Year: 1879

Readers of the city papers must have been
somewhat puzzled of late by the accounts of
the doings of certain public-spirited gentle
men who are seeking to organize the project
for a Worlds Fair in NewYork. There seems
to be a great deal of confusion. Conflicting
committees are in the field, refusing to recOg-
nize each other. One of these committees
announced that 1t had selected site, and then
reconsdered its action. Another committee
declares itself to be the only original and
simOn-pure organization, and invites all others
to come under its sheltering wing. A third
insists that Brooklyn is the best place for a
New York Fair. A fourth has selected ground
near the property of its members, and seems
to look upon the whole project as a
real estate speculation. Lest the enterprise
should be injured i'll advance 10y unseemly
conflicts for the honor of putting it on its
feet, and quarrels over the merits of the diff
ferent localities proposed, it would be well
for all parties interested not to lose sight Of
two important facts-frst, that the Exhibition
must be held under the authority of the
United States by COMMISSIONERS to be ap-
pointed in pursuance Of an act of Con-
gress, and that all volunteer assOcia-
tions will have to step out when the
real work begins; and, second, that the
most important part of the work is rails
ing the large sum of money which will be
required for the preparation of grounds and
the erection of buildings. One Worlds Fair
resembles another, in all essential features,
and when the cost is provided for the rest is
not difficult. Good executive ability in the
management and thorough knowledge of
-
The most that can be expected of Congress is to
do as well for the New-York Exhibition as it
did for the Centennial-lend il 81 800 600, to be
repaid out of the excess of receipts over running
expenses. Perhaps the City and State will to-
gether do as much more. That would make
three millions to start with, and would leave
five or six millions to be raised by subscription.
Now, it is plain that gentlemen who wish to
take prominent part in the enterprise
should be able either to assist in the prepara-
ton and passage of the needed Congressional
legislation, to contribute toward the financial
basis of the Exhibition, to offer valuable
practical knowledge gained by experience in
Exhibition work.


We are disappointed at the plan of Organiza-
ton one of these committees has prepared in
the form of bill to be presented to Congress.



1t seems to be close copy of the legislation
under which the Centennial was organized.
1t cOntemplates two governing bodies-a cor
poration called the Board of Finance to drum
the country for subscriptions and to regu-
late the expenditures, and Commission
composed of delegate and an alternate
from each State and Territory to create and
manage the show. A two-headed organization
just like this came near running the Centen
NAL, and would have done so had it not been
for the good sense and moderation of a few
men. The Commission, as a whole, was
heavy incubus. The alternates insisted on
having a hand in its proceedings, so there
was body larger than the Senate of the
United States to be housed and fed, while
making speeches and passing resolutions in the
manner of a Legislature. About dozen
of the members were men of irst-rate ability,
and rendered invaluable service the rest
were hroken-down politicians, or mere per-
sOnal favorites of the Governors who ap-
pointed them. They were worse than dead
weights, because they were ignorant. selfish
and exacting. The equal representation of the
States and Territories on the Commission did
not aid in tho raising of funds or secure n.
representative National exhibit. Many States