USA > Michigan > Michigan as a province, territory and state, the twenty-sixth member of the federal Union > Part 11
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The act of congress which authorized the exposition provided for the appointment by the president of eight commissioners at large and two commissioners and two alternates from each state; also for the board of lady managers, eight women at large and two women and two alternates as lady managers. President Harrison appointed Thomas W. Palmer of Michigan as a mem-
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ber at large and M. Henry Lane and George H. Bar- bour as commissioners for Michigan and C. H. Rich- mond and Ernest B. Fisher as alternates. Mr. Richmond afterward resigned and Lyman D. Norris was ap- pointed in his place. For lady managers he appointed Mrs. J. J. Bagley as a member at large, and for state representatives Mrs. Eliza J. P. Howe and Mrs. Sarah Caswell Angell, and for alternates Mrs. J. C. Burrows and Miss Anna M. Cutcheon. When the United States commission organized it chose Thomas W. Palmer of Michigan as president and he served in that capacity throughout the life of the commission, giving his time and his energies to the arduous work in hand.
The inception of the idea of holding an exposition to celebrate the great historical event of the discovery of America is obscure. The suggestion, by whomsoever made, seemed to meet with popular favor. In 1886 a plan was set on foot by the city of Washington for an exhibition, open to all the world, and covering a period of three years, beginning with the centennial anniver- sary of the adoption of the constitution, 1889, and clos- ing with the four hundredth anniversary of the discov- ery of America, 1892. The subject was agitated until at length New York city came into the field as claimant for the honor of being the seat of a world's exposition to celebrate the Columbian anniversary. Then arose a strife in which Chicago and St. Louis contended with New York and Washington for this honor-the west against the east. The strong argument of New York was the convenience of access to that port by foreign ex- hibitors and visitors, who, it was asserted, would not go to an interior point. On the other hand, it was pointed out that the holding of an exposition in New York would lead to but little increase in knowledge of our country among foreigners, most of whom would see
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no more of it than Manhattan island, or at most the mere Atlantic border. It was also shown that compara- tively few of the people of the country could or would go to New York to such an exposition while Chicago or St. Louis, being situated near the center of population of the country, would draw visitors from every direction. These arguments were threshed out before congress, with the result that the choice ultimately fell to Chicago. This was not until after a spirited and earnest, though good natured, contest, the campaign for which attracted wide interest.
The verdict of congress having been given in favor of Chicago, an act was passed and approved by the presi- dent April 25, 1890, to carry into effect the plans and purposes of the exposition. The commission to be ap- pointed by the president, as already stated, was charged with the management of the affair. Under this act the government of the United States pledged itself to ex- hibit from its executive departments, the Smithsonian Institution, the Fish Commission, the National Mu- seum, such articles and materials as illustrate the func- tion and administrative faculty of the government in time of peace and its resources as a war power. To se- cure a complete and harmonious arrangement of the ex- hibit, a board was created, charged with its selection, preparation, arrangement and safe keeping. An appro- priation of one and a half million dollars was made to meet necessary expenses, with the proviso that not ex- ceeding four hundred thousand dollars should be ex- pended upon a building or buildings. The president of the United States was authorized to invite other nations to join in exhibiting their products and resources, and laws were passed permitting the importation of such exhibits free from duty.
A corporation was formed at Chicago composed of
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nearly thirty thousand stockholders or subscribers to the capital stock. The total amount of their subscriptions was ten million dollars. Of course, it was hoped that the exhibition would bring in enough money to re-im- burse the stockholders some portion of the sums paid for stock. In the case of the centennial exposition at Philadelphia in 1876 about one-third of the amount subscribed was returned. But the hopes of those who expected any substantial return of their investment were doomed to disappointment. The corporation organized with a board of directors, of which Lyman J. Gage was president, and a working arrangement was made with the national commission for the avoidance of friction and for mutual co-operation. To this end, Colonel George R. Davis was made director-general, and into his hands was placed the executive management of the whole fair. He divided the organization into fifteen de- partments, each with a salaried chief. Briefly, these de- partments covered agriculture, farming machinery, hor- ticulture, live stock, fish and fisheries, mines and mining machinery, transportation, manufactures, electricity, fine arts, liberal arts, ethnology, forestry. Beside the departments which had to do with exhibits, were others specially charged with the work of publicity, and the handling of matters relating to foreign exhibits and ex- hibitors.
Jackson Park, an unimproved section of the park and boulevard system of Chicago, was chosen as the site for the exposition. The actual work of preparation of grounds and buildings occupied about two years. With- in that brief period the unsightly tract was transformed into a scene of beauty which made a lasting impression upon the minds of the many millions of visitors, who were chiefly residents of the United States, but some of whom came hither from every part of the habitable
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globe. The formal dedication took place on the 2 1st of October, 1892, the anniversary of the first landing of Columbus on the soil of the western world. The dedi- cation ceremonies were elaborate and formed altogether a pageant the like of which had never before been viewed in this part of the world. There were military parades, pyrotechnics, and last but not least orations, poems, addresses, music, banquets, etc., participated in by the most distinguished men and women of the coun- try. It was well understood that this dedication was merely a formal affair, upon the anniversary which it was intended to celebrate. The exposition itself was not in readiness and the opening of it to the public was de- ferred until the following spring. The plan agreed up- on was that it should be open from May I to October 31, 1893, and this program was carried out.
It is not suitable in a work of this character to enter upon any description of this great exposition, which was in its day unquestionably the most extensive and wonder- ful of its kind the world had yet seen. It is fitting to say something of the part taken by Michigan and the influence it had upon the arts and industries of the state, and especially of the impressions left in the minds of t' e people. On amount of its nearness to our borders and the convenience of reaching it by rail and water, it seems safe to say that fully half the adult population of the lower peninsula saw the exposition at some period of its progress, and some did so not merely once but several times. So extensive and elaborate were the ex- hibits that a hurried view was not satisfactory. The visitor felt it necessary to spend several days or a week to complete his survey.
The first formal demonstration was the occasion of the dedication of the buildings and grounds in October, 1892, in which affair Governor Winans and his entire
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staff participated, as did also a military escort of state militia which formed an important feature of the street parade. The second demonstration was the formal opening of the Michigan building on the fair grounds on the 29th of April, 1893. On this occasion Governor Rich and his staff were present, as well as the legislature in a body and all the prominent state officials. The
building, which had been erected out of the state appro- priation for the comfort and convenience of citizen vis- itors, was located on an eligible site in the section of the grounds devoted to state buildings. It was one of the most commodious of the large group of such build- ings. Its exterior was pleasing. The ample verandas on every side furnished shelter and resting places; the well furnished rooms inside served an excellent purpose as a rendezvous. The building was substantial in all respects. It was furnished throughout with great ele- gance. The cost was upwards of forty thousand dol- lars, but not all this was taken from the appropriation. Lumber dealers, furniture manufacturers and others contributed liberally. One parlor was furnished by Grand Rapids, another by Saginaw, and other rooms were furnished in part by various other localities. Some of the state buildings were devoted largely to state ex- hibits, but the only exhibit made in the Michigan build- ing was a historical one. In the several rooms on the second floor was shown a complete collection of por- traits of all Michigan cabinet ministers, governors, United States senators, members of congress, United States judges, state supreme court judges, and world's fair commissioners, from 1805 to 1893. Of the two hundred and forty-five persons who have filled these important positions since Michigan became a territory half tone engravings, cabinet size portraits, of all but -
eight were shown. They were handsomely framed,
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with statement of name, position held, date and length of service, and hung on the walls.
The exercises incident to the formal opening of this building consisted of an address by President Weston of the state commission, upon delivering the key of the completed building to the governor, and remarks by Governor Rich accepting the same. Other addresses were by President Angell of the state university and by Speaker Tatum of the legislature. A poem written by Stephen B. McCracken of Detroit, was also presented. September 13 and 14 were set apart as Michigan days at the fair and were well observed. No special invita- tions were issued on this occasion, but a general invita- tion was extended to all the people of the state, many thousands of whom responded in person. Governor Rich acted as president and there was a long list of distinguished citizens as vice presidents, consisting of all the ex-governors, United States senators, congress- men, judges, etc. The special exercises consisted of band concerts each evening, vocal and instrumentl con- certs in the afternoons, and great displays of fire works each evening. In the forenoon of the first day an ora- tion was delivered by Thomas W. Palmer, president of the Columbian exposition commission, followed by short impromptu talks by ex-Governors Begole and Alger, ex-Senator T. W. Ferry, Director-General Geo. B. Davis, Fred Douglass, the distinguished colored ora- tor, and others. After the speaking, the governor and his staff with their ladies and the ladies of the board, held a reception. The affair wound up in the evening with a grand ball.
The exhibit made by Michigan in the agriculture building was one of the most striking made by any state. It was under the superintendence of J. J. Woodman of Paw Paw. A space of two thousand square feet had
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been assigned for the purpose. Here a pavilion artis- tically designed and decorated, afforded opportunity for the display or farm proucts to good advantage. Among the things shown were over two hundred glass jars of seeds of every kind, twenty-seven varieties of wheat, ninety-six varieties of oats in straw, fifty-eight varieties of grasses. The whole exhibit contained five thousand two hundred and thirty-six labeled samples of farm pro- ducts, nearly one-half of which represented different varieties. They were produced by two hundred and sixty Michigan farmers, located in forty different coun- ties of the state, from the southern boundary to the northern limit, including every variety of soil and cli- mate to be found in Michigan. That made by the agri- cultural college farm was one of the most extensive exhibits. An interesting feature was a collection of photographs showing farm houses and buildings, orchards, stock yards, lawns and surroundings. Awards were made in this department to seventy-four different exhibitors, but one award being made upon any specific product.
The horticultural exhibit was under the charge of C. J. Monroe of South Haven. The collection of fruits hardly did justice to the state, for several reasons. The apple crop of the previous year was a failure ; the appro- priation for collecting and shipping was inadequate, and there appeared to be lack of interest on the part of fruit growers. The exhibitors were almost wholly those liv- ing on the west side of the state, in Berrien, Allegan and Van Buren counties. They numbered two hundred and sixty and the exhibits comprised one thousand and sev- enty-seven packages. There were over two hundred sorts and varieties of fruit exhibited and five medals were awarded to the state for grapes and stone fruits, bulbs and flower seeds.
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The legislature of 1893 made an additional appro- priation of twenty-five thousand dollars to encourage a satisfactory display of the resources and products of the state, and a further sum of two thousand dollars for a public school exhibit. Of the appropriation first men- tioned a suitable portion was set aside for a live stock exhibit. Governor Rich being himself a farmer and breeder, took a special interest in this feature of the fair. The exhibit was in charge of G. E. Gilman as superintendent. It comprised specimens in each of the different classes horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry and pet stock. Among the noted and successful exhibitors of horses were W. B. Otto of Charlotte, Cleveland Bay Horse Company, of Paw Paw, G. A. Watkins of Detroit, Sutherland & Crowley of Saginaw, and S. J. Acker of Charlotte. A. E. Riley of Walled Lake and C. V. Seeley of Farmington, each took several pre- miums on cattle. Among the sheep exhibitors were A. A. Wood of Saline, W. E. Boyden of Delhi Mills, C. H. Williams of Church's Corners, E. R. Crawford of Reading, William Newton of Pontiac, and W. J. Meeley of Brooklyn. Among swine exhibitors were M. H. Walworth of Hillsdale, H. W. Riley of Greenville, D. F. Bascom of California. The awards of premiums make a very liberal showing. The dairy industry was beginning to show rapid development. From statistics gathered at the time by the superintendent, it appears that there were then five hundred and seventeen thou- sand milch cows in the state, of a value of about thir- teen million dollars. There were two hundred cheese factories in active operation, with an invested capital of one hundred and eighty-two thousand dollars, and turn- ing out cheese valued at one million eight hundred and forty-eight thousand eight hundred dollars. There were one hundred and thirteen butter factories, with capital
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of two hundred and eighty-two thousand five hundred dollars, and making upwards of two million dollars worth of butter annually, beside which nearly six mil- lion dollars worth of butter is made on farms. Beside this a large quantity of milk is sold for family use in cities and villages.
The forestry exhibit was such as was befitting the most celebrated timber state in the Union. It was made under the direction of a committee of the leading lum- bermen of the state. The building erected for the for- estry display was one of the most unique and attractive buildings on the grounds. Michigan occupied the most prominent place in the building, at the intersection of the main aisles, fronting sixty feet on the east and west, and fifty feet on the north and south. The entire space was enclosed with highly polished panels of choicest cab- inet woods, upon which were displayed framed photo- graphic scenes illustrative of the making of the com- mercial product of our forests. Within the enclosure were displayed three foot sections, cut to show the long- itudinal and transverse grain of the wood, of the fifty- six commercial woods of the state. In glass jars were shown the seeds of these different varieties. Professor Cook of the Agricultural college showed his collection of mounted specimens of insects injurious to forest growth. The whole exhibit was not only attractive but instructive to one who gave the time to its study. It received twenty-six awards in forestry against ten to any other state.
In addition to the exhibit in the forestry building there was an out-door exhibit, located back of machin- ery hall near the stock pavilion. This was designed to illustrate the methods of carrying on logging operations. The space occupied was graded, sodded and provided with gravel walks. Here was shown a logging camp,
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complete to the minutest particulars. The lumberman's log cabin was full size and it contained all the para- phernalia of the camp, including the living outfit and all the tools used in lumbering. At the close of the fair this building was sold to George W. Childs of Philadelphia and was taken down by him and shipped to his country seat near Bryn Mawr park, where it was set up again in its original condition. Another feature of the log- ging camp was the largest load of logs ever hauled, consisting of a number of huge pine logs loaded upon a logging sleigh. Along one side of the space was a railroad track upon which were logging cars, some loaded and some in process of loading. A regular log- ging locomotive was attached to the train. The whole was a reproduction in all its details and on a full scale of a genuine Michigan lumber camp. It attracted much attention and interesting comment.
The mineral exhibit led all others in copper and iron and received more awards than that of any other state. The general plan and execution of the display was the work of Peter White of Marquette, a member of the board. Jay A. Hubbell of Houghton, who as a mem- ber of the centennial board prepared the mineral exhibit at Philadelphia in 1876, interested himself in making the copper exhibit a worthy one. The details of the exhibit however, were due to Samuel P. Brady, a min- ing engineer of Detroit, who gave his time for several months to its collection and arrangement. The space occupied in the mines building was fifty by sixty feet on the cross center aisle. Decorating the main entrance was a handsome carved stone arch, having a frontage of fourteen feet and rising to a height of twenty-five feet above the main floor. The portal of the arch was seven feet in width. On passing through one found himself beneath a semi-dome, handsomely decorated
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and having an ornamental frieze. Directly opposite the main entrance and between the two doorways lead- ing to the main space, stood a handsomely carved water basin, above which was placed a tablet of brass upon which were the names of the architect, builders, etc. The whole was constructed of the light red and purplish sandstone of the Portage Entry quarries. Above the dome were figures representing Victory crowning miners Flanking the arch to the right and left was a wall of brown sandstone running the entire length of the space upon both aisles. Upon this wall stood elaborately carved stone pedestals each surmounted by an obelisk of polished gypsum. The interior was subdivided into a series of rectangular spaces by spacious aisles. The whole was profusely decorated with paintings done in oil of familiar mining and landscape views of the Lake Su- perior country. At the close of the exposition the arch and railing were removed to Grand Rapids where they were set up to serve as an entrance to the beautiful John Ball park.
The exhibits which embraced several hundred in number, comprised specimens of all the varieties of iron and copper ores, as well as pig iron and pig copper. There were also samples of gypsum, and it may be re- marked in passing that upwards of forty thousand bar- rels of this Michigan material, in the form of plaster of paris were used in the making of statuary and other decorations and in the exterior coverings of the exposi- tion buildings. An extensive showing of salt products gave an intimation of the marvelous developments of saline wells which followed within the next few years. Other exhibits included clays and marls, the former pro- ducing the finest grade of earthenware, and the latter just then coming into prominence as the foundation sup- ply of the best quality of building cements. Marbles
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and other grades of building stones were also on exhibi- tion. A large number of awards were made to exhibi- tors in all the classes in this department.
A special appropriation was made by the state for an educational exhibit. A fairly satisfactory allowance of space had been made and the showing was nothing to be ashamed of, considering the fact that Michigan was rather late in starting. The exhibits were in two places ; the educational exhibit in the department of liberal arts in the manufactures building, and the museum exhibit in the Michigan building. The university occupied a large part of the space assigned. The general plan in- cluded topographical maps of the campus, made from actual surveys by civil engineering students, on which all buildings and natural objects were correctly located. There were views of buildings, external and internal, with floor plans; a condensed account of the educational system of the state. A brief history of the university and of its several departments was exhibited by a ser- ies of charts, etc. The agricultural college and the sev- eral colleges of the state were also fairly and fully rep- resented. But the most interesting and instructive of all was the exhibit of the public schools. The appropria- tion of two thousand dollars made by the state for this purpose was supplemented by contributions of pennies in the schools, which aggregated upwards of four thou- sand dollars. About half this was lost, however, by the failure of the Central Michigan savings bank of Lans- ing, which had this money on deposit. Considering all the untoward circumstances, the organization and ar- rangement of the exhibit was creditable. It was located in the south gallery of the manufactures building and had space eighty feet long by twenty wide. Various cit- ies had their exhibits separately grouped and so received credit for their local enterprise. But the general display
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took no account of localities and was designed to show the work of the schools and of the pupils in the various branches of instruction. Medals were awarded on the general educational exhibit, to the Bay City schools on the manual training exhibit and to the schools of Ann Arbor, Bay City and Saginaw on the general exhibit.
This account of the part borne by Michigan in the World's Columbian exposition, which was so creditable to the state, cannot be closed without some reference to the share of woman therein. For the first time an ef- fort was made to illustrate the work of women in the various fields of enterprise. The government of the United States emphasized the justice and propriety of this by giving official recognition and aid to the project. A woman's board of managers, consisting of represent- atives of every state in the union, was appointed by the president. The law under which the Michigan board was organized provided that there should be two wo- men representatives. The women of the country, with the help of the government erected a building, designed by a woman architect, and which was one of the nota- ble buildings of the fair. It was furnished, equipped by women's hands and was filled with exhibits in all departments of skill and industry exemplifying the work of women. In response to the appeal of the board of lady managers, the enthusiastic women throughout the state organized for the collection of funds in support of the enterprise. They raised over two thousand two hundred dollars, the largest contribution having come from the women of Gogebic county in the upper penin- sula.
The lady managers for Michigan were untiring as hostesses at the state building. They gave efficient aid in decorating it with pictures and bric-a-brac. They col- lected a great variety of suitable articles, all the hand
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