Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-12


The announcement that the manage
ment Of the International Transmissis-
sippi Exposition at Omaha mas he-
termined to charge the state OF utah
at the rate OF fifty cents per square
foot for the space its exhibits VIII
occupy in the buildings for mining as-
riculture and manufacture. gives rise
to feelings OF surprise, disappointment
and--lt Is not too much to say-resent-
ment. when the Utah Legislature was
asked for an appropriation to defray
the expense Of making creditabie
showing for the state. and out OF
depleted treasury responded by adding
IS, 900 to the already heavy burdens OF
the taxpayers. the feeling OF genuine
approval shared by the progressive
and patriotic part OF the community
was In no way clouded by a hint that
as much space as the State would
reasonably require would not be given
gratis: and the announcement to the
contrary 10 very disagreeable after
clap"
Purely out Of loyalty to the West. n
number Of our prominent citizens, not
ably the Governor and Influential Of
ficii.ls of the State and its chief counties
and municipalities, urged upon mem
hers OF the last Legislature the dcslr-
ability of sending from Utah worthy
contribution to the great exhibition;
and in the snme spirit that body re-
sponded by making the appropriation
named. Preparations for a creditabie
exhibit have been carried on in good
faith, but they have received a serious
set back in the news which comes from
omaha that l,5O0 OF the amount given
by the Legislature Will have to be taken
to pay for the 5000 feet of space re-
served for Utah.
Last year the State had a costly
Jubilee celebration, the expense OF
which was largely met by private sub
scription. This summer-in four
months from now-we are to have in
this city the international Mining Con-
gress, which must be provided for in
the same way. The prospect of raising
funds by this method to supplement the
amount provided for the display at
Omaha, and particularly to meet this
unexpected demand of the exposition
authorities. is very gloomy. The purses
that are the best filed and the inclina-
ton OF the most generous will have
been pretty well drained and exhaust
ed by the time we get through with
these local demands OF our own.
While 1t may be proper enough to
charge private parties who have
products and commodities to advertise
or sell, for the space they occupy, there
appears to be no such Justification in
the case of the exhibit of state whose
purpose in taking part In the exposl-
ton is purely patriotic. and due to a
loyal pride In seeking to make the
affair success. Every dollar at the
disposal of the Utah commissioners will
be needed to make the exhibit from
here at all creditable as compared with
those from some OF the neighboring
states, which not only have more to
expect In the way of benefits, but have
larger sums, both public and private,
to devote to the purpose through hay
ing escaped the severe strain upon their
financial resources which has been felt
by us in the causes above indicated.
To reduce this amount by 1900 us is
now intimated, will be to cripple the
thing so seriously that local interest
ia In danger of being estranged from
the exposition wholly and altogether.