Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-06
uATcutEss AcgtErruEyT

4 hAICHBESS ACHIEl EMENI
over the pedments Of the great arch
Of the music pavilion on the Grand
Plaza on the closing night of the eX.
position were emblazoned in letters of
fire the words: Nothing Succeeds Like
Success"
The triumphant ending of the Trans
mississippi Exposition is upon every
body's tongue. 1t stands as an achieve
ment unmatched, save in one instance,
in the history of American expositions.
To be able truthfully to say that the
Omaha exposition was second only to
the Worlds Columbian exposition,
and to have this fact recognized
as 1t is by press and people
throughout the United States is glory
enough for any metropolitan city. 1t
has raised Omaha to higher plane in
the estimation of the world at large and
it has invested our people with renewed
confidence in themselves and stronger
faith in the future greatness of our city
and state.
At the beginning of this great enter
prise very few persons had faith in its
ultimate success. Most of those who
contributed money in aid of it had no
expectation that any part of the money
subscribed would be returned to them,
while many of our rich men kept aloof
and would neither encourage the enter
prise by personal effort nor contribute a
dollar to its support In fact some of
the great corporations which had con-
tributed from $4,000 to $4,000 de-
clined, upon the advice of their attor-
neys, to accept exposition stock, pre-
ferring TO donate the money rather than
incur n liability to assessments on stock
consequent upon a possible financial
failure of the venture. One corpora
ton, maintaining an Office in Omaha,
took stock in the exposition and at once
transferred it to an employe, thus evad-
ing the much-dreaded assessment. This
employe has increased his bank account
by more than a years salary. This is
but one notable instance of the lack of
faith In the success of the exposition
evinced by men who in their business
affairs have shown marked ability and
whose sagacity in the field Of speculation
financial world.
On the other hand hundreds, yes.
thousands, of mechanics clerks, artisans
and wage earners of every class con-
tributed of their savings and many
actually borrowed money in order that
hot hnI tl,n 30
full finish. To this class of citizens
Omaha owes debt of gratitude which
we trust may not be forgotten in sum-
ming up the elements which contributed
to the signal success attained. They
are loyal sons of Nebraska's metropolis
and to their fidelity and courage are due
in large measure the splendid results
which have made the word Omaha the
synonym of enterprise, public spirit and
pluck in every section of the country.
The Board of Directors at the regular
meeting Friday authorized the repay
ment of $225,0O0 to holders of paid up
stock. The distribution of this vast
sum cannot fail to make itself felt
among all classes of the community. 1t
is also gratifying that fully 100000 in
cash will remain In the treasury of the
exposition after all obligations are paid,
a sum more than sufficient to meet any
possible contingency growing out of
valid or trumped up claims against the
exposition. 1t is fair to conclude that
within reasonable time the remaining
% per cent may be paid over to the
stockholders.
This is record unique in the annals
of exposition enterprises. 1t is the
supreme test. No other exposition
city ever distinguished itself in like
manner. Among all the populous COM
munities which in years past have
built great eXpositions Omaha is the
first to pay back all stock subscriptions
dollar for dollar and to have placed be-
/ fore the world an exposition that has
been universally commended.