New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-11-11
LOTS OF HARD WORK NEEDED.
Minnesota Must Raise Part of It's Worlds
Fair Fund By the First of Next Year

Minnesota Must Raise Part of Its Worlds
Fair Fund By the First Of Next Year
Or It Will Be Compelled to Give Up Its
Building Site, Which Is Splendid
Minnesota s world 8 fair fund mus, be
raised by jan l, 1892, or the state will
be compelled to take back seat and
give way to states that have been more
liberal and more active. One of the
best sites on the Columbian exposition
grounds has been promised to this state,
but the site must be accepted on or be-
fore the date named, and unless the ad-
dluonal fund is secured or in sigft by
that time it would be obviously useless
to accept the site for a Minnesota
building.
There is a lamentable and widespread
ignorance IN the State of Minnesota as
to the duties, powers and work of the
Minnesota Columbian exposition COM
mission. Che board, Immediately after
the members were appointed, became
the target for unwarranted aud captious
criticism. Az impression went abroad
that this commission was created as a
kind of ''soft snap for somebody. and
that its principal duty was to provide
an easy berth for a secretary whose
main duty was to draw a princely sal
ary. How these wild and erroneous
ideas started, no one can tell; but they
| received certain amount of credence
IN some quarters, drawing factious op-
position to the commission, and max
ing its task, difficult enough in the first
place, ten times more arduous. In fact
so bitter was the opposition, and so
many were the falsehoods circulated
about the commission, that at one time
some OF the members thought seriously
OF resigning.
But the tide turned; truth, mighty
against the strongest odds, began to
prevail. Then members of the commits.
sion, accused OF inactivity by those who
were putting obstacles in their way,
| turned their attention to means of rails
ing such fund as was necessary to give
Minnesota fair showing among the
| great states of the Union. After sever.
I al, schemes had been considered, the
commission adopted the plan of calling
upon the counties in proportion to
their assessed valuation-a plan which
was so eminentlY fair that it at once en-
listed public support. Now the work
is going on smoothly, and if the other
counties of the state take hold of the
matter as we'll as those which have al
ready provided for their share of the
fund, there is no doubt but what the en-
tire 800, 900 will he pledged by Jan.
of next year, and that the state will Sc
cure one of the finest sites in the whole
exposition ground.
Activity all along the line character
ICES the work of the commission at ure.
sent. The counties are becoming fully
alive to the Importance of their work
and are responding nobly. Aitkin coun-
ty holds the honor of being the first to
respond. The roll Of honor is still grow
ing and to-day the list of those that
have raised their shares of the worlds s
fair fund embraces eleven counties,
while eight or ten more have their pro.
portions nearly guaranteed and will be
ready in few days. Here is the list:
Aitkin county, 500; Martin, 5000;
Olmstead, 81, 400; Wabasha, 1926; Clay,
5000; Redwood, $3.50; Faribault, 1910;
Kittson. S24O; Mobiles, $500; Rock,
| $3.50; St.Louis, 81, 30O.-Pioneer Press.