870 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FlSlt AND FISHERIES. 
area covered by the exposition buildings afforded a floor space of 400,000 
square feet in round numbers, with an additional wall space of 142,500 
square feet. 
Participation of States and action of the Ohio legislature . — In response 
to the invitations extended, several States decided to participate in the 
exposition. The enterprise was heartily indorsed by the neighboring 
towns of Covington and Newport, while the Ohio legislature appro- 
priated money for a State representation, authorized the appointment 
of honorary commissioners, and also directed the governor, on behalf 
of the State, to invite u the assistance and cooperation of the Federal 
Government,” etc. 
Authorization of exhibit by the Federal Government. — As a result of 
this legislation the governor of Ohio extended to the President and 
Congress an invitation for the Federal Government to participate in 
the exposition. There was some delay in the action of Congress, but 
eventually the following measure was passed by both Houses, and was 
signed by the President : 
Whereas, the States which comprise the Northwest Territory and the adjacent 
States will hold at Cincinnati, Ohio, from July 4 to October 27, 1888, a centennial 
exposition commemorative of the organization of the Northwest Territory, under the 
ordinance of 1787, in which exposition all the States and Territories of the United 
States and the General Government have been invited to participate, the object being 
in said exposition to present a panorama of the nation’s resources and present state 
of progressive development, by an exhibition of the products of agriculture, of the 
various industries and fine arts; also the results of advancement made in the sciences; 
the whole illustrating the opportunities secured to and the possibilities which wait 
upon the citizens of this Republic ; and 
Whereas, the citizens of the Ohio Valley and the several States adjacent thereto 
have made suitable and adequate preparation and arrangements for holding said 
exposition and are desirous — and it being fit and proper — that the several Executive 
Departments of the Government, the Department of Agriculture, the Smithsonian 
Institution, including the National Museum and Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 
should participate in such exhibition ; therefore, 
Be it enacted, etc., That the head of each of the several Executive Departments of 
the Government, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Smithsonian Institution, 
including the National Museum and Commission of Fish and Fisheries, under the 
direction of the President of the United States, be, and they are hereby, authorized 
and directed to prepare and make suitable exhibits at the said centennial exposition 
of the Ohio Valley and Central States, to be held at Cincinnati, beginning on the 4th 
of July and closing October 27, 1888. 
That there shall be appointed a committee of Congress composed of ten members, 
five to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and five by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives. Said committee is authorized and directed to visit said 
exposition and make such report to Congress in that behalf as they may deem needful 
and proper: Provided, That the President may in the exercise of his discretion allow 
such documents and exhibits as relate to early settlement at Marietta, Ohio, and 
the establishment of civil government in the territory northwest of the Ohio River, 
to be taken to Marietta and exhibited during the time from July 15 to 19, 1888, 
inclusive, under such care and custody as he may direct.* 
* It was not practicable for the Fish Commission to participate in the exhibit at 
Marietta, for reasons that appear elsewhere, and also because the collections included 
nothing specially suitable for the occasion. 
