Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1893-08-17
CORN BELT EXPOSITION.
The One This Year VIII Far Surpass It's
Predecessors.


WHAT is now generally known as the
corn belt of South Dakota comprises
twenty-six counties in the south half
of the state east of the Missouri. and
so much of the big Sioux Reservation
as lies contiguous to the west line Of
the river, and since the recent general
rainfall it is not going beyond the
bounds of truth to say that the average
crop yield throughout this section is
larger than for any year previous since
the settlement of the country. Wheat,
oats. rye, and barley are all safely har-
vested and .threshing will begin
promptly@Etsefn is making rapid head
way, and will soon he out of all danger
of frost. while vegetables of all kinds
have turned out much better than was
expected few weeks since. A notice.
able feature Of the season has been tha,
on three different occasions rain has
been needed very urgently and even
the most sanguine of the old inhabi-
tants began to get worried, when the
showers came. and the sudden reviving
of all dropping vegetation showed that
the soil and sub-soil was still full
of moisture from the snow and spring
rains and that the situation was not
nearly so bad as seemed at first sight.
This wonderful elasticity and rccuper-
ative power is one of the strongest feat
ures of this country, and throughout
the corn belt the sure crop idea has
taken hold for all time.
With this condition of affairs, there
fore, the prospects for the second Corn
Belt Exposition to be held in the city
of Mitchell from Sept. y to Oct. 6 are
most brilliant. The most valuable
feature OF last years display was the
county exhibits, of which thirteen were
made, that being the limit of the capac-
ity of the building. This year the
building is being enlarged with special
reference to this feature, and already
sixteen counties have reserved space,
while Secretary Smith is now on the
road to stimulate interest in the re-
naming ten counties, there now being
ample accommodations for all.
To show the widespread interest in
this feature it might be said that sew
eral counties in the north part of the
state which pride themselves on their
corn crop have applied for space. but
under the rules they will not be allowed
to compete for the valuable prizes
offered. These prizes, by the way, are
the largest ever offered in the West
for like attractions. They amount to
81 900 in all, divided as follows: First,
$500; second, $3.50; third, $50: fourth,
800.
The other features of the exposition
will be greatly improved and enlarged
upon. The building is now being ex-
tended and beautified by the addition
of thirty feet more ground space on the
entire north side and the erection of
handsome balconies on two sides. The
exterior decorations will be in the
hands of one of the most accomplished
artists in the west. and will be strik-
ingly novel and artistic, if one may
judge from drawings already at hand.
The interior plans are to be on an en-
Arely new plan, although they will in
clude many of the splendid effects
which made the skill and handiwork of
the Mitchell ladies SO famous last fall.
Prizes will be offered for the most
clever designs in decoration and special
set pieces which are expected to pro
duce some very elaborate results.
In the line Of musical features the
board has done much better than
1t had right to expect early in th
season, owing to the pressure of tn
Worlds Fair demands on the available
talent. President L. o. Gale has just
returned from Chicago, where, after
canvassing the merits of some of the
best bands in the country, he engaged
the Lynn, Mass, Regimental Band,
now under contract with its StaCe Com
missioners at the fair. This is an or
ganization of fifty pieces and is led by
an elder brother of Prof. Phinney OF
the famous Iowa State Band and the
man who gave the latter his musical
start in life. The Lynn band is con-
ceded by Prot Phinney himself to be
the superior Of his own in many re-
spects, due to its older organization
and its exceptional opportunities for
keeping up with the standard music of
the country. This band will be newly
uniformed throughout and will come to
Mitchell in special car through the
courtesy Of the Chicago. Milwaukee
and St. Paul Railway Company. In
addition to this splendid organization,
which will give two concerts daily in-
side the building, the cele ebrated native
Indian Band from the Santee Agency,
which includes this year several squaws
among its players, will be street at
traction, while the Corn Belt Exposi-
tion Band Of Mitchell, : recent organ
I txation Of twenty pieces, nn1er the
lsadership Or Prof.. Frank Mashek one
q ~ Ahle1a rasstc tn - etate,