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New Orleans 1885: The World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition.....
In 1881 a plan was conceived to stage an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first export of cotton from the United States in 1784. By 1882 the National Cotton Planters' Association had endorsed the idea, which was soon followed by an official endorsement by the U.S. Congress. Originally planned to be strictly a cotton celebration, the plans soon blossomed into a full-scale World's Fair. New Orleans was selected, in April of 1883, as the location of the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. Major Edward A. Burke, owner of the New Orleans Times-Democrat newspaper, was appointed Director-General, and the planning of the exposition placed almost entirely in his hands. This decision ultimately proved to be both farsighted and financially disastrous. 
Taking advantage of the Major's vast experience in business dealings and as former State Treasurer, the exposition company allowed Burke to commandeer and oversee all of the fair's departments. A 249-acre tract of land, known as Upper City Park, was chosen as the site for the exposition. The acreage was a vast expanse of undeveloped land, acquired by the city in 1874 as a future park. In December of 1883, with initial funds of $325,000, work began on grading the site and constructing the fair's central structure, the 33-acre Main Building. The Main Building was originally planned to house all of the exposition's numerous exhibits. However, as hundreds of applications for display space were received, it became clear that the structure would be incapable of containing all of the displays. An additional 14-acre structure was quickly planned and named the United States & States Exhibits Building, more popularly known as the Government & States Building. 
A large structure for horticultural and agricultural displays was also constructed, known as Horticultural Hall; and a fireproof building for art exhibits, named Art Hall. As plans expanded, numerous buildings were constructed, quickly using up the funds that had been raised to finance the fair. The U.S. Congress was approached by Major Burke, and a loan of $1,000,000 was made to the exposition, with the condition that additional pledges of $500,000 would be required before the loan would be made available. Major Burke persuaded subscribers to pay up their pledges, which amounted to $400,000. A grant of $100,000 was then obtained from the State of Louisiana to meet the $500,000 goal. With farsighted planning, Burke gave each State and Territory $5,000 as seed-money to construct an exhibit in the Government & States Building. Expensive as this idea was, it proved to be very successful, and forty-four States and Territories ultimately participated in the exposition. 
Meanwhile, corruption was brewing among the exposition's planners. The public had become concerned about the vast sums of money being spent on the fair, and purchasers of exposition stock were worried that they would see little return on their investments. Major Burke calmed public furor by organizing a public meeting, declaring that the exposition would be a success, and that high attendance would quickly pay back the money invested in the event. The exposition had been planned to open on December 1st, 1884, but as November approached, it became clear that the opening would need to be postponed. Almost half of the exposition was still unfinished by late November, and exhibits had not yet arrived. An error among the fair's planners had caused displays to be shipped during the high-traffic cotton export season. 
In addition, displays from foreign countries were delayed at U.S. Customs for collection of import duties, due to the lack of the exposition's management to have the fair designated as a bonded warehouse, wherein no duties would have to be paid. The new opening date was set for December 16th, but even by then the exposition was far from complete. The first two weeks of December were rainy, causing further delays in completing the grounds and buildings, and visitors were complaining about the exorbitant sums being demanded by hotels and rooming-houses in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the bad publicity had just begun.....
In 1881 a plan was conceived to stage an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first export of cotton from the United States in 1784. By 1882 the National Cotton Planters' Association had endorsed the idea, which was soon followed by an official endorsement by the U.S. Congress. Originally planned to be strictly a cotton celebration, the plans soon blossomed into a full-scale World's Fair. New Orleans was selected, in April of 1883, as the location of the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. Major Edward A. Burke, owner of the New Orleans Times-Democrat newspaper, was appointed Director-General, and the planning of the exposition placed almost entirely in his hands. This decision ultimately proved to be both farsighted and financially disastrous. 
Taking advantage of the Major's vast experience in business dealings and as former State Treasurer, the exposition company allowed Burke to commandeer and oversee all of the fair's departments. A 249-acre tract of land, known as Upper City Park, was chosen as the site for the exposition. The acreage was a vast expanse of undeveloped land, acquired by the city in 1874 as a future park. In December of 1883, with initial funds of $325,000, work began on grading the site and constructing the fair's central structure, the 33-acre Main Building. The Main Building was originally planned to house all of the exposition's numerous exhibits. However, as hundreds of applications for display space were received, it became clear that the structure would be incapable of containing all of the displays. An additional 14-acre structure was quickly planned and named the United States & States Exhibits Building, more popularly known as the Government & States Building. 
A large structure for horticultural and agricultural displays was also constructed, known as Horticultural Hall; and a fireproof building for art exhibits, named Art Hall. As plans expanded, numerous buildings were constructed, quickly using up the funds that had been raised to finance the fair. The U.S. Congress was approached by Major Burke, and a loan of $1,000,000 was made to the exposition, with the condition that additional pledges of $500,000 would be required before the loan would be made available. Major Burke persuaded subscribers to pay up their pledges, which amounted to $400,000. A grant of $100,000 was then obtained from the State of Louisiana to meet the $500,000 goal. With farsighted planning, Burke gave each State and Territory $5,000 as seed-money to construct an exhibit in the Government & States Building. Expensive as this idea was, it proved to be very successful, and forty-four States and Territories ultimately participated in the exposition. 
Meanwhile, corruption was brewing among the exposition's planners. The public had become concerned about the vast sums of money being spent on the fair, and purchasers of exposition stock were worried that they would see little return on their investments. Major Burke calmed public furor by organizing a public meeting, declaring that the exposition would be a success, and that high attendance would quickly pay back the money invested in the event. The exposition had been planned to open on December 1st, 1884, but as November approached, it became clear that the opening would need to be postponed. Almost half of the exposition was still unfinished by late November, and exhibits had not yet arrived. An error among the fair's planners had caused displays to be shipped during the high-traffic cotton export season. 
In addition, displays from foreign countries were delayed at U.S. Customs for collection of import duties, due to the lack of the exposition's management to have the fair designated as a bonded warehouse, wherein no duties would have to be paid. The new opening date was set for December 16th, but even by then the exposition was far from complete. The first two weeks of December were rainy, causing further delays in completing the grounds and buildings, and visitors were complaining about the exorbitant sums being demanded by hotels and rooming-houses in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the bad publicity had just begun.....
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