Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-16
wuy THEY SuorLD pIRrIcIpArE.

| lHllheUlulclN IoubWIlS Nlc wal WIZ
messed unparalleled growth in the north
crn and western states. People and
money from New England, old England
and the continental countries swelled
the stream of investors and home-seek-
ers which swept westward across the
continent ana peopled the valleys, plains
and mountains with millions of hardy
and thrifty settlers.
The southern states, rich and produc-
tive rs they were, lay dormant, suffering
depreciation of property values and loss
of population. But there was an awak-
ening after years Of depression and the
more progressive and entcrprising men
saw that the south must do something
to show the world the possibilities ana
undcvelopcd resources of that vast re-
| gion. The New Orleans Exposition OF
| 1855 was n revelation to the people OF
the north 1t attracted many millions
of capital for profitable investment III
| Louisiana and an increase of population
ard wealth followed in its wake. In
1880 the population of the state was Il
| little more than 100000. Today it is
| /, ,225. 600 and the assessed valuation Is
| 1924 100000. The whole state was i'm
measurably benefited by the exposition
at the metropolis.
The Cotton States Exposition at At
lanta ten years later did still more to
advertise the advantages of the south.
| While the Atlanta exposition in point
of attendance ard revenue failed to meet
| the expectations of its projectors, it
proved most effective medium for max
| ing known the varied products, indus
| tries and matchmaking possibilities of
the New South. The world now has Il
fair conception of the capabilities of that
section, whose development is steadily
progressing despite the universal trade
depression and low price of agricultural
products. 1t is we'll known and ac-
knowledged by all who are conversant
| with the facts that the Atlanta Cotton
States Exposition would have been II
great success had it received public
spirited support ut the hands Of the peo-
PIE of the cotton states, which were to
have been its greatest beneliciaries.
The scope of the Transmississippi En-
position of 1898 is much more extensive
than any Interstate or International eX
| hib,tion, excepting the Columbian
Worlds Fair, but the underlying motive
and objects are the same as those which
prompted and called into being the cX
! positions at New Orleans Atlanta and
-. rI,,t ~ I,, M
biaska will be greater beneticialies than
other cities or states in the Transmits
sissippi region goes without saying, but
upon Omaha rests the burden and re-
Sponsiblity of pushing the enterprise to
IL successful conclusion and Nebraska
more than any other state, is expected
| to share with Omaha the expense of the
project.
SO far none but Omaha money has
been expended in the preliminary work
and 1t is certain that the citizens of
Omaha ana Douglas county will con.
tribute no less than S1,500000 before the
gates of the great exposition shall be
| opened to the public. To expect the
state to appropriate one-fourth that sum
is therefore not unreasonable Inasmuch
rs Omaha and Douglas county pay one
seventh of the state tax very large por.
ton of this appropriation must in the
end fall upon this city and county.
1t would, however. be idle TO pretend
that Omaha and Nebraska alone could
represent the Transmssissippi country
in an international exposition, even with
the participation of the United States
government, which has been assured by
act of congress. TO have Transmits.
sisSippi Exposition worthy of the name
and commensurate in every respect with
the magnitude of the greater and better
half of the continent we must have the
cooperation and participation of the
states west of the great river. We must
have not only the agricultural states OF
the Mississippi and Missouri valleys, but
the mining states in the Rockies and the
Sierras clear down the Columbia and up
10 the British line.
True, these states have expended mil
lions within recent period to be rep
resented at the Columbian Exposition.
but they i'm common with Nebraska were
overShadowed and thrown into the
background by the exhibits of foreign
countries and were deprived of the
greater benefits by the panic of 1893 and
commercial paralysis under which the
country has been PROSTATE since. With
the assurance that their exhibits will be
in the foreground mt omaha and the
prospect of II revival of prosperity which
can be retarded but little longer, the
Transmississippi states will find in this
exposition their greatest opportunity for
recuperating. EXpOsitlons are conceded
to be the most effective method of ad,
vertising II country's resources ana the
money expended through them comes
back more rapidly and returns are more
profitable than by any other known
medium or investment. The Transmits
sissippi Exposition is not benevolent
enterprise. 1t is purely n business mat
ter which clear-headed, progressive bust
ness men can endorse ms safe and sound.
1t now devolves upon the Nebraska
legislature to set the pace for our sister
states. In view of the very short time