USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > The story of a great city in a nutshell : 500 facts about St. Louis > Part 9
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WORLD'S FAIR.
Globe-Democrat; director of the St. Louis Trust Company, and interested in many other great fi- nancial and business concerns. He has been a prominent figure in public affairs, a power in na- tional, state and city politics, and a leader in the city's progress for almost half a century Inde- fatigable as a worker, he has built up, in the Globe- Democrat, one of the greatest newspapers in the world. Mr. Houser was born in Washington County, Maryland, December 23, 1834; family moved to Missouri four years later, and came to St. Louis in 1846. He was employed by the St. Louis Union in 1851, remaining with the paper un- til it merged with the Missouri Democrat: became book-keeper and business manager of the Demo- crat. He was one of the founders of the Globe in 1872, that afterwards absorbed the Democrat. The consolidated papers became the Globe-Democrat. Mr. Houser became president of the Company in 1879, and has directed the destinies of the great paper ever since. Though a very wealthy man, he works as many hours a day and as hard as any one of his hundreds of employes. He can be met at almost any hour of the day, and often as late as midnight, in some part of the great Globe-Demo- crat establishment giving personal directions, or chatting genially with heads of departments or workmen, for all his employes are his personal friends. Mr. Houser has been twice married. The family home is on West Pine Boulevard.
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CYRUS P. WALBRIDGE, Vice-President, is president of the J. S. Merrell Drug Company. He has been conspicuous in professional, business and official life for thirty years, for he has attained success as a lawyer, a drug merchant and a politician. Born at Madrid, New York, July 20, 1849; educated at Carleton College in Minnesota ; took law course at Ann Arbor: began the practice of law in St. Louis in 1870. Became legal adviser, in 1872, of Jacob S. Merrell, then the city's leading drug merchant. Married Miss Lizzie Merrell, and on the death of his father-in-law became president of the company, and later became president of the Western Wholesale Druggists' Association. In 1881 he was elected to the Municipal Assembly, serving two terms in the House of Delegates. Was elected president of the City Council in 1889, and in 1893 was elected mayor. Mr. Walbridge is a thoroughly progressive man, energetic, enthusiastic and one of the busiest men in town. The family residence is in Westminster Place.
CORWIN H. SPENCER, Vice-President, is a capitalist, whose name is identified with St. Louis' progress and prosperity. He is first vice-president of the Mercantile Trust Company, vice-president St. Louis Transit Company, third vice-president Mer- chants' and Manufacturers' Investment Company, director of the Continental National Bank, St. Louis Title Guarantee Company, Fort Scott and Memphis Railroad, besides a number of smaller corpora-
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WORLD'S FAIR.
tions. Mr. Spencer was born in Morgan County, Ohio, and began mercantile life as a clerk. After a business college course in St. Louis, he be- came connected with the grain commission house of Harlow, Gelston & Co., and rapidly rose. becoming a member of the firm in 1876, the firm name being changed to Harlow, Spencer & Co. The firm went out of business in 1882, but Mr. Spencer remained identified with the grain com- mission trade, and in 1889 organized the firm C. H. Spencer & Co., which was incorporated a year later as the C. H. Spencer Grain and Elevator Company. July 1, 1897, Mr. Spencer closed out his active commercial interests, and became inter- ested in street railways, becoming president of the Southern Electric Road, and president of the National Railway Company. When the street railways in St. Louis were consolidated, Mr. Spencer became, through his properties, interested in the Transit Company and United Railways Com- pany. He served one term as president of the Merchants' Exchange ; served as chairman of the St. Louis Traffic Bureau, and as vice-president of the Business Men's League. He belongs to the Noonday, Commercial, St. Louis, Log Cabin and Country Clubs. In 1875 he married Miss Mary E. Harlow. His family residence is in Washington Terrace.
CHARLES H. HUTTIG, Vice-President, is president of the Third National Bank ; president of the Huttig
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Sash and Door Company of St. Louis; director of the American Central Fire Insurance Company ; director of the Mississippi Valley Trust Company ; director of the St. Louis Safe Deposit and Savings Bank, and financially interested in other large enter- prises. Mr. Huttig was born in Muscatine, Iowa, and received his early business training in the bank of Cook, Musser & Co., in that city. Came to St. Louis in 1885, and shortly after established the Huttig Sash and Door Company. A man of pro- gressive ideas, energetic and quick to think and act, he has been a foremost figure in business and pub- lic affairs almost from the day of his arrival in St. Louis. He is a member of the Merchants' Ex- change, and of the Mercantile, St. Louis and Noonday Clubs. Served nearly five years as a member of the Board of Education, and three years as secretary of the Citizens' Smoke Abate- ment Association. In 1892 he married Miss Annie E. Musser of Muscatine, Ia. The family residence is on Raymond Avenue.
SAMUEL M. KENNARD, Vice-President, is president of the J. Kennard & Sons Carpet Company ; president of the Missouri Savings and Loan Company ; direc- tor of the American Exchange Bank; director of the Mississippi Valley Trust Company ; director of the Kinloch Telephone Company ; director of the St. Louis and Suburban Railway Company, and largely interested in several real estate and other corporations. He has been a resident of St. Louis
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1. W. C. Steigers.
2. James Campbell.
3. Ed. S. Orr.
4. F. W. Lehman.
WORLD'S FAIR DIRECTORS.
5. John Schroers.
6. Paul Brown.
7. Nathan Frank.
8. Joseph Ramsey, Jr.
9. Chas. W. Knapp.
10. R. H. Stockton.
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since 1857, coming here with his parents from Lexington, Kentucky, where he was born in 1842. During his entire business life he has been con- nected with the great business firm his father founded in 1857. He served in the Confederate Army, and at the close of the Civil War he became a partner in his father's firm. On the death of the senior Kennard the firm was incorporated, with Samuel M. Kennard as president. He is a direc- tor and was once president of the St. Louis Expo- sition and Musical Hall Association. He is a member of the Mercantile, St. Louis, Noonday and Commercial Clubs. In 1867 he married Miss Annie R. Maude, and has six children. The magnificent home of the Kennards is in Portland Place.
SETH W. COBB, Vice-President, is the head of the grain and commission firm of Cobb & Gardner, and has for many years been a prominent figure in the commercial life of St. Louis. He was born in Southampton County, Va., December 5, 1838, and at the beginning of the Civil War entered the Confederate Army as orderly sergeant, rising to the rank of major. Was a grocery clerk in Peters- burg for a short time after the war, and then be- came editor of the Petersburg, Va., Index. In 1867 he came to St. Louis, and after serving as clerk with various firms began business on his own account in 1875, and the firm with some changes still exists. In 1889 he was elected to Congress
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from the Twelfth Missouri District and served three terms. He was president of the Merchants' Exchange when the Merchants' Bridge was pro- jected, and became president of the company that built the bridge. In 1876 he married Miss Zoe Desloge. They have one daughter. The family residence is in Westminster Place.
AUGUST GEHNER, Vice-President, is head of the firm of August Gehner & Co., real estate ; president of the German American Bank; vice-president of the German Insurance Company ; director of the Mis- sissippi Valley Trust Company ; one of the owners of the Rialto Building, and actively connected with a dozen other concerns. He was born in Hano- ver, Germany, September 18, 1846, and came to St. Louis when only thirteen years old. Entered government employ when he attained man's estate, serving under the United States Surveyor-Gen- eral. In 1868 he established the firm of August Gehner & Co., of which he is still the active head. PIERRE CHOUTEAU, Vice-President, is a capitalist. He is the eldest son of Charles Pierre Chouteau, and the family history is a part of the history of St. Louis. He was born in St. Louis in 1849, but was educated abroad, principally at the Royal School of Arts, Mines and Manufactures in Liege, Bel- gium. He adopted the profession of engineering, but followed it only a short time, the control of the family estates calling for all his time and attention.
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STANDING COMMITTEES.
EXECUTIVE .- President D. R. Francis, Chairman; W. H. Thompson, Howard Elliott, C. W. Knapp, Nathan Frank, C. G. Warner, Murray Carleton, John Scullin, L. D. Dozier, A. L. Shapleigh, James Campbell, Breckinridge Jones. PRESS AND PUBLICITY .- R. H. Stockton, Chairman; D. M. Houser, C. W. Knapp, Nathan Frank. John Schroers, W. B. Stevens, W. C. Steigers.
WAYS AND MEANS .- F. J. Wade, Chairman; T. H. McKittrick, Jonathan Rice, R. B. Dula, W. J. Kinsella, D. C. Nugent. E. S. Orr, Geo. M. Wright, C. F. Wenneker.
TRANSPORTATION .- Julius S. Walsh, Chairman; Jos. Ramsey, Jr., B. F. Yoakum, S. M. Felton, C. H. Turner, A. A. Allen, Geo. W. Parker.
FINANCE .- Geo. A. Madill, Chairman; W. H. Lee, Geo. A. Baker, Edwards Whittaker, Walker Hill, W. H. Thompson, ex-officio.
GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS .- W. H. Thompson, Chairman; S. M. Kennard, W. F. Nolker. P. A. O'Neil, H. W. Stein- biss, W. B. Wells, Jno. A. Holmes
CONCESSIONS .- Geo. L. Edwards, Chairman; J. J. Wertheimer, W. B. Wells, J. J. Turner, C. F. Blanke.
INSURANCE .- Geo. T. Cram, Chairman; R. M. Scruggs, A. D. Brown.
FOREIGN RELATIONS .- Adolphus Busch, Chairman; W. F. Boyle, W. T. Haarstick, John D. Davis. M. E. Ingalls, D. C. Nugent, J. C. Van Blarcom.
SUPPLIES .- Norris B. Gregg, Chairman; James F. Coyle, Vice Chairman; J. J. Schotten, J. E. Smith, Charles A. Stix, J. W. McDonald, R. M. Scruggs.
SANITATION .- C. P. Walbridge, Chairman; Alex. N. De Menil, Vice Chairman; A. D. Brown, Dr. J. J. Lawrence, C. F. G. Meyer.
POLICE .- Harrison I. Drummond, Chairman; H. C. Turner, Vice Chairman; J. J. Wertheimer, W. C. Steigers, J. G. Butler.
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CEREMONIES .- C. H. Spencer, Chairman; W. H. Lee, Vice- Chairman; J. G. Butler, J. C. Van Blarcom L. D. Dozier, C P. Walbridge, James L. Blair.
LEGISLATION .- Daniel M. Houser, Chairman; W. C. Steigers, Vice Chairman; Nicholas M. Bell, George W. Parker, F. G. Niedringhaus, James Campbell, Seth W. Cobb.
AGRICULTURE .- Paul Brown, Chairman; Festus J. Wade, Vice Chairman; Nicholas M. Bell, Julius S. Walsh, David Ranken, Jr., Wm. J. Lemp, John Scullin.
MINES AND MINING .- W. J. Kinsella, Chairman; John D. Davis, Vice Chairman; David Ranken, Jr., C. F. G. Meyer, Isaac Schwab.
STATE AND TERRITORIAL EXHIBITS .- C. H. Huttig. Chairman; Edward S. Orr, Vice Chairman; A. H. Frederick, B. F. Yoakum. J. J. Schotten, J. W. McDonald, Clark H. Samp- son.
MANUFACTURES AND MACHINERY .- George Warren Brown. Chairman; S. M. Felton, Vice Chairman; Wm. H. Wood- ward, F. G. Niedringhaus, James F. Coyle, Jonathan Rice, Goodman King.
ELECTRICITY AND , ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES .- J. E. Smith, Chairman; Joseph Ramsey, Jr., Vice Chairman; Clark H. Sampson, August Gehner, Charles A. Stix, A. A. Allen, S. M. Dodd.
FISH AND FISHERIES .- Seth W. Cobb, Chairman; A. B. Hart. Vice Chairman; H. Clay Pierce. J. C. Van Blarcom, George M. Wright, Harrison I. Drummond, C. G. Warner.
ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY .- F. W. Lehmann, Chair - man; Goodman King, Vice Chairman; Walker Hill, Ed- wards Whittaker, Isaac Schwab, A. A. B. Woerheide, C. F. Blanke.
EDUCATION .- John Schroers, Chairman; R. B. Dula, Vice Chairman; A. A. B. Woerheide. A. L. Shapleigh, Wm. H. Woodward, George W. Parker, George A. Madill.
HISTORICAL .- Pierre Chouteau, Chairman; Alex. N. De Menil, Vice Chairman; A. B. Hart. Wm. J. Lemp, Wm. H. Woodward, W. T. Haarstick, George T. Cram.
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NATIONAL COMMISSIONERS.
HON. THOMAS H. CARTER of Montana, President.
HON. MARTIN H. GLYNN of New York, Vice-President.
HON. JOHN M. ALLEN of Mississippi.
HON. GEORGE M. MCBRIDE of Oregon.
HON. WILLIAM LINDSAY of Kentucky.
HON. JOHN M. THURSTON of Nebraska.
FREDERICK A. BETTS of Connecticut.
PHILIP D. SCOTT of Arkansas.
JOHN F. MILLER of Indiana.
NATIONAL COMMISSION COMMITTEES.
Judiciary-Lindsay, McBride and Thurston.
Executive-Carter, ex officio member; Miller, Betts, Scott and Allen.
Arbitration-Thurston and Allen.
Plan and Scope-McBride, Betts, Mills, Lindsay and Glynn.
Hon. Joseph Flory of St. Louis is secretary of the National Commission.
[ Headquarters, Southern Hotel.]
WORLD'S FAIR LOCATION.
T HE western half of Forest Park and territory ad- jacent thereto, selected as the site of the great Exposition commemorative of the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase, is considered an ideal location in every respect. The combined wisdom, experience and foresight of men identified with the progress and prosperity of the community, selected the Forest Park site after most careful deliberation and mature consid- eration ; and their choice was unanimously approved by the National Commission. The location is so easy of access from all directions that it might almost be considered in the heart of the city. From the Union Station it is only twenty minutes ride by electric car, and less than half an hour allows ample time to reach the location from either of the big down-town hotels or from the business center. The system of transfers in operation will land a passenger by trolley car on the grounds from the extreme limits of the city in any di- rection for one fare-five cents.
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WORLD'S FAIR LOCATION.
Forest Park, the western half of which will be occu- pied by the Fair, is in the central western part of the city. A line due west from the postoffice, the court house, Union Station, City Hall, Four Courts, or either of the present large down-town hotels, will strike an en- trance to the park. It is the second largest city park in the United States, Fairmount Park in Philadelphia alone exceeding it in size. The exact area is 1371.94 acres. The eastern half is splendidly cultivated and artistically arranged to the limit of the landscape gar- dener's skill and talent. The western half is as nature made it-almost primeval forest. This portion of the park includes 668 acres. Take a map of the city, and, beginning at a point on the southern edge of Forest Park, about midway between Euclid Avenue and the Skinker road, trace a line northward across the park to a point on " The Concourse," directly west of the pagoda, keeping Mirror lake and the music stand to the east, and the big lake to the west; thence north- westwardly to and following the Wabash Railroad to its intersection with Delmar Boulevard ; thence west along Delmar Boulevard to Skinker Road; south along Skinker Road to the northern line of the park ; west again 2500 feet ; south again to a point directly west of the southern boundary of the park; thence in a straight line east to the point of beginning. Within the figure thus described lies the World's Fair site. The total area is 1028 acres.
The "jog " or notch at the northwest corner of the site is made necessary by the location of the magnifi-
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cent new buildings of Washington University, now in course of construction. The University will overlook the western part of the Fair. There is, however, no obstacle, either legal or physical, to extending the Fair site area almost indefinitely on the west, north or south.
Because of the natural condition in which the western half of Forest Park has been kept it has come to be known as " The Wilderness." Over the entire stretch tall, stately shade trees grow luxuriantly. A single driveway, an extension of the Concourse. penetrates this portion, climbing hills and winding around ridges until the level plateau is reached, and then penetrating almost to the western boundary of the park. The eastern portion for perhaps one-third of the distance to the western line of the park is hilly. There is a suc- cession of three or four of these hills, none of them very high and all with gentle slopes. From the Catlin tract on the north and near the Skinker Road on the west, the river Des Peres enters the park and coils and winds about down to the eastern limit of the park site and thence into the improved portion of the park. No less than six small tributaries enter it as it journeys to the eastward before reaching the boundary of the Fair grounds. The largest lake in Forest Park is included in the Fair site. Its most eastern limit and that of the site itself are practically identical. Just to the west of the lake is the large track and hippodrome of the Gentlemen's Driving Club, the diagonal line drawn in a northwesterly direction in tracing the boundaries of the site almost touching the grand stand. Close by
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WORLD'S FAIR DIRECTORS.
1. D. C. Nugent.
2. J. C. Van Blarcom.
3. Murray Carleton.
4. Festus J. Wade.
5. Norris B. Gregg. S. A. D. Brown.
6. Dr. J. J. Lawrence.
7. A. L. Shapleigh.
9. Jonathan Rice. 10. J. J. Schotten.
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are the smoothly-surfaced lawn tennis courts. All of these of course will be wiped out at almost the first stroke of World's Fair work in the park.
The land outside the park included in the area as now laid out is hilly on the west, and unimproved. On the north it is perfectly level and has been platted for residence purposes. A portion of it, known as the Catlin tract, is classed as among the highest-priced residence ground in the city. On the south the land is high, and a portion of it is improved.
The existing facilities of approach to the Fair site render the problem of transportation, always a serious one in affairs of this kind, easier of solution than is generally the case with enterprises of so vast a nature. Forest Park is the western terminus of practically all the east and west street railway lines of St. Louis. Inside of the park there are now three street railway stations. In addition five steam railways run in close proximity. The Laclede Avenue and Market Street electric lines terminate at a pavilion at the eastern limits of the park, and the Olive Street line at the northeast corner. The Delmar Avenue line enters a pavilion on De Baliviere Avenue, inside the site. The Transit Company's Clayton line runs on Skinker Road, the western limit of the park, and included in the Fair grounds. All of these lines have their eastern termini in the center of the downtown business district of the city. A line of the Suburban Railway crosses from the north on Union Boulevard and forms a loop inside of the park. For all of the lines not actually entering the Fair grounds,
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possibilities of extension are offered. At Forsythe Junction, one block north of the park, and included in the contemplated limits, is a station of the Wabash and Colorado railroads. The Missouri Pacific, Frisco and Iron Mountain lines enter the city a few blocks south of Clayton Road. Between their tracks and the Fair grounds the land is such as to make the construction of switches and extensions an easy matter. The proposed belt line contemplates the location of a station inside of the grounds.
For drivers, bicyclists and patrons of automobiles the grounds are of easy access. The approaches on all sides are thoroughfares of the very finest of street paving construction. Lindell Boulevard, on the north limit of the park, is nationally famous as a drive- way. Delmar, McPherson and Maryland Avenues, ap- proaching from the east, all are splendidly paved, beautiful residence streets. Union Boulevard and Goodfellow and Hamilton Avenues, which extend to the grounds from the north, are popular for driving and wheeling purposes. Skinker Road, on the west, and others of the adjacent county roads are macadamized and always are in the best of condition.
Forest Park is the undisputed property of the city of St. Louis, the municipal park board having assumed charge in 1874. The adjoining properties whose use is contemplated will be leased from the owners, or se- cured through condemnation proceedings, for which careful provision has been made by law.
The use of the park portion of the site was made
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possible by the passage of an ordinance by the Munici- pal Assembly. When suggestions for sites were called for, seven locations for the fair were suggested. All these had their ardent advocates ; but when the Forest Park site selection was announced all sectional or fac- tional feeling faded, and, with that spirit of civic pride that is characteristic of St. Louisans, everybody ap- proved. What little opposition was shown by people whose love for Forest Park prompted them to protest against the destruction of any of its attractions, disap- peared when it was made plain that the eastern half of the park would be preserved, and that the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company was obligated to set aside an ample fund for the complete restoration of the park immediately after the close of the great Expo- sition.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE EXPOSITION.
W ITH a World's Fair assured on a scale of mag- nificance never before attempted, in which the Nation, the City of St. Louis as a corporation, and the people of St. Louis are equal factors, the story of how and why the great project was commenced and brought to full fruition is replete with interest for all the world. It is now an accepted fact that the nations of the earth will assemble in St. Louis in 1903 to join in the celebration of the centennial of the purchase by the United States of that vast area known as the Louisiana Territory.
Fifteen million dollars have been subscribed for stock in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company- five million by the United States Government, five mil- lion by the City of St. Louis, and five million by popu- lar subscription. The State of Missouri has appro- priated one million dollars to be expended in making a fitting exhibit of the State's resources. Other States have made or will make similar provision for a like
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purpose. The Government has appointed a board of commissioners to act in an advisory capacity and guard the Government's interest. The Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company has perfected organization and got the work under such splendid progress, directed by men of such energy, that there is every reason to feel assured that the gates of the great exposition will be thrown open on time.
In the spring of 1897 the Missouri Historical Society and the press began the agitation of a plan to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the acquisition of the " Louisiana Purchase " by the United States, and the citizens of the States within the Territory were invited to make suggestions bearing on the celebration.
In September, 1898, the Missouri Historical Society appointed a committee of fifty to decide upon the man- ner of holding the celebration, and the committee, in turn, appointed a committee of ten to consider the various methods proposed and to suggest the best and most practicable.
November 26, 1898-The committee of ten reported to the committee of fifty, advocating a celebration by all the States in the Purchase, and the committee of fifty approved the recommendation. It was forwarded to Gov. Lon V. Stephens, with a recommendation that a convention of representatives of the Louisiana Pur- chase States be called for St. Louis, to decide upon the place of holding such celebration.
December 13, 1898-Gov. Stephens issued a call for a convention in St. Louis for January 10, 1899.
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January 10, 1899-Representatives of all the Louis- iana Purchase States met in St. Louis at the Southern Hotel, and decided that a World's Fair would best commemorate the event, and that it should be held in St. Louis in 1903.
January 11, 1899-An executive committee was ap- pointed, with former Gov. David R. Francis as chair- man, and a committee of fifty was named to carry out the World's Fair idea.
February 11, 1899-The general committee was raised to two hundred and organized, with Pierre Chouteau as chairman and Jas. Cox as secretary. Finance and legislative committees were appointed, with Wm. H. Thompson and Frederick W. Lehmann as chairmen, respectively.
February 25, 1899-The Senators and Representa- tives of the States of the Louisiana Purchase were ten- dered a banquet at Washington by members of the general committee.
April 23, 1899-A citizens' mass-meeting was held at Music Hall, and $4,244,670 was subscribed toward the $5,000,000 fund which St. Louis was pledged to raise.
April 27, 1900-Hearing at Washington, D. C., of the World's Fair plan by the special committee of Congress, members of the executive committee, and representatives from most of the Purchase States ap- pearing in its behalf.
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