Report of the Board of Managers. 21 



adoption of this course it was found in practice that a vast ninoiint 

 of work was performed without any serious clashing of authority. 



The experiment of arranging the exhibition according to the 

 complete classification of articles, adopted by the Institute, Avas 

 made for the first time by the present board; and, although at the 

 outset some doubts were entertained as to its working well in all 

 respects, the actual experiment has demonstrated that it is of great 

 service, not only to visitors seeking the locality of any article, and 

 to exhibitors who find themselves side by side with their compet- 

 itors, but cliieflj^ to the board of managers, who find that systematic 

 arrangement is conducive to order, and enables them to detect at a 

 glance any infringement which tends to disturb the general harmony. 



In addition to the departmental committees, seven more were 

 orofanized, on which devolved the general business of the exhibi- 

 tion. These were: 1st, on finance; 2d, on tickets; 3d, on printing 

 and invitations; 4th, on carpenter work; 5th, on police, light, 

 music and decorations; 6th, on stands and refreshments; 7th, on 

 the reception of goods. 



It mio^ht be deemed invidious to mention those who have been 

 most prominent in the discharge of their official duties, since the 

 whole history of the management will show that each active 

 member has devoted to it all the time and service which his indi- 

 vidual business did not imperatively require. 



The exhibition was opened on the <\slj first appointed, by an 

 address from the President of the Institute, the Hon. Horace 

 Greeley, who commanded the undivided attention of a vast audi- 

 ence for an hour, in an able exposition of the claims of labor and 

 creative art, concluding with a clear statement of the aim and 

 objects of the American Institute, and the importance of early 

 securing for it a structure commensurate with its wants. 



The display opened under the best auspices, and having been 

 early pronounced by the press and public to be superior in extent, 

 variety and attractiveness to any former exhibition, its success was 

 insured from the first. A constant succession of clear sunny days, 

 continuing, with a few exceptions, to the close, doubtless aided in 

 securing a large attendance, which was generally increiised during 

 the evening to such an extent as to deprive many of an opportu- 

 nity of examining with care the most interesting inventions. 



Every department teemed with novelties, and nearly every group 

 contained specimens of the articles which had been assigned to it 

 in the classification. 



