"_Your Honor, Mr. Francis, and ladies and gentlemen:_ In responding as the representative of the administration of the borough of Brooklyn, I feel that you must realize the unenviable position I occupy of appearing on such brief notice and of acting as the mouthpiece of our president, the Hon. Martin W. Littleton. Mr. Littleton instructs me to convey his most sincere regrets to your honor, to Mr. Francis and to the ladies and gentlemen constituting the Committee of One Hundred, on his enforced absence on this occasion. As some of you are aware, there has been an election in this land. Previous to this election there was carried on what some of us supposed was a political campaign. This campaign engaged the interest of every worthy citizen and public and private affairs of business have been neglected to some extent as a consequence. In the business of the borough Mr. Littleton is confronted with a vast accumulation of matters of greatest importance to Brooklyn, both in the local work and in the various boards and committee meetings in Manhattan, and he has reluctantly concluded that his absence from the city at this time would amount to an almost criminal neglect of his duty. He asks me to convey to you the congratulations and good wishes of the many thousands of our people who are unable to be with us to-day. Brooklyn has had a deep sympathy with your fair city in this tremendous enterprise, and has watched with keen interest and satisfaction your success in overcoming the many difficulties that lay in your way. Brooklyn herself has awakened from her sleep of almost ten years, and the sound of the hammer and the saw and the ring of the trowel are heard on every hand. Owing to the enterprise, energy and self-sacrificing efforts of many of the men who are with us to-day, she is astonishing the country by the wonderful increase in population. Brooklyn can no longer be regarded as the bedroom of Manhattan, for Manhattan is rapidly becoming only the workshop of Brooklyn; we can no longer be regarded as the little brother of Manhattan, for we are rapidly becoming a very big brother. Consequently, ladies and gentlemen of St. Louis, we feel qualified to appreciate the satisfaction and joy you may justly feel in this your hour of triumph, and we extend to you the right hand of fellowship and congratulate you on this wonderful creation of yours, that must go down in history as the greatest exposition in the history of mankind." Mayor Wells was unavoidably detained by an important engagement. The Chairman then introduced Mr. Schieren, and in doing so said: