Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission

by Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

The Philippine exposition board was created by Act 514 of the Philippine Commission, passed for the purpose of collecting and installing a distinctively Philippine exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 at St. Louis, Mo.

The original act carried an appropriation of $125,000, which was made immediately available, and authorized the board to incur additional obligations to the amount of $250,000 apart from such sum as might be set aside by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company in aid of the Philippine exhibit. The amount of such aid was $200,000 from the appropriation made by Congress.

Several amendments to Act 514 were made, notably Acts 765, 827, 1055, and other acts carrying additional appropriations.

The exposition board, as originally appointed, consisted of Dr. W.P. Wilson, director of the Philadelphia Commercial Museum; Dr. Gustavo Niederlein, chief of the scientific department of the Philadelphia museums, and Mr. Pedro A. Paterno, of Manila, as members, and Dr. Leon M. Guerrero, also of Manila, secretary. Mr. Carson Taylor was appointed disbursing officer.

Several changes in the authorized official organization have occurred. Mr. Pedro A. Paterno, member, whose work had been confined to the Philippine Islands, resigned in August, 1904, and was succeeded by Mr. A.L. Lawshe, auditor for the Philippine Islands, who was appointed to serve during a leave of absence from the Philippines. Dr. W.P. Wilson resigned the chairmanship in October, 1904, the resignation to take effect November 1 following. Mr. Lawshe was appointed to the chairmanship to succeed Doctor Wilson, and Mr. Herbert S. Stone, previously connected with the board as chief of publicity, was appointed to the vacant membership on the board.

The task of collecting the material for the exhibit devolved on Doctor Niederlein, who, as director of exhibits, was given sole charge of this work. He arrived in the islands for the purpose in October, 1902.

Chairman Wilson made a brief visit to the islands in May, 1903, to arrange plans for the work, and upon his return undertook the construction of the buildings and the beautifying of the grounds. Forty-seven acres of rolling country, lying for the most part on an elevation of the southwestern section of the World's Fair grounds, were assigned to the Philippine exhibit. The work of construction consisted of building a miniature city, with streets and parks and complete sewerage, water, and electric light, and fire-alarm systems. The ground plan included a central park or plaza, the sides of the quadrangle being occupied, respectively, by the cathedral or educational building, the typical Manila house, the commerce building, and the government or administration building, each of these beautiful structures being filled with appropriate exhibits. In addition there were separate exhibit buildings devoted to forestry, mines, and metallurgy, to agriculture and horticulture, to fish and game, and to ethnology, all artistically placed. A reproduction of the ancient walls of Manila commanded the main approach to the Philippine grounds. After crossing a miniature reproduction of the Bridge of Spain, which spans the Pasig River at Manila, the visitors entered the Philippine reservation through the Real gate. Villages typical of the Philippine life, from the lowest grade to the better class, surrounded the main buildings, while on the south side were the quarters, camps, and parade grounds of the Philippine Constabulary and the Philippine Scouts. The Manila Observatory, with a large outdoor relief map on the east and a hospital and office building in a convenient space on the west part of the grounds, completed the scheme.

Each and every building constructed under Philippine auspices was typical of the islands. Vast quantities of bamboo and nipa, brought from the archipelago, were used in the construction of the native villages as well as in the Forestry, Mines, Agriculture, and Fish and Game buildings.

While the expenditure for the exhibit far exceeded the amount originally contemplated by the Philippine Commission, due to many causes and conditions, it gave to the people of the United States a more intimate knowledge of the resources and possibilities of the Philippine Islands than they could acquire except by an actual and extended visit.