The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-19
No One Appreciates What a
Great State This Is.
MOVEMENT STARTED.
Commercial Club Will Discuss
Question Thoroughly.
Ideas Suggested by Capt. ID.
ID. Phillips Approved.
Only Thing Necessary Is to
Waken the People.

"A celebration of the seni-centennial
of the organization of Kansas as ter
ritory and the settlement of the capital
of the state, to be participated by all Of
the great west!
That is the proposition that will
come before the Commercial club as a
special order at its next regular meet
ing-a proposition Ofgreater magnitude
than has ever yet been undertaken in
Kansas
The idea was originated by County
Treasurer H. NJ. Phillips, who proposed
at in a letter to the Commercial club
at its last meeting. The idea met with
such favor that Edward Wilder moved
that it be made a special order for the
August meeting.
It was on May 80. 1854, that President
Pierce signed the Kansas-Nebraska
bill. famous in history, which created
territories of both Kansas and Ne
braska. The semi-centenRiaI of that
event will take place in 1904. and it is
Captain Phillips idea that Kansas
ought, at that time. to astonish the
world as he has never beforehand
she has put up some good sized aston
ishers in the past-by getting up an i'm
nense celebration to last three or four
months, and of such magnitude and 50
unique in character that it will draw
to it the people of the entire United
States. The idea is to have it on the
order of the Transmississippi exposi-
ton, except that it shall be more
unique in character.
Kansas can do this sort of thing if
she makes up her mind to it. By work
ing to that end in the next four years
and devoting her talent 20 it she has
the enterprise and the brains to dis
count any other exposition ever given
on the American continent with the ex-
ceptfOn of the Worlds fair at Chicago
and possibly the Centennial exposition.
Kansas is the most advertised state
in the Union" said Captain Phillips to-
day The state is more talked about
an one way or another than any other
two states She is always attracting at
tention. But we want to get a hundred
thousand more farmers into the state
and we want to draw manufacturers
here to supply their wants. We have
the resources to accomplish these
things if we can once get the people
from other states here to see the ad-
vantages which Kansas has to offer
Our mineral resources are unexcelled
and as for observation-disclosures is away
ahead.
But Notwithstanding all these things
there is not the immigrant ton to the
state that there ought to be because
people as skeptical about what Kan
sas can do until they see for them
selves. A great deal of land is being
purchased in Kansas at present, but IS
being bought by Kansas people instead
of by outsiders coming here to live
The Kansas farmer is buying the farm
that is next to him, and the tenant is
buying from the loan company. That
is good in its way. but we want to turn
the tide of immigration towards the
state, and the way to do it is to bring
people here to see Kansas themselves.
A few years ago I went from here to
chicago with car of exhibits, pro-
ducts of the soil of Kansas and it was
shown in 30 OF 30 towns along the Wav
Thousands of people went through the
exhibit. and when we told them what
could be done or Kansas land and
that the land could be purchased for
from SO to SIS per acre, they were as
tOniShed. They sand they We're paying
s. an acre rental for land that would
not do near as we'll
kansas has the enterprise to carry
such an exhibition as Is proposed
through successfully. I should say that
a state Orga anizatiOn ought to be formed
with an executive committee composed
of a member from each senatorial dis
trict to work the thing UP. The expo
sition itself could be in charge of a
stock company. The state of Kansas
has done a great deal for the national
governments and has never asked for
anything in return. The government
ought to be willing to make an appro-
for such an exposition the same as was
done for the Omaha exposition. This
with loan of an equal amount from
the state, to be paid back after the ex-
position is over as has been done with
other expOsitiOns. would place'the enter
prise on its feet in good shape. There is
no reason why It could not be made to
pay expenses and it would be a great
thing for the state"
Secretary Anderson of the CONNER
cial club, thinks that it is just the right
idea The state house will be finished
before the legislature meets gain said
Major Anderson, t'and as the state will
not have to put any more money into
that, a small levy for an exposition loan
could be made as well as not The rail-
roads can be interested in the project.
and the success of such an underta king
really depends on the railroads. If they
make suitable rates the people will flock
to such an exposition in multitudes.
Kansas can put up the exposition and
the railroads can get the people here -
At the time that Kansas was Organiz-
ed as a territory its boundaries were
not as they are at present, but they ex-
&9nded west to the mountains and in