Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-18
NINETY NINE TIDE IS RISING
Exposition Boomers Find Their Idea Has a
Hold on the Public.
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING AT THE WILLARD
Necessity of Immediate Action
Forced ON the Promoters and
Some More Money Pledged to
support the Enterprise.

ne meeting OF exposition boomers at the
Willard hotel yesterday afternoon developed
into a tremendously enthusiastic session.
The sentiment was all one way. A success
sion OF vigorous speeches was made in
favor Of the enterprise and 1t was practically
decided to go ahead and voluntary subscrip-
tions amounting to SO 700 were added to the
s25, 900 previously raised.
The small room at the right of the Doug
las street entrance of the building was
damned with boomers who were fairly rep
resentative OF nearly every commercial inter-
est OF the city. The enthusiasm that had
been inspired by the unprecedented SUCCESS
Of the exposition that had Just closed was
evident in the strong. utterances Of the
speakers and in the hearty applause that
greeted each successive declar alton in favor
OF another exposition.
Thomas Fitzpatrick presided and the pro-
ceedings were begun by p. E. Her, who read
the original proposition submitted to the
exposition directory, and LAID the question
Of future action before the meeting. e.
Rosewater was called on and he assured
those interested that they were taking no
chances in accepting the proposition Of the
exposition management to take the property
for $17,500 next Monday. He said that
even II the enterprise did not succeed the
property could easily be disposed of for at
least $4,000 more than the purchase price.
Mr.. Rosewater urged that in case 1t was
determined to build another exposition, Il,
was important that action should be taken
at once to secure the cooperation of the
government at Washington. ANcommittee
should be sent at once to the capitol to
stay as long as was necessary in order to
induce congress to pass a resolution during
December to instruct the United States con-
cttto ~ r,,1n D1rt1 ntn~ .- I-- -.
to cooperate at once in the work Of Sc.
curing adequate exhibits from those terri
tories.
E~nthusiasm from Outsiders.
Colonel Hambleton, who was in charge of
tho Illinois building at the exposition
grounds, spoke in hearty favor of the new
enterprise. He alluded in extravagant terms
to the magnificent success that has been
accomplished and stated his belief that
Omaha can win still greater honors.
John w. Richtman Of Chicago added more
OF the same thing. He said that the plan
should be considered from a purely business
standpoint. II the new exposition could be
made broader by bringing in Hawaii. Cuba,
Venezuela and other territories, and If the
manufacturers OF the east could be given
an opportunity to come to Omaha and be
SNo AoSS ~ A"SC VIII tutSe peOple, ne
believed that the manufacturers of New
England would take such an interest that
the whole transmlssissippi country would
be vitallzed. and the people Would cooperate
to make it a national affair. He suggested
that an elaborate machinery hall could be
made TO mobilize an immense exhibit which
would illustrate the manufacture of cotton,
silk and q variety Of other products, and
this would in itself bring a large repre-
sentation from eastern exhibitors.
After a number Of other short speeches, in
which similar sentiments were expressed,
Mr.. Her called attention to the fact that
the action OF the exposition management
In insisting that the bargain should be
closed Monday, II at all, had left but little
time for ,sp~eechmaking. What is wanted
ID 800. 900. OF this only $50, 900 had been
secured, and he moved that the chairman
be authorized to appoint a committee of
three to secure additional subscriptions at
once. At the suggestion Of H. ]. Penfold
the committee was increased to ten men,
bers, and the motion prevailed.
john r. Keys, who made the Worlds fair
immortal O N canvas, and who has also
painted a variety Of magnificent views Of the
Transmississippi Exposition, declared that
the exposition OF 1899 was bound to be a
success. he said that during a recent trip
to Boston and other eastern points he had
observed that public sentiment is thor
oughly awakened in regard to the Omaha
exposition, and the new enterprise would
be we'll advertised to begin with. He sug-
gested that the opportunity is alluring.
Here could be illustrated the new national
character and Omaha would gain not only
national but International fame.
Chairman Kilnafrick annointad Mr. Iler
and Mr.. Rosewater as members Of the So
lictting committee, stating that he would
announce the other members this morning.
The subscription list was then presented ana
voluntary subscriptions amounting to $4,000
we're received. The meeting adjourned to
, reconvene at the city hall Saturday night,
when all citizens who favor the enterprise
are requested to be present.