Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission Part 24

Through his efficient Chief of the Insular Bureau, Col. Clarence R.

Edwards, the Secretary, with great zeal and effectiveness, addressed himself to the task of securing appropriate representation for the Philippine people.

The administrative work was placed in charge of Dr. W.P. Wilson, of the Philadelphia Museum. A more appropriate selection of an executive officer could not have been made. Industrious, painstaking, and devoted, Doctor Wilson threw all his energy and superior ability into the task a.s.signed him.

In Dr. Gustavo Neiderlein and Mr. Edmund A. Felder, Doctor Wilson had able and faithful lieutenants. Through the combined efforts of such competent and devoted men the Philippine exposition was developed into a revelation of world-wide interest.

The extremes of civilization found in the Philippine Islands were exhibited upon the grounds. The industrial conditions existing in the islands in their various stages of progress were clearly set forth. The millions of visitors who were interested and instructed by this remarkable exhibit must have been deeply impressed with the importance and extent of our new possessions in the Orient.

It is quite impossible to compute the value to the American people of this Philippine exhibit. In giving to the country the basis upon which to form a just conception of the character and possibilities of our new possessions the Philippine department alone fully justified the interest of the nation in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

The official report of the Philippine exhibit, filed with the records of the Commission, is replete with interest and will justify careful perusal.

REPORTS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

The response of foreign governments and peoples to the invitation of the President of the United States was in every way most gratifying. For an adequate description of the manner and extent of foreign partic.i.p.ation in the exposition, reference must be made to the reports of the respective commissioners to their governments, copies of which are filed with this report.

The Commission, desiring to tersely review the exhibits of the various countries, called upon their several representatives for a brief statement of the nature and extent of their exhibits. The responses received convey but a meager idea of the great display made, but a perusal of the epitomized reports will serve to convey an outline of the exhibits made and the buildings constructed.

Condensed summaries of these reports have been prepared and are submitted as a part of this report, marked "Appendix No. 3."

REPORTS OF STATES, TERRITORIES, AND DISTRICTS.

Inspired by the example of the General Government, and stimulated by the extent of foreign partic.i.p.ation, in response to the invitation of the President, the several States, Territories, and Districts of the United States contributed to the success of this exposition in a far greater degree than on former occasions of like character.

As in the case of foreign countries, the Commission called upon the representatives of the various States, Territories, and Districts for a brief statement of the extent and character of the exhibits made by them. The reports of the representatives to the authorities by which they were appointed have been collected as far as practicable and are filed with this report.

Condensed summaries of these reports have been prepared and are submitted as a part of this report, marked "Appendix No. 4."

THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS.

The board of lady managers appointed by the Commission proved themselves eminently qualified to perform the exacting and comprehensive duties a.s.signed them. Their organization was one of the most popular and successful instrumentalities of the exposition.

These distinguished and representative women of our country were quickly recognized as organizers and leaders of the many public and semiofficial entertainments and functions, which all must agree were so necessary and contributed so greatly to the success of the exposition.

It is undoubtedly true that their efforts in enlisting the sympathy and support of the women of the United States not only made possible an adequate presentation and exploitation of woman's work and woman's sphere, but also secured the attendance of thousands upon thousands of the best people of the land who otherwise would have remained away.

It is not too much to say that the money appropriated for and expended by the board of lady managers was, from the standpoint both of national interest and financial success, one of the wisest expenditures made in connection with the exposition.

This board of lady managers was fortunate in the selection of Mrs.

Daniel Manning as its president. Mrs. Manning, in addition to her experience in public life and affairs, and her well deserved general popularity, proved herself possessed of rare executive ability, and the management of those features of the exposition coming under the supervision and direction of the board won the respect and admiration of the exposition officials and of all the representatives of our own and other governments having connection with or partic.i.p.ating in the exposition.

It is but fair to say that this tribute of the Commission to the efficiency of the board of lady managers is given not in compliment, but in justice.

The vast amount of work performed by the lady managers and the delay in the completion by the company of authoritative reports necessary to enable the board to complete their final report to this Commission have delayed the closing and presentation of this report by the Commission beyond the period of six months from the close of the exposition.

The final report of the board of lady managers is now presented in connection with the report of the Commission, and is herewith filed, marked "Appendix No. 5."

The Commission calls particular attention to the excellence and the interesting features of the report of the board of lady managers, and suggests that its publication and distribution as a doc.u.ment is especially to be desired.

GOVERNMENT EXHIBIT.

The exhibit made by the Government of the United States will long stand as monumental in the history of Government exhibits. Not content with the exhibition of special features of governmental activity in the various departments of the exposition, Congress provided for the erection of a Government exhibition palace, which was confessedly the most striking and successful architectural triumph upon the exposition grounds.

The Government Building was located on an eminence at the eastern termination of "Louisiana Way," the princ.i.p.al avenue on the exposition grounds. From its commanding position all portions of the exposition grounds could be seen. Within the building every department of the Government was represented by an appropriate exhibit upon a liberal scale.

This great Government exhibit was under the direction and control of a board, consisting of the following-named gentlemen:

_Members United States Government Board_.--Mr. Wallace H. Hills, Treasury Department, chairman; Mr. William H. Michael, Department of State; Mr. John C. Scofield, War Department; Mr. Cecil Clay, Department of Justice; Mr. John B. Brownlow, Post-Office Department; Mr. B.F.

Peters, Navy Department; Mr. Edward M. Dawson, Department of the Interior; Mr. S.R. Burch, Department of Agriculture; Mr. Carroll D.

Wright, Department of Commerce and Labor; Dr. F.W. True, Smithsonian Inst.i.tution and National Museum; Mr. W. de C. Ravenel, Bureau of Fisheries; Mr. G.W.W. Hanger, Department of Labor; Mr. Williams C. Fox, Bureau of the American Republics; Mr. Roland P. Falkner, Library of Congress; Dr. A.C. True, Agricultural Colleges; Mr. William V. c.o.x, secretary; Mr. William M. Geddes, disbursing officer; Mr. C.S. Goshert, clerk of board.

The members of this board cooperated in a united effort to install a Government exhibit in every way representative and creditable. To their success the millions of visitors bore cheerful witness in expressions of unbounded satisfaction. The board was at all times harmonious within itself, and it is pleasing to note that its relations with the National Commission were always of the most cordial character. From the report of the Government board a fair but an inadequate estimate may be formed of the extent and brilliant success of this feature of the exposition.

Under the law the life of this Commission expires on the 1st day of July, 1905. The Commission has delayed closing its final report to the last day of its existence in the hope that before that time a full and final report might be received from the Exposition Company.

Unfortunately, however, no such report has been received, and therefore the Commission is unable to submit the same to the President.

The monthly financial reports of the Exposition Company have been received up to and including the month of April, 1905, and have been transmitted as received to the President in accordance with the act of Congress.

After repeated and urgent requests for a complete report from the Exposition Company the following final answer was received:

[Telegram.]

St. Louis, _June 17, 1905._ Hon. John M. THURSTON, _President National Commission,_ _Portland, Oreg.:_

Think it will be several weeks before report of two divisions can be completed, and several months before president's report will be ready. Impossible to close up as rapidly as desired.

WALTER B. STEVENS, _Secretary._

It will at least be seen that the Commission has exhausted all its powers and made every effort possible to comply with the act of Congress in the making and transmission of this, its final report, and the failure to accompany this report by full and complete reports from the Exposition Company is in no wise due to any lack of endeavor on the part of the Commission.

According to section 3 of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1901, the National Commission was allowed the sum of "ten thousand dollars per annum, or so much thereof as may be necessary," for the purpose of defraying the clerical, office, and other necessary expenses of the Commission. Including the year 1901 the amounts thus allowed aggregate the sum of $41,923.36. The expenditures for the entire term of the Commission's existence amount to $32,763.22. This includes an investment of $952.16 in furniture, which has been delivered to the Secretary of the Treasury.

Total unexpended balance reverting to credit of Exposition Company, $9,160.14.

The expenditures made by the Commission from April 23, 1901, to June 30, 1905, are set forth in a statement, submitted herewith as Appendix No.

6.

This report can not fairly be concluded without commendatory reference to the zeal and devotion of the people of the city of St. Louis toward this great enterprise. With great generosity and hospitality their beautiful homes were thrown open to visitors; constant and delightful entertainment was provided, and there can be no doubt that the millions who came to see the exposition took away with them abiding and affectionate remembrance of the universal consideration and courtesy shown them.

The directors of the Exposition Company, comprising ninety-odd representative business men of the city, devoted time and attention to the affairs of the exposition with unfailing interest and fidelity. They not only contributed as subscribers to the stock of the Exposition Company, but in cases of emergency volunteered advances from their private fortunes and freely loaned their credit to the exposition.

The daily newspapers and other publications of the city were tireless in their efforts to sustain the enterprise, and to set forth its unusual attractions.

The residents of the Louisiana Purchase in particular, and the people of the whole country in general, are indebted to the people of St. Louis and the press of that city for the commendable and stupendous efforts made in behalf of the exposition.