Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission Part 41

Committees were appointed for the purpose of collecting exhibits and to look after the work of installation and maintenance.

On the outbreak of the Russia-j.a.pan war it was deemed advisable to withdraw the Government exhibit. This was a cause of considerable concern to the Russian Emperor, who had been anxious to show his appreciation of the friends.h.i.+p that existed between Russia and the United States.

The commissioner-general then made a report that was unfavorable to Russia's partic.i.p.ation at the exposition, and he was then informed through the minister of finance of the withdrawal of Russia as a Government exhibitor.

The question of having Russia represented at the exposition by private exhibitors was then considered. The minister of finance informed Mr.

Grunwaldt that the Government would offer no objection to individual partic.i.p.ation.

The Exposition Company allotted s.p.a.ce to Mr. Grunwaldt in the various buildings. Exhibits were installed in the Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, Manufactures, Varied Industries, and Agricultural buildings. The exhibits were very extensive in all the departments.

The entire cost of collecting, transportation, and installation of exhibits, and the maintenance of same, was borne by Mr. Grunwaldt.

SIAM.

While making an extended tour of the United States in 1902, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Siam visited St. Louis and was the guest of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company. His entertainment was so generous and his reception throughout the entire country so cordial that he decided to use his influence toward inducing His Siamese Majesty to partic.i.p.ate in the exposition of 1904. The plan, consequently, that suggested itself as to the character of Siam's display was to send to St. Louis the most interesting articles and the best examples of Siamese industries.

The National Siamese Pavilion, a typical specimen of the architecture of the country, was a reproduction of the Wat (or temple), Benchamabopit, now in the course of erection at Bangkok. The plans were closely followed, thus creating a type of Siamese architecture which in itself was an exhibit of interest and instruction. The building cost $25,000.

Within the pavilion were placed many objects from the Royal, Museum, notably a large collection of ancient weapons, drums, cymbals, temple gongs, howdahs, some wonderful examples of mother-of-pearl work, hammered silver of antique designs, old lacquer, enormous elephant tusks, ancient theatrical costumes and properties, and portraits of Their Majesties the King and the Queen and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

In the Agricultural Building were displayed models of farming implements of all kinds and examples of the agricultural products of the land.

Especially noticeable was the large collection of rice, the most important of Siam's exports.

The exhibit in forestry, fish, and game showed the great variety of woods that grow in Siam, the appliances that are used for fis.h.i.+ng, skins of the many wild animals of the country, and a large collection of forest products.

Teak, for which Siam is famous, was shown in a number of ways--cross sections, longitudinal cuts, and portions of the outer surface.

In the Transportation Pavilion were shown models of boats, panniers, and carts, howdahs, a buffalo cart, and a buggy in full size. The boat models were especially interesting. Because of the many navigable rivers and ca.n.a.ls a greater part of transportation is by water; consequently a large variety of boats has been evolved to meet the various conditions.

The collection of spinning and weaving appliances in the Manufacturers'

Building was large and instructive. Here, too, were many fine examples of mother-of-pearl work, pottery, hammered silver, and lacquer; also a collection of mats and textiles, both cotton and silk.

In the Mines and Metallurgy Building were displayed samples of the many minerals that are found in the country and models of the appliances used to secure them.

Altogether nearly six thousand individual articles were on exhibition and represented more completely the industries and resources of Siam than has any previous collection. In each State or Province of Siam a local committee was appointed with instructions to gather and forward to Bangkok at least one example of every article produced either for home use or sale. From these consignments a selection was made by the Commission and forwarded to St. Louis. In this way objects representing every section and all the arts and industries were shown. The total cost of the exhibition of the Government of Siam was approximately $120,000.

Although the trade of Siam has developed very rapidly during the past few years, the exhibits sent did not have for their purpose the extension of commerce with this country. The relations between the United States and Siam are most cordial. The latter recently accredited to the United States a minister, and Congress very promptly elevated the rank of the United States representative to that of minister plenipotentiary. Thus when the invitation to partic.i.p.ate in the exposition was accepted, prospects of commercial gain were not in contemplation. The one idea was to contribute in every conceivable manner to the attractiveness of the exposition and add to its educational possibilities. The invitation was looked upon by the Siamese Government as a compliment, and the unselfish manner in which its acceptance was shown proved conclusively that the compliment was appreciated.

On the occasion of the exposition there was published by the Commission a richly ill.u.s.trated book ent.i.tled "The Kingdom of Siam." This work was presented to the educational inst.i.tutions of this country, to public libraries, and to all persons who were known to be interested in Siam.

The book, written by experts, will be an authority for years to come upon Siam, its climate, resources, people, inst.i.tutions, and industries, and will doubtless supplant the writings of hurrying traveler and transient visitor.

The commissioners appointed by the King of Siam were as follows: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, president. Vice-presidents: His Royal Highness Prince Devawongse Varopakar, minister of foreign affairs; His Royal Highness Prince Mahisra Rajaharudhai, minister of finance; His Excellency Chow Phya Devesra Wongse Vivadhna, minister of agriculture; Mr. A. Cecil Carter, M.A., department of education, secretary-general.

Members: His Royal Highness Prince Sanbasiddhi Prasong, His Royal Highness Prince Marubongse Siribadhna, His Highness Prince Vadhana, His Excellency Phya Vorasiddhi Sevivatra, His Excellency Phya Sukhum Nayavinit, His Excellency Phya Amarindra Lujae, His Excellency Phya Surasih Visisth Sakdi, His Excellency Phya Kamheng Songkram, His Excellency Phya Sunthorn Buri, His Excellency Phya Rasda Nupradit, His Excellency Phya Kraibej Ratana Raja Sonkram, His Excellency Phya Vijayadibadi, Phra Phadung-Sulkrit. Prof. James H. Gore, Columbian University, commissioner-general.

SPAIN.

The only Spanish exhibits at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition were shown in the Agricultural Building. There were but three displays, one being of pure sherry brandy, another of wines, and another of olive oil.

D. Mauricio Mandil was the only exhibitor from Spain, and he had the brandies, wines, and olive oil a.n.a.lyzed by well-known a.n.a.lytical chemists. The brandy exhibit consisted of a pyramid of ten barrels, well finished and varnished, placed on a fancy stand in the center of a well-polished platform, in the corners and sides of which were piled up polished pine cases of pure brandy distilled from sherry wine. On the top box of each pile were pyramids of bottles of different fancy packings artistically located.

The wine exhibit occupied a square 20 feet on each side. It represented a vine in full growth, being 18 feet high. The four corners were the trunks, on which were painted life-size figures of Spanish girls surmounted by the vine, bearing grapes. This square was covered by a silk awning made in the Spanish colors. In the center of the tent and on a platform was located a pyramid 15 feet high, composed of barrels and bottles artistically placed. The wines exhibited were mostly of old vintages, dating as far back as 1809, and among these was a special brand brought to America for the first time, and called Solera Lincoln, it being of the vintage of 1865, the year of Lincoln's a.s.sa.s.sination.

The olive-oil exhibit was made by one of the largest exporters of olive oil in the world.

TURKEY.

The Imperial Government of Turkey with great regret decided, for financial reasons, not to partic.i.p.ate officially in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and therefore no official pavilion was built. The three functionaries appointed for the Turkish commission were instructed to aid and to give advice to private exhibitors only who were Turkish subjects and who could be accommodated in exhibit buildings.

The three officials appointed were Chekib Bey, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States, commissioner-general; Dr.

Hermann Schoenfeld, consul-general in Was.h.i.+ngton, a.s.sociate commissioner-general; George Eli Hall, consul-general in San Francisco, secretary-general of the commission.

VENEZUELA.

The partic.i.p.ation of Venezuela in the St. Louis Exposition was authorized in the month of October, 1903, immediately after the end of one of the most sanguinary civil wars known in the history of the country. The following-named gentlemen were appointed as commissioners of the Venezuela Government: Gen. Cipriano Castro, honorary president; Eugenio M. Ambard, commissioner-general; Dr. H. Lameda, attache; H.

Meinhard, secretary.

The amount of the Government appropriation was at first $25,000, but this amount was soon exhausted and smaller amounts were subsequently sanctioned for the maintenance, transportation, and installation of exhibits. The total amount of appropriation was $30,000. There was absolutely no private contribution in cash. The approximate value of the exhibits was about $105,000.

Some of the most interesting features of the exhibition were:

First. A collection of over 200 varieties of fibers prepared under different processes and taken from different alt.i.tudes. Nearly all were prepared by a machine invented by Dr. J. Lameda, who collected and took the greatest interest in the fiber exhibit. From the coa.r.s.est to the finest were to be found among these fibers. The longest was of the musa variety, a coa.r.s.e fiber which grows to the length of 10 feet. The _Annana.s.sa sativa_, a fine fiber, grows to the length of 5 feet. This was the only collection of the kind at the exposition or which has ever been shown at any other exposition.

Second. The magnificent collection of hard woods from the Government States of Carabobo, Zulia, and Guayana, each comprising over 600 specimens of native logs, woods for cabinetwork, for building construction, lumber, staves, dyewoods, tanning, resinous, oil, rubber, and fragrant woods.

Third. A most unique and complete collection of forest plants, roots, herbs, leaves, barks, seeds, fruits, resins, gums, and dyeing and flavoring materials used by herbalists and pharmacists. These were collected, prepared, and cla.s.sified by E.M. Ambard.

Fourth. A complete collection of all the minerals and precious stones (uncut) found in South America, prepared, collected, cla.s.sified, and catalogued by Dr. Louis Plazard, who devoted nearly all his life to this work.

Fifth. A collection of cocoa beans from different regions, which is considered to be one of the best and most nutritious cocoas in the world, and has always obtained a far higher price than any other cocoa; also a collection of coffee from different alt.i.tudes, considered by authorities to be of very fine flavor and high grade.

The Venezuela Government had no special building. The exhibits were shown in the various exhibit palaces on the grounds.

VATICAN.

The Holy See having been requested to take part in the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition, accepted the invitation and sent to St. Louis, Mo., as its commissioner, Mr. Francis Cagiati, of Rome.

The exhibits sent by the Vatican to the fair were phototypical reproductions of the most valuable ma.n.u.scripts existing in the Vatican Library, as well as some excellent specimens of works in mosaic, manufactured by the Studio del Mosaico Vaticano.

No special building was erected for the Vatican exhibit, but as the special nature of the objects required, the entire exhibit was placed in the Administration Building.

The exhibits sent by the Holy See to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition were as follows:

Copies of valuable ma.n.u.scripts, codes, and doc.u.ments from the Vatican Library.