, 1884-08-13
WESTERN WONDERS.
Interview With Hon. Homer Merrill
About Wyoming Exhibits.
The Territorial Display at Denver
In Disorder and Ruin.
A Full Description of the Exhibit
to be Made at New Orleans.

OPOh eAAhAAb AhaA ALOh- OhA
Merrill, of Rawlins, who has charge Of
the Wyoming exhibit at the Worlds Ex-
position at New Orleans this Fall, had
returned from Denver, a reporter of The
LEADER sought thegentleman at his hotel
last evening, for the purpose of learning
what progress had beenmade in collecting
a display Of the resources of the Territory.
Mr.. Merrill was found nhis apartments,
and although travelworn greeted the news
hunter with his old time cordially. In
reply to a question, Mr.. Merrill said:
"Yes. l have just returned from a visit
to Wyoming's exhibit at the Exposition
in Denver, and q bad shape l found it
in"
What is the matter? Has the exhibit
been neglected."
THE display is in ruins. l tell you it
is a disgrace to Wyoming The magrif-
cent blocks of soda are cTumbling to
pieces. the coal is weather Stacked, the
carpet is in rags, and in fact the exhibit
is in the most mournful wreck | ever be-
held.
Are all of the specimens which were
sent there last year still in placer
Not by any means. Many of the
smaller ones have been removed and, as l
said before, the exhibit is a disgrace.
Something should be done in the matter,
and at once"
What would YOU suggest"
The entire exhibit should be placed in
proper order or removed. Governor
Hoyt should be sent there at once with
full power and ample means to restore the
exhibits"
Governor Hoyt has charge of the dis
play, has he not?"
"Yes. To him the Territory is indebt-
ed for the exhibit. He has given much
time to it, has collected many Of the spe-
cimens, and has spent his own money to
advance the interests of the Territory.
He cannot afford to incur further outlay,
andit is the duty Of the Territory to
raise the necessary funds
HAS Professor Bailey, in his capacity
as Territorial Geologist, a right to devote
any time to the natter"
"In my opinion he has. He is a
salaried official, and 1 think the condition
of the display is such that he is warranted
in giving it his personal attention. In
deed, he should attend to it. 1t is his
duty to do So.
rs there any fund upon which drafts
may be made for the purpose you sug-
gest?'
Not that | know Of. Each county,
through its county commissioners, should
subscribe something at once. The expo
sition opens the LIST of September, the
building itself is now open, and other
States and Territories are nearly ready for
the formal opening mex month"
What can you do toward lettering the
condition of the exhibit
II can do nothing. My interests in
connection with the exhibit at New Or
leans are purely territorial The %collec-
ton | may make cannot well be taken to
Denver, and, in fact, will not be ready in
time for the Denver exposition.
Would you advise the removal of the
remnant of the exhibit at Denver"
mot by any means. | wish you would
impress it upon the people that action
should be taken at once. Money should
be raised Immediately and Governor Hoyt
who has worked so hard the matter. should
be Endorsed SO that the exhibit may be even
better than it was last year. 1t has already
benefited the Territory greatly but as it
now is it will be a disgrace. By all means
remove it or repair it. The coal and soda
should be cleaned up and dumped out, if
nothing more"
What are you accomplishing in your
efforts to secure a collection for the
Worlds Exposition at New 0rlenns?'
Il am working harl. | will have about
twenty-five specimens of different kinds
of oil, ten or twelve varieties ofiron, spec
linens of soda and other evidence of Wyo-
ming's r%ecourses."
WI you obtain specimens from the
Yellowstone Park?'
Il shall devote no little attention to the
collection of rare, beautiful and character
istic specimens from our wonderland park.
1t is my intention to display the largest
and most complete exhibit of collections
made in the Yellowstone that have ever
been on exhibition. will take no small
specimens, no handful exhibits. The oil
will be in large quantities; coal, soda, iron,