The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-10-12
TINE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.

The success OF Oregon in the Gen.
tennial Exposition in Philadelphia
in 1876 was an event in which every
citizen Of the upper Pacific coast felt
9 just pride. No State or foreign
country made SO creditabie y record.
in proportion TO population and
wealth. It's exhibit attracted more at.
tention and was the subject Of more
general commentator than any other
feature OF the giant exhibition. An
English writer made no less than
eight illusions to the Oregon exhibit
in one publication. With the single
exception Of Kansas, which expended
$1,000 on the exhibition, Oregon
carried of more prizes than any ether
State in the Union, and itohas been OF
incalculable advantage to the whole
Northwestern coast in attracting i'm
migration and capital. not only from
the Eastern States but from Europe.
The credit Of this grand achievement
belongs exclusively to one man, A. J.
Dufur. plain practical, unpretend-
ing farmer. In 1851 Mr.. Dufur, then
farmer in Northern Wisconsin, WAS
financially ruined by endorsing for
lumbermen, and being past the age
for military duty, he removed TO Ore
gon in 1872. arriving in Portland with
his family and all Of his earthly pos
sessions, consisting Of one yoke Of
oxen and wagon, q few household me-
cessaries and about fifteen dollars in
money. He Immediately took the
lease Of q dairy farm stocked with
about forty cows. and commenced
making butter which he personally
delivered to private families in Port
land weekly, the demand being always
in advance Of the supply at rates above
market price on account Of its super
Tor quality. The second year he paid
of the last Of his old security debts.
amounting to nearly $4,000. and in
the course Of FIVE or six years more
he and his two boys. who had then
reached manhood, had acquired
considerable landed estate with large
stock Of cattle, and were rated among
the most prosperous farmers Of the
State; all Of which had been acquired
by intelligent thrift and untiring in
dustry. Mr.. Dufur and one Of his
sons have each served in the State
Legislature with distinguished credit.
Pending the Centennial Exposition,
he was appointed by. Gov. Grover
Commissioner OF the State Of Oregon,
and two Yeas he devoted his whole
time and untiring energy to the work.
Besides collecting all the varieties Of
cultivated products, he travelled all
over the forests Of Oregon, collecting
native wood, chopping the timber and
packing out the slabs on his back to
places Of transportion. He made six
trans.continental journeys at his own
expense and from the opening to the
close Of the exposition he gave his en-.
tire time and care to the superintend.
ence and no State representative was
more honored personally by the Com
missioners. the President and his cab
met, foreign. Ministers. and distin-
guished men from AL parts Of the
world. The plain old farmer. by his
intelligence and sterling worth. com.
manded the homage Of crowned heads,
statesmen and philosophers. and was
the honored guest Of the leading fami.
lies Of Philadelphia and other Eastern
cities. rejecting honors on his State
which NO one Of its most distinguished
citizens had been able to achieve for
il.
Aftsr oil this distinguished service
and expenditure of his own moderate
means for the glory Of his State and
the public interests. bill introduced.in
the Legislature to reimburse his ex.
psnses and moderately compensate him
for his time, meets with violent opposi.
ton. Speaker Thompson left his seat
and took the floor to oppose the bill.
He said "he did not think crowded
population blessing. Men came here
disappointed and found themselves
penniless found little or no advantage
over the country they came from and
that gave discontented population.
These displays merely were for the
amusement Of the wealthy" One
farmer Dufur ID worth more 70 the ad-
vancsmcnt Of > new country than .
thousand lawyer Thompsons. however
exalted their position. One negro
farmer made oil the exhibits from
Washington Territory. aud that poor
negro did the oountry better service
than the Speaker u tho Oregon House
of Representatives ever could do.
Ar. Dufur was invited to The foor Of
the House to explain. and aid: If
Oregon choose to pay him back HE
money expended. or to pay him for
over 700 days time. well and good.