148 New York at the Wokld's Columbian Exposition. 



factory to the people of New York, as judged by the comments of the 

 press, and it was universally acknowledged that New York could not 

 have closed her participation in the fair more courteously than by the 

 presentation of her costly and richly decorated building to her sister 

 city. On September twenty-seventh a formal transfer and deed of 

 gift was drawn up by the Board of General Managers and forwarded 

 to the trustees for their signatures. About a month later a joint com- 

 munication was received from Mrs. Palmer and Mr. Higinbotham stat- 

 ing that every effort had been made to secure the consent of the South 

 Park commissioners to the retention of the New York State Building 

 upon the exposition grounds for the purpose of a permanent woman's 

 building, but without success, and that as the trustees had no funds with 

 which to remove the building from Jackson Park they were compelled 

 with great regret to decline to accept it. Nothing could be done upon 

 the receipt of this letter but to dispose of the building as advantageously 

 as possible at this very late date. Advertisements were inserted in the 

 papers, and on the 24th of November, 1893, a contract was entered into 

 with the Chicago Wrecking Company whereby the latter agreed to 

 remove the building within the time set by the exposition authorities. 

 May 1, 1894, and to restore the grounds to their former condition. 

 They also gave the Board of Managers $250. This sum with the sale 

 of the elevator and a few minor equipments brought in $1,000 as the 

 proceeds of the building. Great credit is due the chief executive officer 

 for the success of this negotiation, as in most cases the removal of the 

 State buildings was a positive expense upon the commissioners. 



Advantageous sales were also made of the butter, cheese, honey, 

 potatoes, fruits, Indian goods, furniture and fixtures belonging to the 

 different exhibits in the State building. From these sources over 

 $16,000 was obtained. Of this amount, however, $2,271.85 was turned 

 in from the sale of articles by the Women's Board. For a detailed 

 account of these sales, see financial report. 



Meanwhile the work of repacking and shipping the exhibits to Albany 

 was busily carried on, and by December first all were en route. An 

 adequate estimate of the amount of material gathered by the board for 

 exhibition purposes may be gained, when it is stated that it took thirty- 

 one large freight cars to transport the exhibits to Albany. This does 

 not include the many articles loaned for the exposition, and returned 

 directly to their owners. As soon as the cars reached Albany they 

 were unloaded, and the goods stored, under the direction of Capitol 



