The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-04
THE PAN-AMERICAN APPROPRIA-
TTON

THE PAN-ANiERICAN APPROPRIA-
TION.
The joint appropriation committee of
the legislature has voted to reduce the
proposed Appropriation of $4,000 for Min
nesota at the Pan-American exposition
at Buffalo to $2O,O0O
1t is not surprising, when so many
pending bills have an appropriation at
tachment that members of the legislature
should be conservative, but it does not
follow that they should not use a wise
discrimination in deciding what is for the
best interests of the state.
There is no bill pending in the legisIa-
ture which carries the prospect of re-
direct, immediate and bountiful return
as the Pan-American appropriation pro-
vided it is of sufficient amount to en-
able a proper exhibit to be made
The state of Minnesota is no longer an
experiment 1t is great and prosperous
and can be made still greater and more
prosperous if our public men are broad
enough to look beyond the present and
build for the future.
Thirty-fve years ago the state main
tained an active and valuable immigra-
ton department, but in a false spirit of
economy that was long since abolished
Aside from displays at two expositions-
the Worlds Fair at Chicago and the
Omaha eXposition-M Minnesota mas made
no effort to advertise her advantages
abroad for quarter of a century.
That the state has grown as it has is
due to the inherent advantages which
Minnesota possesseS and to the advertising
Of land giant railroads and individuals
The railroads nave largely, some entirely,
disposed II their lands, and no longer
have the incentive to exploit to the same
extent as before the advantages Of Min
-.esota. Even if they had no corporation
or individual can do the effective work
which the state itself can perform. The
individual effort smacks of self-interest
, which causes the public to discount the
statement, While the state carries the
official stamp of reliability.
No one disputes that with the sinela
exception of the Worlds Fair the Pan
American exposition will largely outstrip
any previous one held in this country,
not excepting the Centennial in Philadel-
phia. The attendance will be counted by
the million and the portions of the -coua-
try which best display their resources
will be the ones which reap the benefits.
Minnesota, with less than one-fourth
of her arabic acreage occupied. offers
greater advantages, prices ana quality of
land considered, than any state in the
Union, and if a private corporation could
have the same business interests in this
matter which Minnesota preserves, it's di-
rectors would gladly extend a million
instead of $4,000 for the returns to be
obtained.
We believe public sentiment strongly
favors at least the original appro ria
ton proposed. The editors of over
$50 of the newspapers of the
state, at their annual meeting
last Thursday, unanimously urged
the appropriation of $4,000, expressing, at
the same time the regret that it was not
larger. Many of these papers have
urgently advocated the appropriation.
and all of them know and reflect the sen
timent of their communities
The argument against the erection of a
state building on the ground that there
is no time, can only be made valid by
the dilatory action of the legislature it
self If the legislature viii pass the bill
appropriating $4,000 within the next ten
days as handsome a state building as
will adorn the grounds can be made
ready for occupancy by May l.
People seeking new homes like to go to
prosperous communities. and a state
building at Buffalo is as important in
demonstrating the prosperity of the state
as the exhibit
1t would be better to make no attempt
to advertise Minnesota at an exposition,
where the world will congregate, than to
make niggardly display. The state had
better seek obscurity rather than to limit
her display to such an extent as to be
outclassed by all of her sister and in
ferior states