Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-09
The EXPOSITION AT OMAHA.
THERE IS PROMISE THAT 1T WILL
BE EMINENTLY SUCCESSFUL.
Coming Mt This Time, 1t VIII Give the
Great West M Opportunity to
Show What 1t Can DO-An
Interesting Interview.

The trans-Mississippi exposition which
opens ar Omaha June l and continues five
months. Is beginning to move with the in
stinct OF victory" This is the way j. w.
Johnson. OF Lincoln Neb., while in this city.
presented the matter. Mr.. Johnson is en-
thusiastic over the exposition, and was go
ing out to Topeka TO endeavor to inspire
the kansans with sufficient enthusiasm to
make at Omaha a good state exhibit.
Inc exposition Mr.. Johnson continued,
rs attracting the attention, not only of
the dozen states which are preparing to
make state exhibits. but of the whole coun-
try, for the people are Interested in the
west; Interested in its future oppor-
tunltleS and its yet undevelopeu resources.
interested In Its history and Its people. for
they have demonstrated in the last few
years that they can meet adversely and
conquer it.
Nebraska had her short crops and her
adversely in "a and 80. and the newspapers
Oh the country were not backward in tell
ing about It, But now since the conditions
have changed the prosperity of Nebraska
and Kansas has been heralded by the press
into every home throughout the land. and
the public mind turns to these twin sister
prairie states with a new interest.
This exposition, coming at this particu-
lar time. giving the greater West an OPP
portunity TO mass itself. TO show its prod
ucts, arts, industries and resources. finds
the Eastern public ready to turn kindly
toward the enterprise. and there are now
probably more Eastern people planning for
a Western trip next summer than ever be-
ioiC III IL LlSloiy VI ILLS SoullIly
Some of them will come TO see those
who are still their debtors, some to look
after future har In some to speculate
Johnson.
They will come from Southern Ohio.
Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois, by
way Of Kansas City, and they will see
Kansas either coming or going. They will
DIANA. Northern Illinois. from Wisconsin
and Michigan through Chicago to Omaha.
and there will be excursion rates which
Kansas before they return.
If the exposition could have been held
In both Kansas City and Omaha, IL there
were only one of them. then Kansas and
Nebraska could have Joined hands and
pockets with Missouri and had open house
together" Mr.. Johnson said.
Omaha happened to move first in the
matter OF securing the location, but that is
no reason why Missouri should not make u
demonstration of her resources or why
Kansas should not spread herself, as usual,
and outdo Nebraska in advertising herself.
II notice that Kansas City is raising S25.-
900 to help the Missouri exhibit, and l see
by the St. Joseph papers of yesterday that
Joseph, with her wealth. do her full share
Illinois appropriated $4,000 a year ago.
aae iG FUND. apRRfne e eam@i Sion a as q P5e5im By
the governor Of Iowa expects $4,000 to be
added to this fund. SO that Iowa and
Of 10000. Utah Of $500 wisconsin of 500
900 and the state commissions in Texas,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama. Louisiana and
| West Virgini are active and will show the
South at the exposition
AT Omaha last week" Mr.. johnson said.
Il saw the exposition ground, and the
main buildings. six in number. now nearing
completion, remind one of the great worlds
fair at Chicago.
"A million dollars is being invested in the
plant and its surroundings. This is to be
the largest demonstration of this kind ever
made in this country, excepting the GEN.
tennial at Philadelphia and the worlds fair
at Chicago. 1t will draw people because it
Is surrounded by a locality that is thickly
ing and who travel. The managers tell me
that the applications for space by exhib-
itors are coming in to such an extent as to
guarantee the fullest expectations in that
line.
when 1t is considered tina this trans
a century has gathered a population of
nearly 2O,OoO,00O, that in this region is nearly
all the cotton and sugar producing lands
nearly all the valuable timber lands and
nearly all the precious metals of the United
States, you can understand why the trans
gates from all the states of this region. in
convention at Omaha two years ago. sug-
geSted by unanimous vote this great West
ern enterprise as a proper manner In which
the greater West might demonstrate it's
preent resources and its future opportuni-
ties.
The Omaha exposition will draw. There
Is no question about that The West Is
still a future, an unread page, and the mind
and expectation Of the people turn toward
1t eagerly.
w know very nearly what Illinois.
Iowa and Missouri will do. Kansas is still
an Interrogation point. What's the matter
with Kansas"