The exercises were participated in by representatives from nearly all civilized nations, and the presence on April 30, 1903, of the President of the United States, ex-President Cleveland, the Joint Committee of Congress, the ambassadors and ministers of twenty-six foreign governments, the governors and representatives of more than forty States and Territories, conferred upon it the official indorsement of the nations of the world, and added the weight and dignity which the sanction of governments alone could give.

When the treaty of cession was concluded in 1803 President Jefferson represented less than 6,000,000 people and there were but 50,000 white settlers in the Louisiana Territory.  President Roosevelt in 1903 represented 80,000,000 people, the Purchase contained 15,000,000 inhabitants, and the 865,000 square miles which it comprised had been geographically divided into twelve States and two Territories.  It was an area greater in extent and in natural resources than that of the original thirteen States, and constituted the largest real estate transfer ever known in the history of nations.

The price of $15,000,000 paid for it was considered exorbitant by those who were opposed to the purchase in 1803, yet the possibilities of the country, then so vague and ill-defined, so amply justified the prophetic faith of its advocates that a century later many millions of dollars in excess of the purchase money were spent in commemorating the transfer of a tract of land without which the present greatness of the United States would not have been possible.  The present value of the agricultural products alone of the area for one year are a hundred times, and the taxable wealth more than four hundred times, the purchase money.

The board of lady managers was created pursuant to a clause in section 6 of the act of Congress of March 3, 1901, empowering the National Commission[A] of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition as follows: 

[Footnote A:  The creation of the National Commission of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was authorized by act of Congress, March 3, 1901, and the members were appointed by President McKinley.  According to section 12 of an act approved June 28, 1902, the Commission will cease officially to exist on the first day of July, 1905, at which time, also, will expire the term of appointment of the members of the board of lady managers.]

And said Commission is hereby authorized to appoint a board of lady managers, of such number and to perform such duties as may be prescribed by said Commission, subject, however, to the approval of said company.  Said board of lady managers may, in the discretion of said Commission and corporation, appoint one member of all committees authorized to award prizes for such exhibits as may have been produced in whole or in part by female labor.

The following is the complete list and order of appointment of the members of the board of lady managers made by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission, acting under the authority conferred by the aforesaid section 6 of the act of Congress of March 3, 1901: