The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-07
OKLAHOMA NOT LEAST
Among the SiSterhood of the
Louisiana Purchase
ALTHOUGH THE YOUNGEST
VIII Show the MiSsourianS
and the World in 1903.

Guthrie. o. T, March 6.-(special)-The
resolutions suggested on Saturday last
by Governor Barnes in reference to the
centennial celebration of the Louisiana
purchase in 1903 were adopted by the
house this morning. The message trans
hitting the resolutions, and the reso-u-
tons themselves, follow:
Members Of the Fifth Legislative assem-
bly,:
''Gentlemen-I transmit herewith copy
Of a report submitted TO me by ex-Gov-
ernor seay Of Kingdsher, Major D. D.
Leach of Oklahoma City and Mayor B. Z.
Berkey Of Guthrie. delegates from the
territory Of Oklahoma 10 a recent confer
ence held in the city Of 81. Louis, to dis
cuss the advisability Of holding an inter-
national exposition to commemorate the
one hundredth anniversary Of the Lou
isiana purchase.
This purchase Of territory made by
Themes Jefferson by treaty with France
in 1903, embraces fifteen states and TWO
territories. as follows: Louisiana, Ar
kansas. Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri Kan
sas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Da-
kota. wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Wash
ington, Oregon Oklahoma and Indian Ter
rtory.
Then, as now, many people opposed eX-
pansion and the treaty was denounced
on every side and the fifteen million dol
lars declared TO be thrown away for
useless and Improbable piece of land.
Yet time has proved this to be the most
profitable real estate speculation in the
history of the world. The country for
which Napoleon accepted s15000,000 now.
boasts a taxable valuation Of $4,000 100000.
What would the United States be today
without this purchase? Within its bounds
live the most progressive and energetic
people on earth, composing one-fourth Of
the total population Of the nation. Here
are industries as great as any in the orig
inal states and progress and advancement
such as is not seen anywhere else. The
mineral products of the purchase each
year are many times the original price
paid; the agricultural products run into
figures almost beyond comprehension, the
wheat crop of our own territory having
within e single year been sufficient TO
pay the purchase price; and even the eggs
laid by the hens domiciled within the
borders Of the purchase are each year sold
for enough to pay the price and leave
several millions Of dollars for the bank ac-
count Of the farmers upon thisyfertile gar
den spot Of the universe.
THE Louisiana purchase, standing as it
does, worthy the attention of the civilized
world, with a commercial development
al J,
to a thousand million for every million
OF cost, inhabited by a people the equal
of any upon earth, viii inaugurate and
carry forward to success a centennial ex-
position such as the world has never seen
"a display in keeping with her unparal-
leled advancement and her varied and in
exhaustible resources. And what more fit
ting than that Oklahoma, the baby sister
in the purchase family, the portion of the
great dominion last given over to the arts
OF civilization, the portion now attracting
the greatest attention Of the outside
world. and making the greatest strides in
advancement and progress, should take
an active part in this great worlds expo
sition, lending the united support of her
people To it's advancement and presenting
TO the million of visitors from far and
near the story Of her wonderful progress
and a display OF her wonderful agricultural
and natural products and resources.
Therefore, in transmitting you this re-
port, I recommend that you take such ac-
ton as you deem proper. looking TO the
interesting of all our people in this great
exposition project and the ultimate par
ticipatiou and display of our resources and
advertising our territory as it can he ad-
vertised in no other way, including the
adoption at this time Of resolutions along
the line of those attached hereto, endors-
ing the exposition and authorizing the
three gentlemen submitting this report,
who have been placed on the general ex-
ecuuve committee, to further investigate
the question, 10 report 10 me from time
10 time and formulate plans and projects
for a territorial exhibit 10 be submitted
TO the next general assembly.
Very respectfully.
&C. NJ BARNES. Governor"