Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19

sippi exposition. With a population of To-
600, 900 to draw on and a country prolific in
material wealth, a transmississippi expo
sition would be an assured success from its
very inception. Such an exposition would
give the impetus to the westward trend
of population and capital for which the
people of this section have been striving.
1t would make known to all the world the
capabilities of the great west and revive
activity in every branch of industry and
production.
The Transmississippi congress-, which con-
venes in this city during the present week,
is the proper body to take the initiative in
formulating the plan for a transmississlppi
exposition. Its recommendation in this
matter would have great weight with both
the state and national legislatures. With
out disparaging any other city ambitious to
secure the location of such an interstate
exposition, The Bee believes that the claims
of Omaha are far superior to those OF all
other transmississippi points. Its location
in the heart of the continent, midway be-
tween New York and San Francisco, makes
1t alike accessible to people east and west.
It's railroad facilities in every direction are
as perfect as those Of any city in the Missis-
| sippi valley north of st. Louis. 1t is the
center of the great agricultural belt and
within a days reach by rail OF the mining
region of Colorado, Wyoming and south
Dakota, and within two days reach OF the
great mining states west of the Rockies.
Omaha is as near to the Puget sound coun-
try as is st. Paul, and nearer by 800 miles
to San Francisco and southern California
at is hardly necessary to add that what
ever is required of Omaha or pledged for
Omaha to make the transmississippi exposi-
ton a success, the business men OF this
city will carry out to the letter.
LONG CHERISHED IDEA.
Evon preyious to that an indefinite con-
ception of such a plan had existed and was
only waiting for a favorable opportunity.
Mr.. E., Rosewater had long cherished the
idea of a large mid-continent fair at Omaha
and a permanent exposition that would make
Omaha a sort of halfway house in the jour-
new across the continent. The present
project was suggested by an article in the
Minneapolis Tribune at the time OF the ma
tional immigration convention, In which the
idea of a mid-continent fair at Minneapolis
was preached. AS the Transmississippi con-
gress was to meet in Omaha in November,
Mr.. Rosewater and others with whom the
idea had been discussed concluded that the
opportunity was ripe and that II the endorse
ment of the congress could be secured there
was 10 reason why the enterprise could not
be successfully carried out. From that time
the matter WAS quietly worked up and ar
engagements were made to bring 1t before
the congress when 1t assembled.
During the first two days OF the congress
the committee appointed for the purpose de-
voted itself to missionary work among the
delegates. In this work James Walsh took
the lead, and 1t was largely through his
efforts that a practically unanimous senti-
ment was created in favor Of the resolu-
ton.
On Wednesday, November Of, and imme-
diately after the various resolutions on the
money question had been presented and re-
ferred, Hon. William j. Bryan left the chair
and asked unanimous consent 10 offer this
resolution:
Whereas, We believe that an exposition
OF an me products industries and civilian.
tlon or me states west of the Mississippi
river. made at some central gateway
where the world can behold the wonderful
capabilities OF these great wealth-produc-
Ing states. would be of great value, not
only to the transmississippi states, but TO
gu the home-seekers in the world; there
Resolved. That the United States con-
Grcss be requested to take such steps as
may be necessary to hold a ~transmissis-
s!ppl exposition at Omaha during the
months OF August, September and October,
1898, and that the representatives of such
queated, TO favor such an appropriation as
Is usual In such cases TO assist I'm CARRYING
out this enterprise.
OMAHA UNANIMOUSLY SELECTED.
The reading was heard with marked st.
and the conclusion Was followed by
q burst of applause. Mr.. Bryan briefly re-
counted the benefits that would accrue to
the west by reason OF the exposition, and
the numerous reasons why Omaha
tho most favorable location. John Don |
iph0n Of Missouri followed with a rousing
speech 10 favor OF the resolution, In which
lie eloquently portrayed the effect which the
enterprise would have In calling attention