The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-09-24
A WINNING CARD FOR KAN

The Bismarck Fair, which closed NJ 1
Lawrence on the 18th, was without doubt
one of the most memorable events in the |
history of our state, as it is conceded on all
hands to have been the most successful |
venture Of the kind ever attempted west |
of the Mississippi river. The phemone- |
nal growth in the population Of Kansas |
during the last decade, has been the sub |
ject OF universal comment at the hands |
of the press, and the widely-disseminated
intelligence that a million Of people are
now dwelling within the borders OF what
was little more than trackless wilder
ness twenty years ago, has direct
ed the eyes of the orld to state and
people which have made such rapid and
gigantic strides in the march Of progress,
bringing our young commonwealth 10
the very van of the best civilization of
the worlds most enlightened era. At
this suspicious epoch Of our state his
tory, it seemed wonderfully in harmony
with the fitness OF things that some for
NAL celebration of our grand achieve
ments should he made, TO the end that
our triumphs might be signalized by a
prosperous and happy people, and that
our friends from far and near might
share our pride and rejoice in our pros
perity.
Such was the opportunity offered by
the western national fair. 1t opened its
entries To the country at large, and pro-
claimed welcome To the citizens Of
every state within the limits of our
national confederation. To this COM
mon center Kansas brought the fruits of
her labOr-the trophies of her enterprise,
that the world might see and believe that
the resources of a state which has trebled
her population in the last decade are
amply sufficient TO warrant and sustain
IA corresponding increase in the next ten
years To the hundreds of visitors who
came from other states to view the eXhI-
bition, and who had read the many con-
dieting stories concerning the pOssibili-
ties of Kansas, with which the press OF
the country has been filled for the past
quarter of a century, there must have
4 bOulClniuB olilOob NOhSh
of enchantment, pervading the scene
which arrested the ndmiring gaze of the
sightseer as he entered the building, and
stood in the presence of the cereal won
ders, which, in artistic dispositions, met
the eye at every turn. In fact, the very
first exhibit facing the main entrance
was a collection of mammoth vegetables
and abnormal corr. which, an explanatory
placard informed the visitor, came from
the Starving corner of Kansas" and the
surprise engendered by this apparent alb
surdity was only intensified as the be-
holder, caught in the tide of the moving
throng, was carried through avenues that
cleaned with cereal gold, and blushed
with the rOseate hues Of an Infinite vari-
ETY. of the choicest fruits.
Leaving the hall, and seeking the
outer expanse of the surrounding
grounds. the way led through long lines
of sheds and stalls, filled with such a
display of cattle, sheep. hogs and horses
as has never before been seen upon the
American continent Here, was, in fact.
the central point of interest of the
mammoth exhibition. The livestock OF
Kansas forms the sure basis Of the
wealth Of the state, and nothing could
prove source of more earnest self-cOn.
graduation TO one whose interests are
identified with the young state, than to
note the almost marvellous improvement
in the grades of all classes of stock
which have been made by the farmers
of the state in the last decade.
Wemight dwell upon the excellence
of the exhibits in scores of other lines
did space permit, but 1t is enough TO say
that the exhibition was grand success
that it has impaired luster to the rep
utation of the state that will establish it
claim to precedence over all its compel
itors for empire. and will lend renewed
|, impetus TO the swelling tide OF
immigration that has been setting for the
past quarter Of century in the direction
. OF her borders.