he sum of $50,000, $25,000
to be available on and after the 15th day of February, 1903, for the
erection and equipment of the building and for other expenses provided
for in the act.

An extra appropriation of $12,500 for the completion of the State
building was provided for in an act passed March 25, 1904, making an
appropriation for an Ohio Building on the grounds of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Mo.

The following commissioners were appointed:

William F. Burdell, president; L.E. Holden, vice-president; Stacey B.
Rankin, executive commissioner; D.H. Moore, Edwin Hagenbuch, M.K. Gantz,
Newell K. Kennon, and David Friedman.

As soon as the bill had been passed and the commissioners had been
appointed a meeting of the commission was held for the purpose of
deciding upon the plans for the State building. The building was erected
on the southeastern end of the fair grounds, on that part known as the
Terrace of States, at a cost of $35,000. The structure was designed
solely for the comfort and convenience of the people of the State, and
no effort was made to exhibit therein any of the resources of the State.
In an act of the general assembly of the State an additional bill was
passed March 24, 1904, appropriating $12,500 for completing and
furnishing the State building on the grounds of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition. In this connection it may be of interest to mention that
President Francis especially complimented the commission for its
promptness in having the building erected, for on the opening day of the
exposition the Ohio Building was ready for occupancy and the president
himself was the first to register his name. At the close of the
exposition the commission advertised for the sale of the building and
disposed of it to the highest bidder.

While Ohio as a State maintained only one exhibit in the Mines and
Metallurgy Building, consisting chiefly of clay and its products, over
150 private individuals and corporations throughout the State added to
the prominence and magnitude of the exposition by installing costly
exhibits, which were maintained by them at very great expense. These
miscellaneous exhibits showed to very good advantage the natural
resources of the State and its diversified products. In the Palaces of
Electricity, Machinery, and Transportation the State was represented
remarkably well by these private exhibitors, and much credit is due to
them for their attractive and interest