Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-30
WHAT MUST DO.


When Omaha assumed the task Of i'm
promising the Transnississippi EXPOSE
ton it also staked its reputation and
future upon the success of this great
undertaking. Willie other cities, notably
Denver, Kansas City, st. Paul and Min
neapolis, were reluctant to embark in the
project in the face of the adverse com
mercial conditions, Omaha had the pluck
to take it in hand and thus place her
self in the front rank of commercial
rivals that would now gladly assume all
the incidental risks If given the oppor-
tunity. Having cOuragcously planned
and organized the exposition through
public-spiritcd citizens and successfully
gained recognition and substantial aid
for it. Omaha must now supplement this
work by contributions that will tax the
whole propcrty-Owning class. which will
In the end derive the greatest permanent
benefit. In this omaha Will merely
eumlatc the example set by other cities
under similar conditions. The city of
New Orleans voted 100000 in aid of
the New orleans exposition, which re-
ceived an advance loan OF half n million
dollars from the general government, and
yet could not begin to compare In extent
of buildings with the structures con.
%templated for the Transmississippi EX.
position. While the New Orleans OK
position was limited to four great build
ings. including tie government building.
the exposition TO BE- held ut Omaha will
comprise nine great exposition buildings
exclusive of the government building.
1t goes without saying that the Trans
mississippi Exposition will eclipse in tile
number and magnitude OF buildings and
special features the Atlanta Cotton
States fair. the San Francisco Mid
winter fair and the Tennessee Cen
tnnnial exposition, which is about to open
ut Nashville. What can Omaha do and
what must it do TO place the success of
the Transmississippi Exposition beyond
doubt? First and foremost the citizens
of Omaha, and especially the property
owning class. resident and nonresident.
must rally TO the support of thrc Nposi-
ton. They must double the stock sub
scriptions in order to make the state APP
preparation of 100000 available in time
for this seasons construction. While
many of the subscribers 10 the stock
have done nobly-in fact, have
strained their to the
utmost-others who are able to
contribute and are sure to be largely
benefited have either made ridiculously
low subscriptions or have utterly failed
10 come to the support of the exposition.
II all the people who arc in position to
assist in making the exposition an as
surcd success would make n reasonably
low subscription the stock would reach
the ~million-dollar limit within ninety
days. That would place the exposition
managers in condition to expedite the
work of construction without calling
more than : per cent Il month and III
the end would enable them to return 4
large part of the advance made by stock
holders from the surplus derived from
gate receipts. exhibits and concessions.
AS n municipality Omaha can and
must ut least contribute toward the OK
position whatever ma be needed in the
way of b~oulevards. approaches, parking,
sewerage, light and water supply. In
cidentally, Omaha, or rather Douglas
county, of which the city of Omaha
constitutes scven-eighths in population
and valuation, can n should contribute
Il subsidy for construction and county
exhibit by he issuance of such an
amount Of bonds as may be necessary |
for carrying out the plans on Il scale
commensurate with he ~pretcnSions Of a
great interstate and international exhibit
ton.