The San Francisco call., 1897-02-24
CAL LIFORNIA To
SHOW At OMAHA
Party Coming From the
East to Awaken Local
Interest.
President Wattles and Manager
Hitchcock Will Visit
Sacramento.
Vice. President George w. Parsons
Furnishes Some Facts Concern.
ing the Exposition.

George w. Parsons, vice-president for
California of the Trans Mississippi and
International Exposition at Omaha, TO
take place next year from June TO Novem-
Der, has received dispatch from E. c.
Hunt, superintendent of promotion, in
forming him that Manager Hitchcock,
President Wattles and other prominent
Omaha citizens will visit Sacramento.
Their pur pose is to confer with Legislators
in reference to the appropriation to have
California represented. The dispatch is in
full as follows:
OMAHA, Nebr., February 1S, 1897.
Hon. George W. Parsons: Committee of proml-
nent Omaha citizens, headed by President
Wattles and Manager Hitchcock, accompanied
by their wives, will arrive at Sacramento next
week on special car TO present EXPOSITION
matter. Arrange for joint session Oh Leglsla-
ture if possible and ii not have meeting OF
joint committee of both houses. Have papers
announce coming. Have the Governor CO
operate. Legislatures and cities thus lar
visited have accorded handsome reception
and every courtesy. 1t gives the project a
decided impetus. VIII wire time OF arrival as
Superintendent Department OF Promotion.
MIR. Parsons said iaSt evening that he
considered that it will be of much impor-
tance TO California to be represented. He
also explained at length the facts concern
ing the Omaha exposition.
''It is the outgrowth," said Mr.. Parsons,
'of the ans-Mississippi congress. The
exposition will represent directly all the
States and Territories west of the Missis-
| sippi River. The remainder of the coun-
try will be invited 10 take part. but the
exposition will be distinctively Western.
''The sense of the eighth trans Mis5is-
sippi congress was that such an exposition
would be OF great advantage to the West.
| In fact, the vote was unanimously in IA
Ix-rr >f nhoS iva MfcC la
is very representative pody, embracing
many eminent men.
| The claims of the country west of the
| Mississippi to have a distinctive exposi-
tion are we'll based. Two thirds of the
area of the United States lies west of the
Mississippi, and that area contains one
third OF the population and one-halt OF
the wealth of the entire country.
"The Eastern States had heir chance
| for exploitation at Philadelphia in 1876.
| The ntral part of the United States was
advertised at Chicago. The South had
the Atlanta Exposition and also the
| Cotton-growers' Exhibition at New Or
leans. The West has never had distinct
exhibition. Omaha. which was Selected
as the site. is The gateway to both the
East and the West. Within a radius OF
! 500 miles, taking Omaha as n center. a
circle would touch fifteen States and
Territories, in which reside 20, ,000, COO per-
sons. ii only Az Per cent o. tnceo Shoulu
attend, the gathering would be very large.
California certainly should be well
represented. The United States Govern
ment has recognized the importance OF
the exposition. The sum of $200,0W has
been appropriated and bill is pending
before Congress asking for 100000 more.
Tie bill appropriatng $50,o00 pending at
Sacramento is out of the Assembly and on
! its third reading in the Senate"
The articles of incorporation define more
fully the purposes TO be the holding of an
exposition of all the products, industries
and civilization of the States and Terri
tories of the United States OF America
| west OF the Mississippi River, and also
such exhibits as may be provided by the
United States or any State in the United
States. or any foreign country, for the
purpose particularly of exhibiting to the
world the products, industries and capa-
biliiies generally of the said States and
Territories west of the Mississippi River.