6 New Yoek at the 'Woeld's Colttmbian Expositiom. 



Selection of Site. 



E"ew York city was one of the first municipalities to take prelimi- 

 nary action to secure the fair. On July 17, 1889, Mayor Hugh J. 

 Grant, upon the request of fifty leading firms and corporations, issued 

 invitations to 300 prominent citizens, requesting their attendance at a 

 meeting to determine the popular sentiment of the city, as to the 

 advisability of holding an exposition to commemorate the 400th anni- 

 versary of the discovery of the new world by Columbus, and the avail- 

 ability of New York as a proper '^ite for such an exposition. In answer 

 to his call the City Hall was crowded on July 25, 1889, with promi- 

 nent business and professional men. An organization committee of 

 100 was formed, divided into four sub-committees of twenty-five each 

 on finance, legislation, site and buildings and permanent organization. 



The work of the committee until Congress met consisted in bringing 

 the public mind to a receptive state, planning adequate accommodations 

 and raising a large subscription f and. 



After the holiday recess Congress turned its attention to the "World's 

 Fair bill. Four cities put forth serious claims : St. Louis, Chicago, 

 New York and Washington. The first was at no time a dangerous 

 rival ; the last based its hopes on a possible deadlock, which would 

 result in its selection as a compromise. The struggle was between 

 New York and Chicago. The advantages, claims and counterclaims 

 of both cities were furiously argued through the press and in the legis- 

 lative halls. On January 11, 1890, the special committee of the House 

 of Kepresentatives gave a hearing to the New York and Chicago dele- 

 gations. St. Louis had been heard on the ninth and "Washington on 

 the tenth. For New York, Chauncey M. Depew^ Bourke Cockran and 

 "Warner Miller made convincing and eloquent arguments ; for Chicago, 

 De "Witt Cregier, Thomas B. Bryan and E. T. Jeffrey were able advo- 

 cates. The partisans of both cities were encouraged, but it was felt 

 that in the end that city would win the prize which could best demon- 

 strate its ability to raise the amount of money necessary to assure a 

 success commensurate with the dignity of the event. "With this end 

 in view, the New York organization committee drafted a bill and sub- 

 mitted it to the State Legislature January 2-ir, 1890, authorizing New 

 York city to raise $10,000,000 to meet the expenses of the fair. This 

 sum added to the subscription fund which already exceeded $5,000,000, 

 made the magnificent total of $15,000,000 to be offered by New York 



