The three officials appointed were Chekib Bey, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the United States, commissioner-general; Dr. Hermann Schoenfeld, consul-general in Washington, associate commissioner-general; George Eli Hall, consul-general in San Francisco, secretary-general of the commission.

VENEZUELA.

The participation of Venezuela in the St. Louis Exposition was authorized in the month of October, 1903, immediately after the end of one of the most sanguinary civil wars known in the history of the country.  The following-named gentlemen were appointed as commissioners of the Venezuela Government:  Gen. Cipriano Castro, honorary president; Eugenio M. Ambard, commissioner-general; Dr. H. Lameda, attache; H. Meinhard, secretary.

The amount of the Government appropriation was at first $25,000, but this amount was soon exhausted and smaller amounts were subsequently sanctioned for the maintenance, transportation, and installation of exhibits.  The total amount of appropriation was $30,000.  There was absolutely no private contribution in cash.  The approximate value of the exhibits was about $105,000.

Some of the most interesting features of the exhibition were: 

First.  A collection of over 200 varieties of fibers prepared under different processes and taken from different altitudes.  Nearly all were prepared by a machine invented by Dr. J. Lameda, who collected and took the greatest interest in the fiber exhibit.  From the coarsest to the finest were to be found among these fibers.  The longest was of the musa variety, a coarse fiber which grows to the length of 10 feet.  The Annanassa sativa, a fine fiber, grows to the length of 5 feet.  This was the only collection of the kind at the exposition or which has ever been shown at any other exposition.

Second.  The magnificent collection of hard woods from the Government States of Carabobo, Zulia, and Guayana, each comprising over 600 specimens of native logs, woods for cabinetwork, for building construction, lumber, staves, dyewoods, tanning, resinous, oil, rubber, and fragrant woods.

Third.  A most unique and complete collection of forest plants, roots, herbs, leaves, barks, seeds, fruits, resins, gums, and dyeing and flavoring materials used by herbalists and pharmacists.  These were collected, prepared, and classified by E.M.  Ambard.

Fourth.  A complete collection of all the minerals and precious stones (uncut) found in South America, prepared, collected, classified, and catalogued by Dr. Louis Plazard, who devoted nearly all his life to this work.

Fifth.  A collection of cocoa beans from different regions, which is considered to be one of the best and most nutritious cocoas in the world, and has always obtained a far higher price than any other cocoa; also a collection of coffee from different altitudes, considered by authorities to be of very fine flavor and high grade.