The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-02-03
MINNESOTA AND THE WORLDS
FAIR.

ing Oh UDo ulucUCeHUu CCHuulJ 10 oo
great Columbian Exposition at Chica-
90, the preparations for which are
now approaching completion, and all
will be in readiness for the vast crowds
which will pass through its gates on
and after May 1St next. Before tne
splendor of this great undertaking,
all other like institutions Of the past
pale into comparative insignificance.
The Importance of this great gather
ing of the world to the Northwest is
beyond the power of computation IN
dOllars'and cents. As an opportunity
to draw the attention of the world to
this particular section of the globe, 1t
is not likely to be approached again In
this generation. TO Minnesota es-
pecially it will be of vast Importance.
Here within our borders are natural
resources, which if properly developed
would support population two or
three times as great as at present and
we would not he at all crowded. Cap
ital is needed here to properly devel-
ope the state, and capital always goes
where it can find the best chances.
In this particular, Minnesota can pre-
sent opportunities which are unequal
ed elsewhere. This being the case,
the Exposition will be of the greatest
Importance to the state, and 1T is a
matter of equal Importance that Min
nesota be represented there with an
exhibit which will fully and complet-
lv show it's advantages and the
countless opportunities here afforded
to man.
For this purpose the state two years
ago made an appropriation of $4,000
to defray the expense of such an ex-
hibit. When the commission was or
ganized, and surveyed the field, stud
led the Importance of an exhibit
which would put the state in its right
light before the world, and began to
realize the magnitude and far-reach-
ing effect the Exposition would have,
they found, as have the commissioners
of other states, that the amount was
too small to cover the field as it ought
to be. Hence the call which was
made for an additional 800, 900, which
public spirited citizens subscribed
that the work might be carried on
without interruption, and which the
state senate by it's action on Tuesday
in the passage of the bill appropriate
ing that sum, declared should be as
sumed by the state, which receives
the benefit, And in passing this bill
the senate has acted wisely and in
lined with the progressive spirit for
which Minnesota has always been
noted. And right here the FREE
PRESS is glad to note that nearly all
the senators from the Second Con-
gressional district voted in favor OF
the bill. Those so voting being Sen
ators Barr, of Blue Earth county, Day
of Martin, Davis of NicOllet, Keistel
of Faribault, Peterson of Brown and
La Due of Rock. The two senators
voting against it were Sevatson and
Mott.
The work so we'll commenced by the
Senate should be as well finished by
the House, and Minnesota placed in
her right position before the world as
not dependent on the generosity Of
private individuals for that which the
state by rights ought to do. 1t has
been urged by those opposing this ap
preparation, that the $50, 1000 appropri
ated two years ago is plenty for the
purposes which the state ought tt
cover in an exhibit, and that thu
state has no business to take charge
of the individual exhibits which W,
send to Chicago. There is no fair
minded man in the state but will
agree that if Minnesota is to be repre-
sented at Chicago at all, that repre-
Sentation should be as complete a
human power can make it. Their
are many individuals here and Their
who have articles worthy of bein.
shown there, but probably the major
ity of them could not stand the eX
pense, nor take the time of gettin,
them there, The state commission
goes into every county and takes no
only from the natural elements of tn
state, but such articles as each indi
vidual may have, receipts for them
ana takes them to Chicago. Here, in
stead of being scattered everywhere
as would be the case with an individ
ual exhibit, they will be kept TIC
gether, and the world can there stud
the opportunities and advantages O.
fered, and note the progress we hav
made from prairie wilderness to on
of the foremost states in the Union
The advantage to be gained by tn
people of the state by having a stat
rather than an individual exhibit j
thus to be seen at glance.
And it is to be noted here the en-,
barrassing position the state would