The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-07-03
MINNESoTA,s- INTEREST.

ed with the management and getting
whatever information possible that
could be used advantageous to Mime
sofas interest.
The commissioners were received
most courteously by Secretary Dick
inson and other officials, and every de-
tail of the preliminary work of the
great fair was given. The various de-
partments are fully organized and
thoroughly equipped for the work in
hand and as time advances additional
clerical help will be added to keep up
with the demands.
The work on Jackson Park-now
designated as the Worlds Fair
Grounds-is being pushed with COM
mendable vigor. About fifteen hun
dred men are engaged with teams
grading the grounds, constructing ca
nails, etc., and the work thus far ac-
complished is gratifying to note. The
park contains $40 acres and all the
unimproved portion will be utilized
for the great buildings, such as ma
chinery hall, agricultural hall, WOm-
ans department and the. numerous
other structures of like utility. The
arrangements for reaching the grounds
are simply perfect. Belt lines of rail-
roads will be so constructed as to en-
able the unloading of six train of cars
at the same time, while passenger and
pleasure boats will be run into the
very heart of the grounds, by means
of canals cut through from the lake
shore of sufficient width and depth to
admit good sized boats. Contracts
have already been let for agricultural
hall, which is to be the largest build
ing on the grounds, being over LOO
feet in length, and the Woman's de-
partment which is also large build
ing. 1t is expected that these struc-
lures will be erected the present sea-
son, work on them having already
commenced.
Members of the Minnesota commits
sion were given ride to the park Sat-
urday afternoon and had an excellent
opportunity of surveying the grounds
as well as to select the site for Min
nesota building. The location select
ed by them is on plat 175 feet
square that fronts on the south on
the avenue that separates the state
buildings from the fine art palace. Its
west front is the avenue that leads
around from the fine art palace to the
north row of state buildings, and is in
the most beautiful portion of the i'm
proved part of the park near the lake.
On the whole no more advantageous
site could be desired.
The commission, as every one must
be who has looked the grounds and
situation over, is unanimously agreed
that Minnesota must have building
dedicated to her use during the expo
sition. Every state in the Union will
have one, and Minnesota being one of
the greatest, wealthiest and most
prominent, would be Inundated, not
to say disgraced, if she failed to erect
building commensurate with her
commercial, agricultural, mineral,
forestry and other interests. To erect
such structure will, it is estimated,
cost about $25, 900. 1t should be put
up of Minnesota material, designed by
Minnesota architect and built by
Minnesota labor. 1t would prove Of
iDcalculable benefit to Minnesotans
who visit the Fair, as providing for
them headquarters and bureau Of
information, for at such time and in
such throng it will be difficult to
get about at the best.
The failure of the Legislature to
provide sufficient funds for the use of
the state in an undertaking of this
magnitude will require the adoption
by the commission of some plan
whereby the shortage can be secured.
How and by what means this can be
best accomplished has no4 yet been
discovered, but it is hoped that some
sort of way out will shortly be de-
vised.
The exposition of '93 will eclipse
anything of the kind in the history of
the world. The enterprise, ingenuity,
wealth and products of every civil
lied country on the globe will be
brought into friendly competition,
and the information dispensed
through such a source will prove of
incalculable benefit in point of edu-
cation.
Minnesota will not be found want
ing when the time comes. The pat
riotism and pride Of her citizens may
be confidently relied upon to come
Ibravely forward and show to the ma
tions of the earth that we are among
the most enlightened and progressive
people; and represent a state Sec
ond to none in the Union in richness,
resources and variety Of products.
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GEN. ALGER has given out as his