The New York Crystal Palace


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This building is very far from being ready to receive goods for exhibition, although it is more than a month atter the period when its managers solemnly promised to the world that it should be open for visitors. It is well known to our readers that we opposed the scheme of holding an Exhibition ot Industry here so soon after the Worlds' Fair in London, and by a private company whose object was gain, not honor to our country. The reason we opposed it we have given before, namely, that after four, five, or six years, we might be able to have a grand national exhibition, not sectional nor for private gains, but eminently cosmopolite in its objects, yet national in its arrangement. Our sentiments were not dictated by any motive but the love and honor of our country, and the benefit of mankind. It has been said by some connected with the New York Crystal Palace, that we had other motives in view than those we have expressed,but we had not; what personal objects could we have for uttering such sentiments? None. We also expressed our opinions respecting the manner in which the building was projected, and we predicted that it would cost more and give the managers greater trouble than they anticipated, also that we sincerely believed it would not be completed at the time promised. What we predicted has come to pass. The very papers in our city that kindly lent their influence to speak favorably of the Crystal Palace Company, have been obliged to speak in the severest terms respecting the want of good management among its conductors, and the violation of the promise made by them to the whole world to have it ready on the 2nd of last month. There are many people in this city now who came from distant parts of our own country, and from other countries, to witness the opening of the Exhibition, and the probability is, they will have to wait at least four weeks longer, tor that eventful day. Two government vessels with Commissioners, we understand, left England two weeks ago, for the Crystal Palace, and vessels irom other foreign countries, with goods for the Exhibition, have been lying at our port for more than two weeks. Is this not reflecting some disgrace upon our country through the managers of the Exhibition ? It is; for these people have received the erroneous impression that this is a national nota private company's project. The London Palace covered 20 acres of ground ; the New York Crystal Palace will occupy only about one-eighth of that space, and yet the former only took eight months in its erection, and was opened on the day promised, while the New York Crystal Palace will not be open for two months after the day it was promised to be ready. It is indeed humiliating to our go-aheaditiveness to think that neither the energy nor punctuality of the English, has been displayed in the erection of this comparatively little structure. The Association has been the means of drawinghundreds to this city at a too early period, thus involving them in great expense, and all because things have not been well managed. Under good and proper management, such a building could have been erected and ready for exhibition more than two months ago. The eminent engineers who were called in from various parts of our country to give the managers of the Association their advice respecting the different plans proposed, found that they were called upon to give merely a formal opinion; hence they at once resolved to have nothing to say in the matter. The Association took their own council, and have suffered for it in more ways than one. We have no doubt if the Ex-bition had opened on the day promised, but the managers would have drawn in $50,-000 by this time, as no less than 100,000 strangers were in our city during the anniversary weeks. We hope the New York Crystal Palace Managers will make amends for past ills, but to retrive lost estimation, they have a Hercu-lian task to perform. Whatsoever good they do. and whatsoever is honorable, happy will we be to give it circulation, for the honor of our country and the advancement of the arts ; but hitherto we have not been able to say, in honesty anything favorable or ot good report.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 8 Issue 38This article was published with the title “The New York Crystal Palace” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 8 No. 38 (), p. 301
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican06041853-301a

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