The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-03-13
MINNESOTA AT THE WORLDS FAIR.

The Committee of the House and
Senate on ''World's Fair" having ar
rived at an agreement on the princi-
pal points of the bill TO be introduced,
the respective chambers will soon
have the subject up for consideration
and final action. Minnesota at the
Worlds Fair" is matter Of more than
passing Importance. No question will
come before the legislature at its pres
emit session Of more vital interest TO
the future of this commonwealth than
is embodied in the proposition as TO
what shall be done at this great cele-
bration. Minnesota is to-day one OF
the most prosperous states in the
Union, and her wonderful resources
are so varied and extensive as TO cause
establishment when one stops TO re-
feet and enquire into them. This
being true what is most wanted is men
Of wealth TO come here and invest
their capital. We also want men Of
muscle TO locate among us and through
the varied channels open for their adj
vancement make homes and compe-
tency for themselves. There is room
and demand for the artisan as well.
Skilled mechanics and common labor
ers can unite forces which will be Of
mutual benefit TO themselves and the
community in general, and share the
benefits TO be derived from prosperity,
wealth and happiness. To get such as
these our energies and best thoughts
must be put at work and no legitimate
means for progress neglected. What
state in this extensive Northwest can
present so many facts and so few va
carries TO induce immigration, capital
and manufactures Just for a mo-
ment consider the extent Of our rail
roads and the excellent facilities they
afford. Let your minds reflect upon
the educational advantages Of our
state. Few Of the old states can COM
pare with US in this important regard,
while the newer ones or those Of an
equal age viii not stand comparison.
This particular feature of Minnesota's
position is the greatest Of all her
other and meritorious attractions,
and cannot fail TO draw favorable COM
ment from all whose attention is
drawn thereto The state has, or had,
about 5000, 900 acres of school lands
and one half of these still remain un-
sold. 1t also has from five TO eight
hundred thousand acres of swamp
lands awaiting purchasers. Our per-
manent school fund amounts to over
SO. 000. 000-dOuble that of any other
State in the Union. Kansas and Texas
alone excepted, and much larger than
either Of those states. Our perna-
nent University fund is over $500, 1000
and is greater than any other State,
California excepted
These facts and figures are new TO
most people and they are valuable as
reference at this time as showing that
We have something TO be especially
proud Of and something which intel
ligent men always look to when seek
ing new homes. A state that can
boast of such a condition of affairs in
an educational way is worthy Of more
than an ordinary place in such an
event as the Worlds Fair. and should
be the basis for incentive to our legis-
lature TO be extremely considerate
and reasonably liberal in considering
this question.
While our desire for Advancement
EhaI7l6 mo 10 cnl1iCh IN hn ny
tent Of begrudging neighboring states
healthful growth, it should inspire US
TO lay before the people of the world
the advantages We can produce for the
investment Of capital and the seek
ers after homes. The census of 1880
placed Minnesota as the 18th state in
among the states and ter
while in 1890 il rose TO
10th place. This stride in a single
decade is most fattering, especially
when we ind that our sister state Of
Iowa remained stationary during this
period. The onward march made by
Us IN the ten years past, with little or
no effort on the part of our people 10
advertise our resources. is gratifying.
and serves to show that with the pro-
per energy and push the future can be
made TO outstrip all past records.
Minnesota's per cent. of increase be-
tween 1880 and 1890 was &c. II: Wiscon-
sin 2S-23; Iowa 17.6S: North Dakota
1906 and South Dakota 1880. No
one, however, much he may read Of
the gl0ries of the Dakotas viii for a
moment seriously contend that Min
nesota is not superior in every sense,
and yet statistics show us what an
army Of people have passed through
our gates and taken up homes beyond.
TO some extent we are responsible for
the loss of much growth in population
seeming Indifference to adj
vertlse our state abroad. or at least
by falling TO do so.
1t has Oeen commended by some that
we should not exert ourselves TO in
duce immigration. A business man
who would sit down in his office and
make no eXertion to build I'D his
trade would deserve TO go into bank
ruptcy. What is true of The indi-
yldual Is TO an extent true of COM
1t is our duty, as LOYAL
citizens, to do what we can in an hon.
est way to build up our industries,
expand our trade and settle our va
can't lands. We have an empire here
dazzling in extent, and bewildering in
possibilities. When one stops to COM
pute the territory which lies under
0Tlr c0pfrol and diccao+ II ha ic ACTON