Report of the Board of Managers. 11 



REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. 



The Board of Managers of the fortieth Industrial Exhibition of 

 the American Institute respectfully report : 



On February 16, 1871, they organized by electing a chairman, vice- 

 chairman, and secretary, appointed committees, and defined their 

 duties. From that time until the opening of the Exhibition meetings 

 of the Board were held nearly every week, generally very largely 

 attended, and never without a quorum. 



The building known as the Empire Rink had already been secured 

 for the fortieth exhibition. This, comprising 61,250 square feet, to- 

 gether with the 18,970 square feet which had been added by the 

 Institute during its exhibitions of 1869 and 1870, was known to be 

 inadequate to the increasing demands for space in which to exhibit in 

 1871. It was, therefore, determined to make a farther addition, to con- 

 tain at least thirteen thousand square feet. And even now, with nearly 

 100,000 square feet of exhibiting space, the present dimensions are 

 not adequate to the growing demands. In order to limit the entry 

 of comparatively unimportant articles the entry fee was increased, and 

 yet the demand for space was so great that, to the exceeding regret 

 of the Board, it became necessary to exclude many bulky articles of 

 great merit in order that the much larger number of small but 

 equally meritorious products might be received, and the injudicious 

 policy of favoring the few, to the exclusion of the many, avoided. 



Preparations for the reception of heavy machinery were completed 

 August 15th, and for reception of all other articles August 28th. 

 On the day previously announced, September 7th, at two o'clock, r. m., 

 the Fortieth Industrial Exhibition of the American Institute was for- 

 mally opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Deems, a poem written for 

 and recited on the occasion by Walt. Whitman, and an appropiate 

 address by Hon. E. G. Squier. For the first time in the history of 

 our exhibitions machinery was in motion at the opening. 



Even on the opening clay the exhibition of our national industries 

 was well worth seeing, but it required the lapse of several days before 

 it could be seen in all its attractiveness. Then it was pronounced by 



