11-REPORT UPON THE PARTICIPATION OF THE U. S. FISH 
COMMISSION IN THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION, HELD 
AT CINCINNATI, OHIO, IN 1888. 
e 
By J. W. Collins. 
ORIGIN AND OBJECTS OF THE EXPOSITION. 
The occurrence of the one-hundredth anniversary of the settlement 
of Cincinnati, and the desire of the public-spirited men of that city to 
fitly commemorate that important event in its history, originated the 
attempt to hold an exposition. A resolution having been passed that 
u the one-hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Cincinnati, 
occurring in 1888 , be properly celebrated,” a committee was appointed, 
which promptly organized and developed plans for holding an extensive 
fair of more than ordinary local importance, which was denominated 
“ The Centennial Exposition of the Ohio Yalley and Central States, 
including the States of the Northwest Territory and those which border 
upon the Ohio and even farther South.” 
Invitations were extended to other States and Territories to partici- 
pate in the exposition, the object of which was announced to be chiefly 
the illustration of the development of the region designated as the 
“ Ohio Yalley and Central States” during the century endiug in the 
celebration of the settlement of Cincinnati. It is scarcely pertinent to 
this report to rno^e than allude, in passing, to the importance of thus 
demonstrating the material progress of a section of our country which 
is celebrated for its great natural resources and the industry, energy, 
and business activity that have always characterized its people. 
Exposition buildings , etc . — Cincinnati provided for the exposition 
by assigning to its use the Music Hall and the so-called u permanent 
exposition” building; also by granting the use of Washington Park, 
situated directly opposite the above-named structures, for the purpose 
of erecting, temporarily, the main exposition buildings. An elevated 
arched walk, crossing Elm street, connected the temporary buildings 
with the Music Hall and the permanent exposition, while in the rear of 
the latter an additional structure was erected along the line of the 
Miami Canal for the accommodation of manufacturing machinery. The 
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