The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-24
FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT.
How They Regard the Indiana Gen.
tennfaI Down There.

Everybody down In the Second congress
sional district appears to want the biggest
possible celebration of Indianas centennial,
judging from the replies received by the
commission appointed by the Governor to
take charge of the proposed anniversary
event A good many Of the Knox county
people naturally desire that it should be
held at Vincennes. Such an expression is
due, of course, to the feeling of local pride
they have in their county seat and in its
many historic features of interest. There
is no difference of opinion regarding the
propriety Of celebrating this one-hundredth
birthday of the State or of the beneficial
results from an exposition on large scale.
1t can be safely assumed from the hundreds
of replies received from the Second district
that its people, like those OF the other dis
tricts OF the State, will all work heartily
for the success of the celebration should it
be decided to hold one
Samuel B. Judah, of Vincennes. writes at
some length to the commission, advocating
a State exposition which shall represent and
picture the struggles and sacrifices of the
pioneers OF Indiana, the gallant deeds OF
her soldiers, the services of her statesmen,
and that will exhibit and proclaim 70 the
world her honorable history and splendid
progress in art, science and literature" and
her wonderful development in agriculture,
mining and manufacturing and her remark
able social advancement since 1900. In the
year 1900 few hundred people were set
tied within the limits Of Indiana; all was
primeval forest, where wild animals and
savage men held sway; but what a change
has been made since then! The Indian has
gone The labors and sacrifices Of the pio-
neers are over. From few hundreds we
are millions. From one printing press in
1904 we have hundreds. From few log
schoolhouses our system Of education has
become the admiration of the world Less
than one hundred years has changed Indi-
ana into great and fiourishing State"
Mr. judah thinks that there should De
State centennial building erected, with a
view to permanency, and that it should be
made to include museum for the preserva-
ton and exhibition of the documents, pa
pers and relics connected with the early his
tory of the State. Many Of these are. he
says. in the possession Of citizens who
would present or loan them to the State IL
they were sure that the same would be
safely kept and preserved.
A. M. Cunning, of Bloomington, writes
that 1T has long been a cherished wish with
him that Indiana should have museum Of
old farming implements. household goods,
etc., that are already curiosities, and are
fast passing away. He is In favor of a cele-
bration that will include the erection Of
some permanent building for the preserva-
ton of such things.
Dillon Talbot, Of Bryant's Creek, writes
that a celebration such as would attract
immense crowds of people should be
planned He Is wholly In sympathy with
the movement and believes that a stockade
fort, such as once stood at Vincennes,
should be reproduced. and that on some big
day. which might be called Knox county
day, a representation of the capture of the