PLANS FOR PARTICIPATION

During the earlier meetings of the Commission they were waited upon by
representatives of the Exposition Company, and by committees or
representatives of organizations within the State either offering to
co-operate with the Commission in the preparation of exhibit material or
requesting appropriations from the Commission's funds to enable them to
prepare exhibits.

In February, 1903, Honorable George L. Parker, a representative of
President Francis, addressed the Commission, urging them to see that New
York State was properly represented. He, stated that the people of the
West expected great things of New York State; that the city of St. Louis
and the territory the acquisition of which was commemorated by the Fair,
spent large sums of money in the city of New York alone, and for that
reason it was hoped and expected that New York should lead the other
States of the Union.

Later in the year, Dr. J. A. Holmes, chief of the Department of Mines
and Metallurgy, appeared before the Commission by invitation and made
some interesting remarks concerning the scientific exhibit, which he
felt it incumbent upon the State to make. He stated that there was no
geological survey, either national or State, as valuable as that of the
State of New York, and strongly advocated that a model oil well derrick
be erected.

The Legislature of 1903 passed two acts which affected either directly
or indirectly the work of the Commission. The first act provided $50,000