taking as the cap sheaf of all the congresses the International Congress of Arts and Science, I think you will agree with us that we have a right to claim that this is a Universal Exposition. (Applause.) It will be a marker in the intellectual progress of the world as well as in the material development of the world.

We welcome you for what you represent, and we will welcome you for what we think you can gain from this Exposition; but in addition to that we welcome you for your own personalities. We know you; we have the pleasure and privilege of a personal acquaintance with many of you. But if we did not know you, and were not acquainted with you, and were disposed to measure your merits by the men in our midst who are engaged in the same pursuits, we would know that you are all good fellows, and we would welcome you heartily. (Applause.)

I did not come here to touch on the local situation, but I am sure I will be pardoned for doing so in this presence. One of the great problems which this Exposition management had was how to convey the people from different parts of the city to these grounds. The two great street railroad systems of this city made very liberal preparations and expended a great deal of money in consequence thereof. There seemed to be, however, a great dissatisfaction, or if not that, a want of confidence on the part of the public as to the ability of these street railway systems to comply with their promises, or to meet the requirements of the Exposition. I was too much engaged to investigate the cause of this want of confidence-I only knew that it existed. Some time before the Fair opened there was a change in the management of both of these lines; especially was there a very radical change in the management in the Transit company. I do not know that the present management is any more competent than the previous management; I do not know that the man who at present controls this immense railroad system is any more capable in his line than the men who preceded him, but I do know that the present management of the Transit company has behind it the good will of the community, and that means more than I can express, in the management of any

public utility such as a street railway line. (Applause.) I have known street car managements that were not excused for accidents which they were unable to prevent, and were not pardoned for situations which they could not remedy, because they did not have the good will of the community in which those roads were operated. I do know that it is different in St. Louis today. I do know that this is the most trying time that the street railway systems of St. Louis ever experienced and I believe they will not have an experience again as trying as this; but at the same time it is a source of great pleasure to me and ought to be the cause of ineffable gratification to the management of the street railway systems of this city that they have the good will of the people of this town and the good will of the hundreds of thousands of strangers who come here and patronize them. In other words, if there should be an accident or delay, my observation and information is to the effect that the public is willing to excuse and to make allowances. That is the first thing to be gained, gentlemen, in the successful operation of a street railroad system or in the operation of any public utility-the good will of the patrons of that public utility. (Applause.) Without it, it is impossible to succeed; and with it if a man does not succeed it is because the elements of success are not in him. If we did not have the good will of the people of this country in this Exposition we never could have advanced it to its present stage. (Applause.)

We do not measure the success of this Exposition by the same criterions by which you measure the success of a street railway system, and that is by its revenue. We never expected to make any money on this Exposition; we never expected to get back the fifteen million dollars put up for its inauguration, and we will not be disappointed (applause) whether we get back any of it or not-and I might say, in passing, we are paying back to the Government what we borrowed, $4,600,000, and it is interesting to see the expression of amusement on the faces of some Senators when they say they never expected the Government to get back any of this loan,-we are satisfied with the result of our effort. As a matter of fact we have paid

$3,000,000 to the Government on account of the loan and we will pay another $500,000 on Saturday next. Outside of that this city has put up $10,000,000 and the Federal Government advanced $5,000,000, at the time of the inauguration of the Exposition, in addition to what exhibitors and our own and foreign States have contributed toward the fund. The total installation represents an expenditure of over $45,000,000. Of course we will not get the money back. But that is not the measure of our success; that is not our standard. . We ask the people who come to this Exposition, and the people of the world, whether we have fulfilled our promise to make this Exposition truly representative of the industrial and intellectual progress of the world! If we have done so, then this Exposition is a success. It will go down in history long remembered as a Universal Exposition, the equal, if not the superior, of any ever held up to its time. (Applause.)

I believe it will be a long time before another universal exposition is held in this country. There will be expositions, international in character, but a universal exposition that takes in every line of human endeavor and every subject upon which the human mind has labored, is a great undertaking. The only criticism that we have heard of this Exposition is that it is too big. What would you think of it, if we did not have the intramural electric railroad in operation inside the grounds?

Gentlemen, I did not mean to detain you so long-you want to get to your business. I only want to state that we are glad to have you here. We are proud that you are holding this meeting on the grounds, and to this Association the Exposition Management extends the most cordial welcome. (Great Applause.)

President Ely-We have been much interested by the remarks of President Francis and feel that the street railroad fraternity are to be congratulated upon his admission that he is one of us. The information which he has given us concerning the Exposition is most valuable and that portion concerning the building and the operation of the intramural railway and its results to the Exposition has been particularly

interesting. All men who come to this Exposition must unite with us in saying to President Francis that the great event to commemorate which this Exposition is being held has been most fittingly celebrated. I thank him for his courtesy in leaving his important duties to come here and welcome us, and extend to him our best wishes for his personal happiness and prosperity, as well as for the success in the most eminent degree of the great work with which his name will be always inseparably connected.

Gentlemen, we are also honored and favored with the presence of the Honorable Rolla Wells, Mayor of the City of St. Louis, who has kindly consented to come here to welcome you formally to this splendid city, and I doubt not that he brings a key to the city for each one of you. I take pleasure in introducing him to you. (Applause.)

ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY HON. ROLLA WELLS, MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS.

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the American Street Railway Association:

First I desire to apologize for the lateness of my appearance, but, as some of you in this room are aware, our speed-limit in the City of St. Louis is rather low, consequently I could not hasten otherwise I fear I would have been under the painful necessity of placing myself under arrest. (Laughter.)

If I ever experienced any regret for having assumed the responsibilities devolving upon the executive in the management of a large city, that regret is now dispelled, for the reason that my position gives me this pleasant opportunity of appearing before my old colleagues, those engaged in the management of street railways.

In explanation, it may possibly be of interest to you to know that I am a child of the street railways. My father constructed and operated the first street railway west of the Mississippithe old Missouri Street Railroad Company, in the City of St. Louis. The first car started on July 4, 1859. (Applause,)

This reminiscence affords me great satisfaction, from the fact that the brightest thing in my life is to recall that my father placed sufficient confidence in me, his son, to appoint me the general manager of that railway at the age of twenty-two years.

Although I was not in the City of St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase, I have been here a sufficient length of time to see the rapid and enormous growth of this, as we consider, a typical, splendid American city, and I know from my own observation that that growth is due in large measure, to the street railway systems. (Applause.)

Spanish to French and
Located as we are, on

This city, gentlemen, is unique in its history. It is not as old as the cities of the East; but one hundred years ago this locality was simply a trading post. Since that time it has experienced a peaceful transition from from French to American sovereignty. the borderland, we know no North, no South, no East, no West. Our people have come from every section of the United States, and when I hear that this Exposition is a success-which it is -and look around over my present surroundings, I realize why, to a certain extent, this Exposition is a success. That success I largely attribute to the intelligent, and I might say patriotic, interest that has been taken by the owners and managers of the street railway systems in the City of St. Louis in the problem of bringing the people to these grounds in comfort and ease.

Now, gentlemen, as I am expected to receive an Italian emblem, on behalf of the City of St. Louis, to be presented by a representative of the Italian Government, and I am now late for the appointed hour, I will close by extending to you the greetings of St. Louis and the freedom of our city, and thanking you for the courtesy of this invitation to appear before you. (Applause.)

President Ely-Mr. Mayor, I present to you the thanks of this Association for coming here and honoring us by welcoming us to your fair city, and I desire to express to you the appreciation of this body of intelligent and progressive men of all that you have said. They will carry away from St. Louis an adequate conception of your city and the splendid Exposition which