The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

Transcription

November 9, 1892. 
My dear Lonbard,- 
You will be glad to learn that I have made a thoroughly satisfactory arrangement with the General Electric co. in regard to space at the World's Fair.  I have before me one of the official plans given me by Mr. Hornsby, and if you will refer to the same, copy of which you no doubt have, you will find that the space originally assigned to us was about one-half of Section 0, No. 36.  I had a meeting to-day with the representatives of the General Electric Company, Mr. Spencer being p resent, and they drew up a memorandum, a copy of which will be given me to-morrow.  I will forward it to you as soon as I receive it.  In lieu of the space above referred to they have assigned to us the whole of Section No. 22, which is one of the four great squares surrounding the centre of the electrical building.  All of Mr. Edison's personal exhibit, or  practically all of it, will be placed in this square and the surrounding exhibit will be made to harmonize with the requirements of the former.  The General Electric people are prepared to cooperate most cordially with us, and I cannot help but think that our agitation when I was in Chicago partook rather more than less of the character of a tempest in a tea pot.  At the same time I do not believe we would have been able to make such satisfactory arrangements had we been any less firm.  It is a case of "All's well that ends well." Lieutenant Spencer is desirous of cooperating with us to the fullest possible extent, and my belief is that when I next visit Chicago I will find you and Spencer as thick as thieves.  I myself was most pleasantly disappointed in him, and all you have to do is to exercise your naturally fascinating talents in order to get anything you want.  The control of the details pertaining to the Edison exhibit has been placed in the hands of a Committee, consisting of 
Thos. R. Lombard; Luther Stieringer; Lieut. Spencer; A. O. Tate. 
This, of course, means that you, Spencer and  Stieringer will run the business.  I am writing a letter to-night to Hornsby which I believe will secure for you that official appointment on the staff, and it seems to me that you will now have everything  your own way. 
I want to say a word to you in regard to Stieringer.  He is a man who has a vast amount of experience in matters of this kind and is now in the employ of the Exposition Company as an expert.  You can get him to do anything you wish if you simply give him the idea that he is carrying out his own intentions.  I have requested him to prepare a plan for the equipment of our space and to submit it to the Committee, which means that he will consult you with regard to it.  The idea is that we will erect a booth in the centre of our space, for the purpose of showing the finer selections on the phonograph.  Wangemann will have special charge of this part of our exhibit.  By the way, I have not got hold of wangemann yet, but have written him to meet me to-morrow afternoon.  The General Company are going to make their exhibit of candelabra lamps in our space--that is to say the will provide all of our decorative effects, and we will have an exhibit that will be simply magnificent.  They undertake to pay the whole of the expenses connected with Mr. Edison's personal exhibit, outside of the phonograph and the exhibit of the Edison Manufacturing company.  This means considerable money in our pockets. 
I am sending you a letter of introduction to Lieut. Spencer, and I want you to establish friendly relations with him.  I feel satisfied that you will be most pleasantly disappointed when you meet him.  You of course understand that he is inclined to be very positive, but all you have to do is be equally firm and you can get what you want.  In any event, always remember that in the case of friction I can settle everything here, because the man who has the actual control of the exhibit of the Gen'l Elec. Co. will accede to any request which I may make.  I made these people understand fully to-day that you were our representative in Chicago and I will see that y ou get every benefit from this position.  I do not know Mr. Hornsby's initials.  I therefore wish you would properly address the enclosed letter to him, and would suggest that you present it in person and settle then and there the question of your appointment, which is important in more ways than one.  
Yours very truly,