acquisition of the Louisiana territory. An executive committee, with the
Hon. David R. Francis as chairman, was appointed to carry out the
undertaking, and this committee determined that at least $15,000,000,
the amount paid to France for the territory, would be needed.


ACTION BY CONGRESS

Congress passed a bill in June, 1900, carrying a provisional
appropriation of $5,000,000, and pledging governmental support if the
city of St. Louis raised $10,000,000. The people went to work with a
will and had raised $5,000,000 by popular subscription early in January,
1901, and the following January thirtieth an ordinance was passed by the
St. Louis Municipal Assembly authorizing the issuance of $5,000,000 in
city bonds. On March twelfth President McKinley appointed a National
Commission of nine members, and in August issued a proclamation inviting
all the nations of the world to participate in the Exposition. Owing to
labor difficulties and delay in securing construction material it soon
became evident that it would be impossible to hold the fair during the
year 1903, as originally planned. Legislation being necessary in order
to provide for the necessary postponement, a bill was passed by Congress
and approved by President Roosevelt June 25, 1902, authorizing the
holding of the fair in 1904 instead of 1903, as originally determined.

Beginning with the basic appropriation of $15,000,000, [Footnote: In the
winter of 1904 a bill was passed by Congress authorizing a Government
loan of $4,600,000 to the Exposition Company, to be repaid in
instalments from the gate receipts. The loan was entirely canceled
early in November, 1904.] as described above, to which had been added
$1,000,000 appropriated by the State of Missouri, the great enterprise