Chicago: Its History and its Builders, Volume 3 E-Book

Josiah Seymour Currey

• Herausgeber: Jazzybee Verlag
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 936

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Maybe there has never been a more comprehensive work on the history of Chicago than the five volumes written by Josiah S. Currey - and possibly there will never be. Without making this work a catalogue or a mere list of dates or distracting the reader and losing his attention, he builds a bridge for every historically interested reader. The history of Windy City is not only particularly interesting to her citizens, but also important for the understanding of the history of the West. This volume is number three out of five and covers topics like the World's Fair, Water supply, Parks, the Iroquois Fire, Arts, Bench and Bar and many more.

Leseprobe

Chicago

Its History and its Builders

Volume 3

JOSIAH SEYMOUR CURREY

Chicago: Its History and its Builders 3, J. Seymour Currey

Jazzybee Verlag Jürgen Beck

86450 Altenmünster, Loschberg 9

Deutschland

ISBN: 9783849648862

www.jazzybee-verlag.de

[email protected]

CONTENTS:

CHAPTER XLI - FORMATIVE PERIOD OF THE WORLD'S FAIR  1

CHAPTER XLII OPENING OF THE WORLD'S FAIR  23

CHAPTER XLIII - FEATURES OF THE WORLD'S FAIR  43

CHAPTER XLIV - THE EXPOSITION IN FULL SPLENDOR  65

CHAPTER XLV - NOTEWORTHY ATTRACTIONS  86

CHAPTER XLVI - SOME IMPORTANT RESULTS  108

CHAPTER XLVII - SANITARY DISTRICT  124

CHAPTER XLVIII - THE SANITARY CANAL  143

CHAPTER XLIX - WATER SUPPLY AND TUNNELS  164

CHAPTER L - THE PARKS OF CHICAGO   188

CHAPTER LI - TRACK ELEVATION   212

CHAPTER LII - THE PULLMAN STRIKE   236

CHAPTER LIII - IROQUOIS FIRE   258

CHAPTER LIV - MUSIC AND DRAMA   280

CHAPTER LV - SCHOOLS OF THE PRESENT DAY   311

CHAPTER LVI - THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY   340

CHAPTER LVII - BENCH AND BAR  356

CHAPTER LVIII - BANKS AND BANKING   372

CHAPTER LIX - INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT  396

CHAPTER LX - PRESENT DAY MOVEMENTS 419

CHAPTER XLI - FORMATIVE PERIOD OF THE WORLD'S FAIR

BEGINNINGS OF THE WORLD'S FAIR MOVEMENT

At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Inter-State Industrial Exposition, held November 14th, 1885, Mr. Edwin Lee Brown, one of the directors, offered the following resolution, which was adopted: "That it is the sense of this meeting that a great World's Fair be held in Chicago in the year 1892, the four hundredth anniversary of the landing of Columbus in America." This resolution at once attracted public attention and became the subject of much discussion in the press of the city and the country at large. "Many public men who were interviewed," says Andreas, "heartily commended the proposed World's Exposition, and it was deemed peculiarly appropriate for Chicago, the youngest, most enterprising and representative American city, to celebrate the landing of the great navigator of Genoa upon the new continent."

The celebration of the Centennial of the inauguration of George Washington as the first president of the United States in 1889, in Chicago, gave a fresh impetus to the movement for a World's Fair. The assembling on April 30th of that year of one hundred thousand people in eight mass meetings, and of two hundred thousand school children in over two hundred meetings, simultaneously, created such enthusiasm that it was considered an opportune time to prepare for the World's Fair in 1892. On July 22, 1889, the Chicago Common Council, in a series of resolutions, requested the Mayor to appoint a committee of one hundred representative citizens to take charge of the matter, and use all honorable means to secure the location of the Fair in Chicago. The Mayor on his own motion increased the number of citizens composing the committee to two hundred and fifty. On the first of August following, the committee met in the Council chamber and adopted resolutions in harmony with the purposes expressed in the Council resolutions.

While this was going on in Chicago, other cities were not idle. The people of New York and Washington were also holding meetings of a similar character, and making plans to have the World's Fair held in each one of those cities, and later St. Louis also took steps to the same end. New York proceeded to appoint committees on site, legislation, finance, etc., taking it for granted that the Fair would be held in that city as soon as the request to that effect should be made to Congress. These committees apparently did not work in harmony, and there was no system by which one knew what was being done by the others.

ORGANIZATION OF THE MOVEMENT

Chicago organized by the appointment of eleven standing committees, with the same secretary for each committee. Thus through this secretary all serious friction was avoided, and the committees moved together to the accomplishment of the one result. Mr. Edward F. Cragin was the secretary appointed for each of the committees, and his account of these preliminary steps is condensed from his published statement made afterwards in the New York Mail and Express.

The membership of these committees was enlarged from time to time until there were over six thousand citizens of Chicago and the surrounding country members of these main committees and the sub-committees appointed from them. The question of site was not discussed by any of them, except so far as to prepare a number of sites which were to be presented to Congress as being available. Men thoroughly familiar with all the arguments in favor of Chicago were sent into nearly every state of the Union, with a view of influencing the constituents of the members of Congress in their several districts. Thus the congressmen in a large number of districts were deluged with petitions from labor unions, manufacturers' associations, etc., and many state legislatures also passed resolutions favoring Chicago as the location of the proposed World's Fair.

It thus came about that before Congress assembled the congressmen were made fully aware of the wishes of their constituents, among which the preference for Chicago largely preponderated. Effective work was done by one of the standing committees,, that on National Agitation, of which Thomas B. Bryan was the chairman. "We were very careful in all our speeches and documents," writes Mr. Cragin, "not to present our case as that of Chicago against New York, but rather to show the advantage that would accrue to the great interior by having the Fair held in Chicago."

The argument was made that foreign nations would prefer to exhibit in New York, and to meet this argument (again using the words of the account), "we corresponded with every American consul in the world, asking them to inquire of the manufacturers and those who would be liable to exhibit, whether a seacoast or interior location for the World's Fair would be most desirable to exhibitors; and these answers were published and furnished the congressmen, and showed quite a majority in favor of an interior city as against a seacoast city."

When Congress assembled, New York, Washington, St. Louis, and Chicago had each a strong delegation working in behalf of their various cities. "New York's delegation was specially strong and ably conducted," writes Mr. Cragin. "Messrs. Platt, Depew, Hiscock, Belden, Flower, Shepard, Whitney, Fitch, Grant, and others of national prominence were giving superb banquets and dinners, and working tooth and nail for the success of New York. Chicago men from the first urged that a vote might be taken promptly; this however, they failed to secure, being out-maneuvered by the New York managers." The excitement ran high and great pressure was brought to bear upon congressmen to obtain their support. When the vote was at length reached it was found that Chicago received nearly as many votes as had been pledged to her, and it then appeared to the astonishment of the Eastern people that Chicago from the first had by far the largest number of votes in her favor.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

A principal source of information regarding the World's Fair is found in the "History of the World's Columbian Exposition," edited by Rossiter Johnson, and published in four large volumes, in 1897. This history was authorized and paid for by the Exposition. In the preface to the work the editor says: "The materials from which the History has been compiled are the records of proceedings of the Board of Director's, and documents on file in the general offices; the reports of Harlow N. Higinbotham, President of the Company; George R. Davis, Director General; Daniel H. Burnham, Director of Works; Mrs. Potter Palmer, President of the Board of Lady Managers, and other reports by subordinate officers."

It appears that the editor never visited the Exposition at any time, and his work on the history therefore may possibly be lacking in the inspiration and first hand knowledge to be. derived only from personal contact with the scenes and incidents on the spot. The work, however, is as full and satisfactory as could be expected when it is remembered that it is compiled mainly from official reports. The most important of these reports was that of the President of the Exposition, Mr. Higinbotham, whose volume of nearly five hundred pages, separately published, contains an excellent account of the inception and progress of the Exposition, infused with n spirit of enthusiasm and sympathy with the subject that is most admirable. This report has been largely drawn upon for the account herewith given of the great Exposition of 1893. The "History of the World's Columbian Exposition," above mentioned, will be referred to as the "History," while the President's report will be mentioned simply as the "Report."

In a letter written to the editor of the History by Mr. Higinbotham, giving some general outline of its scope and purpose, he said: "If asked to write a History, or tell the story of the World's Columbian Exposition, and it had not been my good fortune to personally witness its grandeur, I should wish to take such testimony as would convince me beyond a doubt that unlike the vision of St. John, it did really have a material existence; that it was as real as it was beautiful; that it did have thrust into it by the hand of man in great abundance, his richest, ripest and rarest creations; that it was made to throb and pulsate as if it had breathed into it the breath of life; that it was a Mecca that attracted to its shrine pilgrims from all quarters of the globe; that yonder in a new city, in a far country, there sprung up a spectacle that was as awe-inspiring as it was unlocked for and unexpected."

The Directors paid the publishers, Messrs. D. Appleton & Co., of New York, twenty-five thousand dollars for publishing the "History," and received three hundred sets printed on large paper, and bound in half morocco. These were distributed as gifts to members of the official bodies connected with the conduct of affairs, and to various public institutions. Other copies were placed on sale by the publishers in the usual manner.

FORMATION OF THE INITIAL CORPORATION

The first step in the formation of a corporation was taken on August 14th, 1889. On this date, commissioners to take subscriptions in the corporation to be known as the "World's Exposition of 1892," were authorized by the Secretary of State of Illinois. The capital stock was placed at five millions of dollars divided into 500,000 shares of ten dollars each. The commissioners named were De Witt C. Cregier, Ferdinand W. Peck, George Schneider, Anthony F. Seeberger, William C. Seipp, John R. Walsh, and E. Nelson Blake.

On April 9, 1890, the capital stock had been fully subscribed, and articles of incorporation were issued, the object stated being "the holding of an International Exposition, or World's Fair, in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, to commemorate, on its four hundredth anniversary, the Discovery of America."

In making subscriptions to the stock of the World's Fair it was clearly understood that the subscribers would not be likely to have a full return of the money thus invested, much less any profit therefrom. At the Centennial Exposition of 1876, the subscribers had one-third of their subscriptions returned to them afterwards, and it was thought as much might be expected from our own Fair. It is likely that a result as favorable as this might have been realized had it not been for the financial panic that broke upon the country during the progress of the Fair. As it turned out these subscribers eventually received fifteen per cent of their investment, which the final statements of the Fair will show in a later part of this history. It spoke well for the generosity and public spirit of the people that they subscribed as liberally as they did in the face of the dubious prospect of little or any returns from the investment in the stock of the World's Fair.

ARGUMENTS BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES

Committees were appointed by Congress to listen to such arguments as might be advanced by the different cities contending for the Fair. Mayor Cregier, Thomas B. Bryan, and Edward T. Jeffery appeared before a committee of the United States Senate and presented the claims of Chicago. In the course of his speech Mayor Cregier said: "The people of the city of Chicago are united in the hope and desire and determination that, wherever this Exposition is held, wherever in the wisdom of this Congress of the United States it shall be assigned, it shall excel all former events of the kind, and not only prove eminently successful, but comport with the grandeur and dignity of this great and progressive nation. To this end Chicago stands ready to lend her support. Chicago has been growing, under the name of a city, only fifty-six years, but during those years the city was wiped out by the most terrible calamity that history records. She has arisen, recuperated and resuscitated by the power of will and new blood, to the proud position of second city on the continent, and metropolis of the West."

Mr. Bryan made an argument to have the Fair held in an interior city rather than at a city on the seacoast. He said: "The argument against holding the Fair in the interior, based upon the supposed loss of foreign visitors and exhibits because it is not held at the seaport, has been completely exploded by the prompt and hearty responses from leading merchants and the ablest journals of Europe in favor of Chicago." This argument was reinforced by numerous citations from letters written by European manufacturers in answer to a circular of inquiry which had been previously issued.

Mr. Jeffery presented to the committee a document certifying that five millions of dollars had been subscribed for the enterprise in Chicago. To this he added some striking statistics showing the construction activities of the city in the recent period, the receipts and shipments, the value of manufactured goods, the ability of Chicago to take care of a multitude of visitors, the railroad facilities, and the immense tonnage of its lake commerce. He also paid a tribute to the energy and enterprise of the people of Chicago.

The discussion of the question of the location of the Fair now shifted to the House of Representatives, where at length the vote in favor of Chicago was taken. Both houses concurred and the President signed the bill on April 25, 1890. The Act provided for "celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of the Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, by holding an international exhibition of arts, industries, manufactures, and the product of the soil, mine, and sea, in the city of Chicago."

THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN COMMISSION

The Act of Congress designated the name of the Fair as the "World's Columbian Exposition," and it remained throughout its existence under that name, though oftener referred to simply as the World's Fair. The Act provided for a governing body to be known as the "World's Columbian Commission," and conferred upon it large powers. It was empowered "in its discretion to accept for the purposes of the 'World's Columbian Exposition' such site as may be selected and offered, together with plans and specifications of buildings to be erected for such purpose, at the expense of and tendered by the Corporation organized under the laws of the State of Illinois, known as 'The World's Exposition of 1892.' Provided, that said Commission shall be satisfied that the said Corporation has an actual bona fide and valid subscription to its capital stock which will secure the payment of at least five millions of dollars, of which not less than five hundred thousand dollars shall have been paid in, and that the further sum of five millions of dollars, making in all ten millions of dollars, will be provided by said Corporation in ample time for its needful use during the prosecution of the work for the complete preparation for said Exposition."

Other powers were conferred upon the Commission, such as determining the plan and scope of the Exposition, allotting space for exhibitors, and preparing the classifications, appointing judges and examiners, and generally having charge of all intercourse with the exhibitors and foreign nations. It was also required to appoint a Board of Lady Managers. A government building was provided for in the Act at a cost of four hundred thousand dollars, and the entire sum for which the government should be liable on account of the Exposition was not to exceed one and one-half millions of dollars. Articles imported from foreign countries for the sole purpose of exhibition were to be admitted duty free, but if afterwards any articles were sold for consumption in the United States they were to pay the customary duty.

The striking feature of this legislation was that it put the Fair under a dual authority. "In the planning of so great and complicated an undertaking," says the author of the History from which we have already quoted, "it is never possible to anticipate all contingencies, and in this instance it was inevitable that somewhere there should be a clash of jurisdiction between the two governing bodies. As a matter of fact, while many members of the National Commission served the Exposition faithfully and creditably, yet the Corporation not only provided by far the greater part of the necessary funds, but also did the greater part of the work."

The World's Columbian Commission, according to the Act, was to consist of two commissioners from each state and territory of the United States and the District of Columbia, besides eight commissioners at large, and was to exist no longer than until the first of January, 1898. As we shall presently see, the authority of this Commission seriously conflicted with that of the Illinois Corporation, and at one stage of affairs threatened to endanger the success of the Fair, but through mutual forbearance and harmony agreements, all friction was obviated, and the difficulties of the dual control overcome. The Commission was the body henceforth recognized by Congress and the President.

It was provided in the Act that the President should appoint the Commissioners, those from the states and territories on the nominations of the various governors, the others by the president directly. The two members of the Commission appointed from Illinois were Charles H. Deere, of Moline, and Adlai T. Ewing, of Chicago. On June 26, 1890, the Commission held its first meeting, and elected Hon. Thomas W. Palmer, of Michigan, as President of the World's Columbian Commission. Mr. Palmer remained president throughout the entire period of the Fair.

THE ILLINOIS CORPORATION

We will now follow the fortunes of the Illinois corporation. A few days before the Act of Congress was passed a meeting of the stockholders in the Illinois corporation was held and forty-five directors were chosen. This was on the 10th of April. The names of the gentlemen composing this first board are important and will be interesting no doubt to the readers of this history, and are as follows: Owen F. Aldis, Samuel W. Allerton, William T. Baker, Thomas B. Bryan, Edward B. Butler, William H. Colvin, De Witt C. Cregier, Mark L. Crawford, George R. Davis, James W. Ellsworth, John V. Farwell, Jr., Stuyvesant Fish, Lyman J. Gage, Harlow N. Higinbotham, Charles L. Hutchinson, Edward T. Jeffery, Elbridge G. Keith, Herman H. Kohlsaat, Rollin A. Keyes, Marshall M. Kirkman, Edward F. Lawrence, Thies J. Lefens, Cyrus H. McCormick, Joseph Medill, Andrew McNally, Robert Nelson, Adolph Nathan, John J. P. Odell, Ferdinand W: Peck, Erskine M. Phelps, Potter Palmer, J. C. Peasley, Eugene S. Pike, Martin A. Ryerson, Anthony F. Seeberger, W. E. Strong, Charles H. Schwab, Charles H. Wacker, Robert A. Waller, Edwin Walker, Frederick S. Winston, C. C. Wheeler, John R. Walsh, Otto Young, Charles T. Yerkes.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

"In selecting this Board, the leading spirits in the movement aimed to choose from among the prominent citizens men whose business ability was recognized, and who could be counted upon as possessing both the time and the inclination to serve the interests of the proposed Exposition. The latter qualifications were considered most essential, and gentlemen of the greatest prominence and business ability in several instances withdrew in favor of younger men, who could be more easily drawn upon for hard service."

Mr. Lyman J. Gage was chosen President of the Board of Directors on the 12th of April, 1890, and, on June 12th following, a special meeting of the stockholders was held, at which the name of the initial organization was changed from the "World's Columbian Exposition of 1892," to the "World's Columbian Exposition;" thus making the name identical with that used in the Act of Congress. The two organizations, however, remained separate, the one created under the Act being known as the "Commission," and the other as the "Board of Directors," or more simply as the "Directory." The name thus adopted was ridiculed by Eugene Field, one of the keenest paragraphers of the day, as a cumbersome title. "We hear nobody calling it the Columbian Exposition," he wrote. "That title fell into disfavor the very moment it was adopted by the authorities. The people never would have it. It is the World's Fair in spite of the sesquipedalian wiseacres whose talents seem to lie in the direction of unpopularity." In all official documents and formal statements, however, the name remains as adopted, but in speech and writing it is, as Field said, disregarded by the people, and the Exposition is generally known simply as the World's Fair.

BOARD OF REFERENCE AND CONTROL

In order to secure harmonious action on the part of the two governing bodies which we have described, a committee from each of them arranged a "Compact."

Under this Compact a Board of Reference and Control, consisting of eight members from each of the bodies, was created, upon which was conferred all the powers and duties of the Executive Committee of the Commission on the one hand, and of the like committee of the Directory on the other. To this Board was to be referred all matters of difference, and their action thereon should be conclusive, thus insuring harmonious action in the future. This Board of sixteen members, also called the Committee of Conference, was a compact organization of strong men, and its influence and work were powerful in securing the success of the Exposition. The members from the Commission were Thomas W. Palmer, of Michigan; James A. McKenzie, of Kentucky; George V. Massey, of Delaware; William Lindsay, of Kentucky; Michael H. de Young, of California; Thomas M. Waller, of Connecticut; Elijah B. Martindale, of Indiana; and J. W. St. Clair, of West Virginia. Subsequently Messrs. Lindsay and McKenzie were succeeded by R. L. Saunders, of Mississippi; and Harvey P. Platt, of Ohio. The members from the Directory were Lyman J. Gage, Thomas B. Bryan, Potter Palmer, Ferdinand W. Peck, Edward T. Jeffery, Edwin Walker, Frederick S. Winston, and De Witt C. Cregier. Messrs. Bryan, Palmer, Jeffery, Winston, and Cregier were subsequently succeeded by Harlow N. Higinbotham, Robert A. Waller, Henry B. Stone, Edward P. Ripley, and John J. P. Odell.

"These gentlemen were among the leading professional and business men of Chicago, and gave their services freely in the interest of the Exposition, often to the sacrifice of their own private affairs." The two bodies in their separate capacity had already agreed on the appointment of Colonel George R. Davis as Director-General of the Exposition, and upon the adoption of the Compact Colonel Davis began the organization of the Departments, and the several chiefs were soon after appointed. The departments and their chiefs were as follows:

Agriculture and Live Stock               W. I. Buchanan.

Horticulture and Floriculture            J. M. Samuels.

Fish and Fisheries                    J. W. Collins.

Mines and Metallurgy                      Frederick J. V. Skiff.

Machinery                        L. W. Robinson.

Transportation                        Willard A. Smith.

Manufactures                          James Allison.

Electricity                        J. P. Barrett.

Fine Arts Halsey                      C. Ives.

Liberal Arts                             Selim H. Peabody.

Ethnology                       F. W. Putnam.

Publicity and Promotion           Moses P. Handy.

Foreign Affairs                 Walker Fearn.

Many of these departments included branches within a broad title, as for example, "Liberal Arts," which embraced a vast array of Manufactured articles. Education, Engineering, Public Works, Architecture, Music, and the Drama.

WORK OF CONSTRUCTION

The next important step was the creation of a Construction Department, and the appointment of Daniel H. Burnham as Chief. Attached to the Construction Department were John W. Root, architect; Abram Gottlieb, engineer; and Messrs. Olmsted & Company, landscape architects. A Board of Consulting Architects was also selected, composed of Richard M. Hunt, George B. Post, McKim, Mead & White, Peabody & Stearns, Van Brunt & Howe, Burling & Whitehouse, Jenney & Mundie, Henry Ives Cobb, Solon S. Beman, and Adler & Sullivan; the last five firms and individuals being Chicago architects.

The Board of Architects met on January 10th, 1891. "The members visited the park and conferred regarding the task before them. Before the board had fairly organized and concentrated its attention upon the task John W. Root was stricken with pneumonia and died. His death caused universal grief in Exposition circles, for his genial qualities and his great reputation as an architect had endeared him to all. His loss was felt to be almost irreparable, and the Directory paid a tribute to his memory by placing upon their records a memorial of their appreciation of his great worth, his genius and exquisite taste, and their grief at his death."

The success of the building scheme was due to the fortunate selection of the Board of Architects who had been nominated by the Chief of Construction. At a meeting of this board held on February 22, 1891, preliminary sketches and drawings were submitted, and, after some modifications, were approved. It is related that when the architects assembled to submit the sketches for their several buildings they spent the afternoon in an examination and consideration of the various designs proposed. Each of them expressed willingness to modify his own views or plans for the sake of the unity of the whole group. St. Gaudens, who was present, sat all day listening, but scarcely speaking or moving; and, at the close of the meeting, came to Mr. Burnham, taking both of his hands in his own, exclaimed: "Do you realize that this is the greatest meeting of artists since the fifteenth century?"

SELECTION OF A SITE

Now that the organization of the working forces of the Exposition was completed, the Directory began to turn its attention to such matters as required early and decisive action. The first and most important question to be settled was that of the site upon which the buildings were to be placed. Sites were tendered upon the north, west and south sides of the city, the most available of which seemed to be the Lake Front east of Michigan avenue, though the area of this tract would be insufficient without extensive filling towards the lake. "While this area was not regarded as sufficient," says a writer in the authorized "History of the World's Columbian Exposition," "it was thought that the most important features of the Exposition could be located upon this site and the remainder separated from it and placed upon another site at Jackson Park. It was even thought practicable to fill a sufficient amount of land to enable placing the entire Exposition upon the Lake Front. This idea had many champions in spite of the great obstacles it presented. Its friends were willing to attack grave difficulties for the furtherance of the plan, on account of its many attractive features and the permanent benefits that would result to the city.

"Could it have been possible to locate the entire Exposition at this point, the comfort of the visiting public, relieved of the necessity for securing transportation facilities to reach the Exposition, and the permanent benefit to the city occurring from the location of a magnificent park in the heart of the business district, would have been advantages. worthy of great sacrifices, but nothing less than the whole plan would answer the purpose."

Nevertheless the Board passed a resolution favoring the Lake Front site, provided that the city of Chicago should fill up a space to include a total area of three hundred acres. An obstacle was at once met with in the refusal of the War Department to allow filling beyond the government dock line. Another resolution was now adopted including both the Lake Front and Jackson Park for the uses of the Exposition. Further obstacles to the use of the Lake Front appeared in the opposition of the property owners upon Michigan avenue to the erection of buildings at this point; and the heavy expense of filling the submerged portion of the land even as far as permitted by the government.

Meantime a committee examined the Jackson Park site, and, with the assistance of the well known landscape architect, Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted, made a report to the Board favoring this site. The Illinois legislature passed an act authorizing the Board of South Park Commissioners to grant the use of such parks as it controlled to the Exposition. Jackson Park embraced about five hundred acres in its area, and at that time was very slightly improved. The South Park Commissioners tendered to the Board of Directors of the Exposition the use of Jackson Park and the wide strip of land, afterwards known as the Midway, connecting this park with Washington Park, subject to the condition that the buildings to be erected should be removed at the close of the Exposition. The dual site idea was at length practically abandoned, and plans were prepared for the grounds and buildings to be placed in Jackson Park, and were submitted to the President of the United States for his approval, whose proclamation and invitation to foreign nations to participate in the exhibition of products was now awaited. These plans were of course far from having been matured, but on the basis of the requirements for such buildings as were known to be necessary a general plan was prepared under the direction of Mr. John W. Root, whose architectural genius and coordinating talent were invaluable for the purpose. This was among the last of Mr. Root's services to the Exposition.

"At one time it seemed certain," wrote a correspondent, in giving a sketch of the early history of the Fair, who said he obtained his information from Mr. Joseph Medill, "that it would be located on Lake Front Park, the park that fronts the breakwater harbor between Randolph and Twelfth streets, and had it not been for Mr. Lyman J. Gage, it would have been located there; and that mistake would have been a blunder of such a serious, if not fatal character, that all other mistakes would have been as dust in the balance by comparison." Fortunately, however, this project "was held back from consummation long enough to enable the minority of the commission to bring about a reaction," and so, finally, its location at Jackson Park was established.

GENERAL PLANS CONSIDERED

The World's Fair buildings and the arrangement of the grounds was the inspiration of the "Plan of Chicago," as set forth in the sumptuous publication of the Chicago Commercial Club, issued in 1909. "The Word's Fair of 1893," says the author of that work, "was the beginning, in our day and in this country, of the orderly arrangement of extensive public grounds and buildings. The result came about quite naturally. Chicago had become a commercial community wherein men were accustomed to get together to plan for the general good. Moreover, those at the head of affairs were, many of them, the same individuals who had taken part in every movement since the city had emerged from the condition of a mere village....

"Then, too, the men of Chicago, trained in intense commercial activity, had learned the lesson that great success cannot be attained unless the special work in hand shall be entrusted to those best fitted to undertake it. It had become the habit of our business men to select someone to take the responsibility in every important enterprise; and to give that person earnest, loyal, and steadfast support. Thus the design and arrangement of the buildings of the World's Columbian Exposition, which have never been surpassed, were due primarily to the feeling of loyalty to the city and its undertakings; and secondly, to the habit of entrusting great works to men trained in the practice of such undertakings."

THE POPE'S LETTER

The letter of the Pope, Leo XIII, lent great encouragement to the friends of the Fair at a time when they were looking with keen interest towards foreign people for sympathy and co-operation. The letter was written in Latin, and was addressed to Thomas B. Bryan. It was dated February 27, 1892, and in the letter he said; "While we see on all sides the preparations that are being eagerly made for the celebration of the Columbian quarto-centenary in memory of a man most illustrious and deserving,... we hear with great pleasure that the United States has, among other nations, entered this competition of praise in such a manner as befits the vastness and richness of the country, and the memory of the man so great as he to whom these honors are being shown. Nothing, certainly, could be more splendid than what is told to us of the grand and magnificent exposition which that nation will hold at Chicago, bringing together every kind of produce and work which fruitful nature bears, and the artful industry of man creates."

CHANGES IN OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Mr. Lyman J. Gage resigned as president of the board of directors in April, 1891, because of the pressure of his private business. Shortly before he had presented his report, which was printed and distributed as the first annual report of the Exposition. "It was an admirable presentation," says Mr. Higinbotham, in his report made at the close of the fair, "of the clear ideas and the firm grasp which Mr. Gage had of the conditions and demands of the World's Columbian Exposition."

Mr. William T. Baker, one of the original directors, was then elected president, a man who had previously held the honorable position of president of the Chicago Board of Trade, and while on the directory had worked effectively for the success of the fair. The great problems before the directory during the year 1891 were those of finance, of adequate transportation facilities, and the awakening among foreign nations of a sufficient interest in the Exposition. In all these matters Mr. Baker was a master hand at the helm of affairs.

Mr. Baker was again elected president of the directory at the annual meeting in April, 1892, and at the same time Mr. Harlow N. Higinbotham was elected vice-president. Howard O. Edmonds was elected secretary to succeed Benjamin Butterworth. Mr. Baker's health failed in the following July, and he resigned soon after. Mr. Higinbotham was then elected president of the company, a position which he thenceforth occupied with great ability throughout the whole remaining period during which the fair was in preparation, and afterwards when it was open to the world. In fact, owing to his able and efficient administration of affairs he has continued ever since at the head of the company, and through its long period of liquidation down to the present time.

Mr. Higinbotham was elected president of the World's Columbian Exposition in August, 1892, though as vice-president he had acted in that capacity for a considerable period before that time, by reason of the absence of the president in Europe. It will be remembered that Mr. William T. Baker was the president before the election of Mr. Higinbotham. Thus, during the most active period of preparations for the Exposition, Mr. Higinbotham was the guiding spirit in all the multifarious affairs that preceded its opening. The first great event in his administration was the dedication of the Exposition, on the 23d of October, 1892, where more than 100,000 people were gathered in the great Manufactures Building, then barely completed; the dedication was followed by the formal opening on May 1st of the following year. Few of us can understand, unless personally familiar with its affairs, what strain and stress was endured by the president and his associates during the whole period of the exposition, and especially during the period when twenty millions of money had to be provided, and was actually spent, before returns could begin to be realized.

The corporation known as the World's Columbian Exposition is still in existence, and Mr. Higinbotham is still its president. It was often said after its close that the great World's Fair "had passed into history." But no doubt Mr. Higinbotham has realized often enough since that time that for him, at least, the exposition had not by any means passed into history, and that the closing of its immense and world-wide affairs has required years of his time.

The glorious success of the exposition is to be attributed to a variety of favoring circumstances, to a public spirit that perhaps could only have been aroused in such abundant measure in the city of Chicago, but more than all to the president of the Exposition who was the genius, the gifted leader, the one who bore the burden of the tremendous responsibilities thrust upon him. It is no doubt true that our fellow townsman, Mr. Daniel H. Burnham, the wonderfully efficient director of works, is entitled to a large share of the glory and honor of what was achieved at the great exposition. His share of the honors is and must be recognized in any comprehensive and adequate account of the building of the Great Fair.

MR. BURNHAM AS DIRECTOR OF WORKS

Of Mr. Burnham's activities during the period of construction President Higinbotham says in his report; "The director of works seemed omnipresent. No hour was too early, no weather too severe for him to be abroad, inspecting and directing the progress of the work and urging on his lieutenants. It was his custom to drive through the grounds in an open vehicle at daybreak or earlier, accompanied by his secretary, Montgomery B. Pickett, and a stenographer, and occasionally by one or more of his officers, making notes and informing himself as to the condition of the work in every part of the grounds. When the enormous space to be covered is considered, the labor and exertion of this feat can be appreciated. The wonderful physical strength of the director of works enabled him to perform this exertion without apparent effort or detriment to his health. At seven or half past seven o'clock his officers held a 'bureau meeting,' usually presided over by the assistant director of works, Ernest R. Graham, at which the director of works generally assisted. Officers were enabled to secure information, prefer complaints, and make requests, and minutes were kept of the proceedings. It was possible at these meetings for the director of works to urge on portions of the work which were behindhand, calling to account any one who appeared to be delinquent, and settling every complaint by prompt and vigorous measures. It can easily be seen that by these morning inspections and bureau meetings a vast amount of actual work could be planned ready for execution while the people of Chicago were arising from bed and preparing for breakfast. It is no wonder that the efficiency of the department was so great as to render easy of accomplishment things which would ordinarily be thought impossible within the time allotted."

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

When, on June 12, 1890, the Illinois corporation changed its name from the "World's Exposition of 1892" to the "World's Columbian Exposition," the capital stock of the company was at the same time changed from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000, thus to enable it to comply with the terms named in the act of congress. "It was hoped," says the history from which we have quoted already, "that a considerable portion of this additional stock would be subscribed, thus giving the company additional funds with which to carry on its work, but it could not reasonably be expected that, after the vigorous canvass of the city made to secure the first $5,000,000, it would be possible to go over the ground again and raise an equal amount. The company was therefore compelled to look to other sources for the remainder of the sum that congress required it to furnish.

"There was but one other source, an issue of city bonds in aid of the exposition. This was impossible under the constitution of the state, the city having already a bonded debt as great as the constitution permitted. To accomplish the desired result it was necessary to obtain an amendment to the constitution. The situation was properly represented to the governor, Hon. Joseph W. Fifer, who thereupon convened the legislature of Illinois in special session on July 23, 1890. The legislature promptly passed a joint resolution authorizing an amendment to the constitution of the state, and providing for its submission to the people at the election to be held in the following November. This amendment, which empowered the city of Chicago to issue $5,000,000 of bonds in aid of the World's Columbian Exposition, received a substantially unanimous vote of the people of the state."

FIVE MILLIONS IN CITY BONDS

Immediately after the election, the city council passed an ordinance providing five millions of dollars for the use of the exposition. The list of subscriptions previously taken was now freshly scrutinized by the officers of the directory, and wherever delinquencies appeared it was found that they were more than made good by new subscriptions, so universally popular was the fair with the people. In fact, the first five millions subscribed was increased by more than a million of new subscriptions, and when a financial statement was made up the next year after the fair had closed, there was shown a total of $5,61 4,425, collected on account of the capital stock subscribed by firms and individuals.

The time had now arrived to make known to the Commission that the required ten millions of dollars would be available for the uses of the Exposition. The Commission, which was the official channel of communication with the President, thereupon adopted a resolution declaring that it was satisfied "that an actual bona fide, legally binding subscription existed, from which the company would realize five millions of dollars, and that satisfactory guarantees existed for five millions more, thus complying fully with the obligation placed upon the city of Chicago by the act of congress." The President upon receiving this assurance from the commission issued the proclamation, now eagerly awaited, inviting foreign nations to participate in the exposition.

The President's proclamation was dated December 24, 1890, and recited as follows: That "whereas, satisfactory proof has been presented to me that provision has been made for adequate grounds and buildings for the uses of the World's Columbian Exposition, and that a sum not less than ten millions of dollars, to be used and expended for the purposes of said exposition has been provided in accordance with the conditions and requirements" of the Act of Congress of April 25, 1890, authorizing "an international exhibition of arts, industries, and manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine, and sea, in the city of Chicago," therefore it is declared and proclaimed that such international exhibition will be opened on the 1st day of May, 1893; and an invitation was extended to all nations of the earth to take part in the same "by appointing representatives and sending exhibits to the World's Columbian Exposition as will most fitly and fully illustrate their resources, their industries, and their progress in civilization." The proclamation was signed by Benjamin Harrison, president, and James G. Elaine, secretary of state. Thus the world was officially notified of the great approaching event, and preparations for the participation of foreign nations at once began.

ESTIMATE OF COST

The total cost of construction of the proposed buildings, and the improvement of the grounds, was estimated by the construction department at $12,766,890. A budget committee, appointed by the directory, also made an estimate, increasing the amount required for all branches of the exposition until May 1, 1893, to $16,075,453. The estimated cost was based upon the supposition that the entire exposition would be located in Jackson Park. "The committee pointed out that the limited area available on the lake front without filling would undoubtedly increase this estimate at least one million dollars."

After M. Berger, formerly director-general of the Paris Exposition of 1889, had made a eareful study of the conditions existing at Chicago at this period, he named $17,000,000 as his estimate of the needed capital that would be required, a figure that coincided strikingly with the total amount named by the budget committee.

The estimates of the budget committee were adopted by the directory, which now began to realize the magnitude of its task. "During the following spring," says the author of the history, "while the work of dredging and filling was being rapidly pushed at the park, the plans of the buildings came in, one by one, from the distinguished architects who had them in charge. These were promptly taken up and prepared for contracting in the construction department. This department grew and extended itself rapidly from day to day as the needs of the work increased. With but little friction and without delay that splendid organization sprung up around the chief of construction which played such a great part in the results achieved. The discipline and efficiency of the force was greater than that of a veteran army, for it was composed of intelligent, well-educated professional men, each one eminent in his particular line of work. The chief of construction possessed wonderful enthusiasm, and he had the ability to impart it to those about him; he had success in choosing his assistants and lieutenants; he had wonderful capacity for attracting to him young men of ardent temperament but extraordinary capacity, whose vigor and enthusiasm, when tempered with the discretion of older heads, formed the best possible combination for the purposes in view."

GROUNDS AND BUILDING COMMITTEE

One of the committees created by the directory in the early part of 1890 was the "grounds and building committee," which was recognized in the "compact" previously referred to. This committee of seven members sat almost daily from the spring of 1890 until the 18th day of August, 1892. On this date the committee on grounds and buildings went out of existence after its splendid career of services, and its functions were assumed by the "council of administration" composed of four members only, two directors and two commissioners. The title of the chief of construction was, at the same time, changed to that of director of works. The council of administration was composed of the following gentlemen: H. N. Higinbotham, and Charles H. Schwab, of the directory, and George V. Massey, of Deleware, and J. W. St. Clair, of West Virginia, the two latter being members of the commission.

CHANGES IN THE DIRECTORY

Owing to changes occurring in the board of directors during the period of the exposition, the following gentlemen became directors in place of others who had resigned for various reasons, or whose terms had expired: C. K. G. Billings, Benjamin Butterworth, Isaac N. Camp, William J. Chalmers, Charles H. Chappell, Robert C. dowry, Arthur Dixon, George P. Engelhard, George B. Harris, Charles Henrotin, Egbert Jamieson, William D. Kerfoot, Milton W. Kirk, William P. Ketcham, Herman H. Kohlsaat, Washington Porter, Alexander H. Revell, Edward P. Ripley. A. M. Rothschild, George W. Saul, George Schneider, James W. Scott, Paul O. Stensland, Henry B. Stone, Bernard E. Sunny, Hempstead Washburne, John C. Welling, George H. Wheeler.

FURTHER ASSISTANCE REQUIRED

As we have seen by the estimates made, even the ten millions of dollars required by the act of congress would not nearly provide the necessary funds to carry out the plans. Mr. Gage, the president of the board of directors, pointed out clearly the broad, general features of the situation. He said: "Why should this company assume the burden and risk of creating an exposition to cost fifteen or sixteen millions of dollars? Why not, instead, restrict the undertaking to a cost of ten millions of dollars, unless the national government, or some other responsible and equally interested party, shall first agree to provide the difference?" In answer to these questions he further said, "Neither the people of our city, of our state, of our country, nor of the world would be, or ought to be, satisfied with any exhibition that will not worthily exemplify the progress of the world in art, science, and industry, and typify the highest achievements in architecture, in art, and in all things that illustrate the utilization by man of the resources and powers of Nature."

But the friends of the fair had been frequently warned that the general government would do nothing in aid of the enterprise, further than the appropriation for its own building and exhibit. "The opposition of other cities that had competed for the location of the exposition was an additional ground for doubt as to the possibility of securing aid from the national treasury, yet it was the firm belief of every director that when the company and the city had met their fair share of the enormous cost of the great work, in which every citizen of the republic was interested, the generous recognition and co-operation of those outside of Chicago could reasonably be demanded. If this expectation should not be realized, there remained a last alternative of carrying the enterprise through and compelling the patriotic citizens of Chicago to bear the heavy burden unaided. And there is little reason to doubt that this would have been done had the necessity arisen."

THE APPEAL TO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Meantime the scope of the exposition and the vast extent of its undertakings rendered it necessary that its case should be presented to congress with a request for its aid. The commission, in the autumn of 1891, gave its approval to the work already undertaken and completed by the directory, and adopted a resolution approving the plan of making an appeal to congress for a loan in aid of the exposition. This, however, did not meet with the approval of the directory. Their plan was to secure an appropriation outright rather than a loan. "They did not consider it proper that the government, in granting financial aid to this national undertaking, after the city had expended over ten millions of dollars upon it, should receive in return a first lien upon the proceeds of the entire investment," thus exhausting the company's capacity to borrow, which would still possibly be necessary before the fair could be opened and the returns begin to flow in. "What the company insisted upon as the proper expression of the financial responsibility of the government for the exposition was an appropriation in its aid without any requirement as to repayment."

Little doubt had been felt that aid from the national government would be forthcoming, provided the company fulfilled its duty, administered its affairs properly, and energetically carried the work forward on the grand plans that it had caused to be prepared. In December, 1891, congress began to consider the matter seriously, and a bill was introduced providing for an appropriation of five millions of dollars in aid of the exposition. A committee of congress visited Chicago in the following March and made an investigation on the spot. Their report closed with this tribute to the exposition: "Your committee express without reserve their confidence in the assured success of the exposition. Fifty-six nations and colonies have accepted the invitation to participate in the enterprise, and have appropriated $3,783,000 for that purpose. It is expected that twenty other foreign nations will also be represented. Complete exhibits will be made by all countries which promise attendance, twenty-six of which will erect special buildings for their own displays. Thirty states and territories of our own republic will erect buildings and make special exhibits, for which $3,182,500 has already been provided. It becomes obvious, therefore, that the expenditures of the local corporation, of individual enterprise of the states and territories, and of our own and all foreign governments, will reach the stupendous aggregate of not less than thirty millions of dollars for exhibition purposes. In its scope and magnificence the exposition stands alone. There is nothing like it in all history. It easily surpasses all kindred enterprises, and will amply illustrate the marvelous genius of the American people in the great domains of agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and inventions, which constitute the foundation upon which rests the structure of our national glory and prosperity."

There were many difficulties, however, in the way of enacting the proposed legislation. The political situation entered into and complicated matters. A presidential election was approaching, and public measures were invariably considered with a view to their bearing upon this event. It was intimated that if the company would accept a loan instead of a direct appropriation, this form of aid might be secured. The board of directors rejected this proposition, and refused to be put in the attitude of suppliants for favor, when they were conscious of the justice of their demands. The struggle continued during a great part of the following summer, until it became apparent that the bill as introduced could not pass. Further efforts along this line were abandoned.

At length, however, a compromise was proposed, and the "Souvenir Coin Measure," as it was called, was introduced and passed without material opposition. This measure became a law on the 5th of August, 1892, and provided that two and a half million of dollars in the form of "Columbian Half Dollars" should be coined, according to devices and designs prescribed by the director of the mint. These coins were to be paid out by the secretary of the treasury to the World's Columbian Exposition upon estimates and vouchers certified to by the president and director-general, "for the purpose of aiding in defraying the cost of completing, in a suitable manner, the work of preparation for inaugurating the World's Columbian Exposition." This appropriation was coupled with a condition that the fair should be closed to the public on Sundays. Immediately afterwards a plan was devised to sell these souvenir coins at a premium, which eventually increased the amount received by the exposition from this source to a considerable extent.

The advantage thus derived, however, was offset by the subsequent action of congress in saddling upon the exposition the expenses incurred by the commission in providing for judges and awards. These expenses were estimated to be $570,880, and this amount was ordered by congress to be deducted from the two and a half millions already appropriated, and thus the net amount of the appropriation was reduced to $1,929,120. But the premiums received brought this up again to a total of $2,607,854. It was hoped that all the five million half dollars would be sold at one dollar each, but owing to delay in delivery by the mint the enthusiasm, shown at the beginning of the sale, and which at first ran high, soon evaporated, and a large number of them were left to be disposed of eventually at their face value.

WITHHOLDING THE FUND FOR "JUDGES AND AWARDS"

The action taken by congress, six months after the passage of the "Souvenir Coin Measure," in charging against it the amount of $570,880 required by the commission "for the judges and awards," was looked upon by the directory as unjust and wholly beyond the purposes expressed in the act itself. The act, as we have quoted above, specified that the souvenir coins were to be paid out "for the purpose of aiding in defraying the cost of completing, in a suitable manner, the work of preparation for inaugurating the World's Columbian Exposition." It was a departure from the original intention of the act, therefore, to require that the exposition company should bear this new burden at all. The subject of awards was wholly within the jurisdiction of the commission, and the company had no control over it nor responsibility for it. "The commission, through its committee on awards," says President Higinbotham, in his report, "had prepared plans and estimates for judging exhibits and making awards thereon, and it asked for an appropriation from congress to defray its expenses, as in the case of other branches of the commission's work. The amount estimated by the committee on awards to be necessary was $570,880. Instead of making an appropriation for the purpose, congress directed that an equal amount of souvenir coins be withheld from the company until it gave security to the secretary of the treasury that an appropriation of the amount needed for this purpose would be made out of the company's funds."

In the report we have just quoted from. President Higinbotham vigorously denounces the action taken by congress in this matter. "At this time," he says, "when the company was relying, almost from day to day, on the remittances of souvenir coins to replenish its treasury, congress diverted this $570.000 of its 1 appropriation to a purpose not in any way connected with the 'completing of the work of preparation for inaugurating the World's Columbian Exposition.' Such a thing could not have been attempted between individuals in the great business world without speedy redress through legal process. This act aroused indignation among the citizens of Chicago. The recollection of it is still bitter to the officers and directors who were compelled to bear the additional burden thus laid upon the company in the hour of its need."

ISSUE OF EXPOSITION BONDS

During the last few months of the period before the fair was opened the financial problem hung heavy on the hands of the directory. The bonds issued by the city of Chicago for five millions of dollars were readily sold and became available for the purposes of the exposition. The financial situation at this time showed the resources of the exposition to consist of the following:

Capital Stock and City Bonds           $10,700,000

Souvenir Coins                             2,500,000

Receipts Prior to Opening                330,000

Total                                              $13,530,000

It became necessary now to resort to the anticipated issue of exposition bonds, and, accordingly, an issue of five millions in bonds was authorized. The estimates in the later revised budgets showed such an increase in the amount required before the opening day that the total sum necessary would be $19,437,827. Thus even with the proposed sale of Exposition bonds the total of resources would only amount to $18,530,000, still nearly a million below the requirements. But there were amounts which would become available in the meantime, such as refunds from various exhibits, state and foreign governments, and premiums from souvenir coins; and these helped to bridge over the deficit.

The situation was made more difficult by the failure of the exposition bonds to find a ready sale as it had been hoped they would. This source of trouble, however, was happily averted by the aid of the railroad companies, several of which took large blocks of the bonds; and of the banks, which made heavy advances on the security of about a million dollars' worth of souvenir coins still held by the exposition awaiting sale at the premium it was hoped to be realized.

When, at last, the opening day arrived, on the 1st of May, 1893, it found the financial managers of the exposition at the end of their resources. The long period of disbursements without earnings was at an end. "For three years," says Mr. Higinbotham, "while we had been building, we had been struggling to provide the means to reach with credit and success the opening day of the exposition. That day dawned, and the first great financial problem, that which related to the raising of funds required to open the exposition, was brought to a final solution. I repeat that one who had not shared in some way in that task can not appreciate its gravity and the deep, heartfelt thankfulness of those who had borne it, when they saw the end of their labors, and the great exposition practically complete, unfolding its noble and beautiful proportions to the eyes of the world."

We will now return to the great occasion of the dedication in the month of October preceding, a proper account of which should here be given, before describing the opening and continuance of the fair through the six months of its existence. It must be remembered that the "Dedication" and the "Opening" were two different events, the significance of and reasons for which will be explained in the following pages.

CHAPTER XLII - DEDICATION AND OPENING OF THE WORLD'S FAIR

THE FORMAL DEDICATION

date fixed for the dedication of the World's Columbian Exposition was October 21, 1892, the four hundredth anniversary of the Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. This was the first great task encountered by the exposition managers, and caused them much labor and grave anxiety; but the experiences gained on this occasion were of great value in the management of the multitudes of visitors during the progress of the fair. The opening of the fair to exhibitors and visitors was not to take place until the 1st of May following, but "the dedication of the exposition buildings six months before the enterprise was to be actually inaugurated," says the report, "was approved as a means of disseminating throughout the country a knowledge of the grandeur and extent of the exposition, and of the completeness of the equipment which Chicago had prepared for it." The grounds and the buildings were yet in an incomplete condition, but the entrances and driveways had been made passable, while the great building in which the exercises were to be held, though still far from complete, had been enclosed and was temporarily fitted up for the purpose.

"The civic parade, upon the day preceding the dedication, was participated in by many thousands of people, including all the non-military organizations of the city, and the governors of most of the States of the Union, accompanied by the members of their respective staffs. It was a most inspiring scene. The procession occupied more than four hours in passing the grand stand at the custom house, where it was reviewed by Vice-President Morton."

THE DEDICATION CEREMONIES

The task of handling the crowds on the day of the dedication exercises was the first severe strain placed upon the managers of the fair. The means of travel were yet far from having reached the degree of completeness that were afterwards attained. Only those who had received invitations, one hundred thousand of which had been issued, were supposed to attend the dedication exercises, but as it was observed that great crowds had gathered at the entrances, the gates were thrown open later in the day and everyone admitted regardless of whether they were invited or not. The transportation lines, however, did effective service, the day passed without accidents, and the crowds were handled to the satisfaction of all.

The entire central part of the city was cleared by the police for the convenience of private conveyances. Carriages conveying persons officially connected with the ceremonies were passed through the police lines by means of cards previously issued. The members of the board of directors, the World's Columbian Commission, and the board of lady managers, and the distinguished guests of the occasion formed in line, in carriages, on Michigan avenue near the Auditorium, whence they were escorted by United States troops south on that avenue to Twenty-ninth street, where they were joined by Vice-President Morton and party and President Palmer of the commission. From this point the procession moved to Jackson park by way of the Midway Plaisance.