The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-09-15
CORN BELT EXPOSITION
TO BE HELD AT MITCHELL
SOUTH DAKOTA.
Tho Exposition Will he Ono Of Great
Credit to the Statc--WIl Hold From
September rs to October 6-Twenty-
ono Counties to be represented.


residents, with the Obje of calling the
attention of her sister states 10 her I'M
bounded resources and her richness in
agricultural way have decided on the
holding of Corn Lett Exposition in
Mitchell from September % to October
6. 1852. The exposition is to be held in q
Corn Palace building which at this time
is nearly completed. The building will
be large and expensive one and all
the various tasty features of architec-
tural skill are being employed to make
the exterior very attractive. The in
terror is sufficiently large to accommo-
date several Thousand people while
seated, besides the various exhibits
from the twenty-one counties in the
Corn Belt of tho state and all the
mineral exhibits of gold, silver, tin,
lead, etc, from the Black Hills. While
the exposition is expected to benefit
the entire state yet only those counties
lying within the corn Belt district will
have charge of the exposition. The
Corn Belt region is known as the
twenty-one counties situated in tn G
southeastern portion OF the state. 1t is
here that corn is successfully raised
and of such quality and quantity as to
rival that grown in more southerly
states. This is the spot in the state
from the annual sale or turning
Off Of vast quantities Of cattle and
hogs. Diversified farming here is
the rule and the farmers are in conse-
quence successful in their pursuits.
The torn Belt is the oldest settled and
most prosperous part OF the state. A
crop failure has scarcely ever been
known and with the pride brought
about by success the residents Of the
Corn Belt are endcavoring by this Expo
sitiOn to show her resources in an at
tractive manner, and to rid from the
minds of Fasteners the idea that South
Dakota is Il place where only billiards.,
drouths. Indians, and destitute people
abound. In this land Of bright sun
shiny weather genuine Billiards are as
rare as in the East, dronths have never
effected the Corn Belt. Indians are as
scarce as on the streets of Chicago, and
the farmers are housed in substantial
homes, their stock in roomy barns, and
the residents of the state will lie found
to be of an intelligent class Amcri-
cans by birth in an overwhelming ma
jOrity. they are mostly educated. They
are proud of their state and they inl
tend tina: The rest of the world shalt
know it as they know it. In that parn
of the state north and west of the Cor.
Belt region the farmers Il few years ag
were subjected to the encouragement
incident to new country and to pic
neerS. The southeastern part of the
state was more slowly settled than the
rest Of the state, and the residents were
farming successfully at the time of the
great influx of immigration into the rest
OF the state in the early eighties. The
people who then came to secure Dakota
land were far different from the pres
ent class of residents. Those who came
then were brought here with the expec-
taton Of securing land without making
it their home. The ma ority of the fer
tile acres of the b DAD prairIes of the
state were taken up by this class
Many never tiled their land at all ana
of those that did do anv farming done
it in such careless hap-hazard way
that when any set hack was brought
about throu Oh crop failure they failed TO
withstand the storm and left the coun-
try The experienced farmers among
those who first came stayed, the mex
pcrienccd and thriftlcSs class was
weeded out. and their places after
ward taken by the better element and
to-day without exception the farmers
| OF the state are of the right class and
| arc working their way towards Il sure
enough success. The great crop yields
| of 1891 have been. take the state as a
whole, repeated the present season.
Conservative estimates place the wheat
| crop at -, 600. COO bushels, the corn
| crop at 100000 600 ushclS. and the oat
! crop at Go,oGO 0o0 bushels. The effects
| of these magnificent yields has been TO
| install spirit of enthusiasm into the
people of the state and spirit of en-
| tcrprise which is showing itself in all
directions in increased business activ-
ity. From an assessed valuation Of
Si.. 10l ,000 in leS2 the state has pres
percd 10 such an extent that the
assessed valuation this year is Sl3-,-
| 3.3, .6i, an increase of 800 per cent.
| This part OF the Northwest which was
once considered away ont West" is
but 500 miles from the Worlds Fair
City and can be reached by II twelve
hour ride from that place. Proximity
| to large markets is therefore clearly
| shown. Investments by eastern parties
| viii be made To Il large extent in the
next few years. Nearly every other
! section of the country has been doomed
| by investors. in fact, South Dakota is
! about the only section of the country
I where the effect of booming is not
shown, and capitalists are bound in Il
| very short time to become convinced
that the avenue for rich Investments
| have surely oi.ened in this state.
| south Dakota expects in the future
to have the only Corn Palaces in the
| Northwest. The celebrated Corn Pal
! aces of Sioux City attracted the atten-
| ton of the entire country to that city.
| and yet Sioux City prosperity can be
attributed to great extent to the hogs
| l., Il f1~l
| and fed on South Dakota corn.
The present Corn Belt Exposition will
| be one OF great credit to the state. 1t
is no small affair but Of such magni-
| tu,!e the visitors wonder when they
| view the building now going up at the
| size of the undertaking. The EXposi.
| ton is directly under the management
| of the citizens of Mitchell who have as
| sumed all the costs of the undertaking,
but the prominent residents and real
| estate men of all the counties in the
| Corn Eelt are at work to make the
| Exposition great success. Among
| the attractions which are offered be-
sides the beautiful palace decorations
| are the daily concerts OF the Iowa State
Band. a musical organization of fifty
| pieces, and the doings of political days
| when Republican. Democratic and
| al mcTS Alliance speakers OF natl0nal
repute will deliver addresses, besides
| others now being arranged for. The
| interior of the building will be lit by
myriads of electric lights and will re-
scmble a palace in every sense of the
word. The force of 10 decorators
under the charge of Prof. Robe, who
had supervision of the decorations of
the New Orleans Exposition for several
| years has commenced work on the
building. The Exposition is a
big undertaking and reflects great
credit on the city where it is to be held
and upon the residents of the Corn Belt
| Us well.
|