The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-02
nI7 four years before Cyrus n. Field

only four years before Cyrus W. Field
had completed communication between
America and all Europe through the
laying of the Atlantic cable. When
the golden spike was driven in 1859,
and the iron band was welded which
united all the states OF this Union be-
tween the Atlantic and the Pacific
coasts, this people witnessed the be-
ginning of the most marvellous era OF
progress that has ever taken place IN
the worlds history. From that prog
ress has sprung an empire west Of the
Mississippi river. Where there was
not s mile of railroad when crossed
the Missouri river in 1853. today we
have So, 900 miles of railways; we have
six transcontinental lines we have a
country that is greater IN population
than the nation had at the beginning
of the civil war. 1t is for the purpose
of illustrating. by q striking object
lesson, the great progress that has
been made by the western half Of
this continent that the Transmits
sissippi and International Exposition
was projected and will be inaugu-
rated on the first day Of June, two
weeks from this date. The Chicago
Worlds fair was a marvel IN itself. 1t
had at its disposal something like $780,
OOO, geo, 50, 900, 600 of which were placed
to its credit by the national govern
ment, and s., 0Uo, 600 more raised right
here by loan. We, of the city Of
Omaha, started out in the face Of the
most depressing times, in the face OF
two consecutive dteaght years, and
organized an association by private
capital that has been enabled within
the space of IL months TO produce at
least what I would call a miniature
Chicago Worlds fair, that will not be
second 20 a,y fair thai has ever been
held in this country. (Aprlause.) In
that exposition SO states and three terri
tories will be officially represented and
will participate. Every state in the
Transmississippi, from Louisiana and
Texas clear to Oregon and Washington,
will be there By its representatives and
by It's products And while at Chicago
American products were overshaIowed
BY the foreign exhibit, at Omaha the
American products will be the para
mount and most attractive feature. 1t
will illustrate what can be done and
what the possibilities Of that western
county are, when you take the men OF
pluck and Drawn a1d brain that people
the country west of the Mississippi. ZAP
plause.) These people, of course, repce-
sent all classes, from MASSACHUSETTS, and
every state in New England, from Penn
sylvania, Ohio and Indiana yes, from
every state in the Union men have
come across the Mississippi river and
built up villages and cities, and in that
great exposition their industry and
thrift viii be an object les son to all
who may come.
1t is not simply an Omaha affair. It
Is an exposition that represents
American enterprise and industry as
broad as the land we live III. Gap
plause.) Permit me TO say in very
few words that we desire to extend to
the American press, and particularly
to the members Of the Associated
Press, our cordial invitation to
attend the opening of the expo
sition two weeks from this day. and If
they cannot individually or collectively
be on hand on that day, we desire them
to be there some time during tie prog
ress of this fair TO satisfy themselves
that all that we have said about 1t falls
short entirely OF the actual facts.
And l may say, Of course,
that were W not assured IN advance OF
the friendl cooperation Of the
American press, we certainly should
have long since abandoned the enter
prise. thank you for your attention
and trust to meet you in Omaha after
the exposition has opened. (AppIause)