Steps have
been taken to secure a proper represen-
tation of the products of every state and
territory.


To secure the complete and satisfacto-
ry success of the exhibition in every de-
partment, it is absolutely necessary that
such appropriations be promptly made
by the national government az viii en-
able this commission to work with
those advantages of government sup
port that have been enjoyed by the
managers of recent international exhi-
bitions in Europe.