The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-17
(From St. Paul Dispatch, Nov. 81
Minnesota ut the Cen,euos.,

f. ~ Minncsota mt the Centennial.
What will Minnesota do at the Cen.
tennial This important Question comes
home to every resident of Minnesota and
to every nonresident taxpayer interest.
ed IN her prosperity. Patriotism alone
ought to. make Minnesota we'll represent
ed, but in these practical times we pre-
fer to have the argument especially upon
self-interest. -
1t will pay pecuniarily thousand fold
to arouse and make the necessary expen-
diture for grand exhibition of Mime.
sofa products, soils, manufactures. etc.
We do not exaggerate this matter.
The State has from time to time spent
! considerable sums to induce emigration
| to her territory. 1t was wise to pursue
this course We would not take back,
if we could, one dollar of the money thus
used. But We now have an opportunity
in single year to accomplish more
than We have previously
done in our entire eighteen
years of existence as State. During
SIX months Of next year the Centenniaf
exhibition at Philadelphia will be
thronged with people from all the
nations afsssthe earth.arEveryv land and
tongue known to the civilized world will.
be represented by their inhabitants.
The over crowded sections Of the old
world will send representative men 10 de-
termine what portions of this country
! offer the best inducements for the teem-
ing millions who desire to improve their
condition. People from our own country
will gather there by the millions, hum
dreds Of thousands of whom are afloat
and ready to settle in those sections of
the land which offer the greatest attrac-
tons either for the poor man or the man
of means.
In six months time Minnesota can &C.
complish more for herself than she can
90 in the next half century by
the most lavish expenditure Of money.
Our people have been apathetic, while
other Sta-es have been alive to the i'm
portance of the work, but we can afford
to delay no longer unless we propose to
retire from the contest with our sister
States for a commanding position in the
country.
AS it stands to-day, Minnesota has but
10000 square feet of space assigned her
for the display of all her products. We
blush to say that until recently it has
seemed al though that would be more
than adequate, while we rejoice to add
that there is now a prospect that this
will not be a 1.-THE of what will be needed.
Either Minneapolis or St. Paul alone can
more than fill the allotted space, and the
enterprising business men and manufac.
turers of Minneapolis have taken
hold of the matter with
the determination to make display alike
creditable to themselves and the State.
1t is the wisest and best movement for
her own interests that the city ever in
augurated, not excepting the preserva.
ton of the Falls. The first difficulty
which they encounter is the lack of space
for the display they desire, and to over
come this obstacle they have sent the
Hon. Richard Chute to Philadelphia to
confer with the Centennial managers and
ascertain what can be done. We are safe
IN saying that the demands for space will
render it impossible for Minnesota to Sc
cure but little if any additional room. But
even If greater space could be obtained
las we know it cannot) the proper way to
make telling and creditable dis
play is to nave a Minnesota build.
ing, erected by the State for the exclu-
sive use of Minnesotians. Many other
States are doing this, and notably Kan
sas, a State far less attractive to emf
grants and far less able than Minnesota
to undertake such work. If other
States were idle the situation might be
different, but they are not. The harvest
will be reaped, and if we do not secure
our portion it will be our own fault. If
Kansas. Nebraska, Iowa and other west
ern States build themselves up by their
centennial display and Minnesota does
not. we can never overtake them. We
will have been permanently outstripped
in the race, and the lost opportunity
will not return to this generation.
The time is so short that. whatever is
done must be done quickly. The emer-
gency is great, and the very first week
of the Legislative session in January
ought to see an appropriation of $4,000
for Minnesota building in Fairmont
Park, to be devoted to display of our
productions, agricultural, industrial and
of every description. The regular space
allotted should be duly filled with dupli.
Gates of articles in the Minnesota build
ing, and visitors directed to that to view
our whole display. If the Legislature
will do this the people will see that the
productions are ready. 1t will arouse our
people to the advantages and Importance
of the coming exhibition, and the Mime
sotian visiting the Centennial will find
there an advertisement of his State of
which ne will be proud. There is no time
for delay. The building can be com.
pleted early in March and the a, ticles for
exhibition be in place for the opening in
May. 1t is matter which Gov. Davis