The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-11-20
Minnesota and the Worlds Fair.

Minnesota and the Worlds Fair.
One of the most central, conspicu-
GUS, convenient and every way desira-
bic location on the fair grounds has
been assigned by the National COM
mittee to Minnesota. Unless definite
action which shall guarantee an ex-
hibit befitting the state and the hon.
Ored position awarded it, the assign
ment will be withdrawn and the po-
sition given to some other state OF a
better appreciation of its obligations
to itself and of the distinction con-
ferred. Hence the necessity for prompt
and vigorous action on the part of
those who are charged with the bust
ness of raising the fund and on the
part of all who are concerned from
motives of state pride or purely prac-
tical considerations in securing a
creditable exhibit. The people of
Minnesota-the merchant, the manu-
facturer. the workingman, the farmer
have much at stake in the character
of our display at Chicago. A cheap
and partial and inferior exhibit would
be worse than none at all, since it
would convey a misleading and iniuri-
Gus idea of the nature and extent OF
our resources. A thorough, compre-
hensive representation of the riches
of our mines, our soil our forests, our
bays and rivers, of the products of our
factories and of the educational and
civil advantages of our people, Will
on the other hand, be of uncalcuable
benefit, for it will show to the world
not only what Minnesota has achieved
but what she is capable of, and what
her possibilities are.
The buildings at Chicago are on
liberal scale and will be of imposing
appearance. while many unique and
interesting features have been ar
ranged for. The other States of the
Union are making preparations on
very liberal scale to make credit
able figure at the exhibition, and
Minnesota is one of the most fertile,
progressive and rapidly developing
states of the Northwest-with bound
less natural resources yet undevelOp-
ed and with 10000, 900 of acres of the
finest agricultural lands in the world
yet acknowledgements afford to ap-
pear in such company in shabby habi-
lmentS.
In order to make proper exhibit
display of our really important pro-
ducts and resources all the time in
tervening between now and the open
ing of the Fair should be utilized.
The representative men Of the state
should take hold of the matter with
zeal and yigor and in practical way
for organizing the work of actual pre-
parat ion of exhibits on such basis |
that the general public will have con-
fidence in the seriousness and thor |
oughness of the undertaking. The |
exhibit should be one not only of |
Minnesota products but of Minnesota |
men. Our ableSt and most enterpriS- |
ing citizens should actively and earn
estly interest themselves in the diff |
ficult and delicate task of running a |
proper exhibit and representing the
state in the congregation OF live, en- /
ergetic broad-gauged representa- tive
men from all parts of the world which |
will be found at Chicago.
The task is one which no public
spirited citizen should avoid. The
work should not be left entirely to the
commission 1t is one which should
command the best service from those
who appreciate the greatness and the
riches of this state and are proud of
the name Of Minnesota and who would
rejoice in an opportunity to impress
upon the multitudes at the Fair the
superior advantages Of soil and china
lie which our state enjoys and are at
Sracting from less hospitable and de
Sirable regions the immigration of
which some of the undeveloped coun-
ties stand so much in need.
The opportunity is a great one for
Of making her merits, ad-
yantages and capabilities fully known
10 the outer world The State has
been remiss in the performance of
this duty heretofore. 1t rests with
her more enterprising citizens to say
whether the splendid opportunity now
offered shall be improved.