Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-01-02
THE INTERSTATE EXPOSITION.

The South Carolina Interstate and
West Indian Exposition is an imp ortant
enterprise. 1t has been inaugurated
"-'er most auspicious circumstances,
ID coming at the beginning of tho new
entnry 1t is calculated to be of untold
benefit to our whole State, provided we
wisely utilize the opportunity thus pre-
sented for exploiting the States varied
resources. The dawn Of a brighter day
in agricultural, industrial and CONNER
cial affairs is undoubtedly breaking upon
tho State, and it behooves South Carolina
to strive for the achievement of much
greater things than she has ever done in
the past
The Federal Governments is alive to tho
far-reachihg Importance of the enter
prise and bill has already passed tho
United States Senate carrying an appro-
priation of $25O,OO0 for the erection of q
government building and the installing
of exhibits. 1t is said that the appro-
priation will be approved by the House
of Representatives at an early day, thus
insuring the aid of the National Govern
ment in making n creditable showing of
American thrift and enterprise.
The city of Charleston, the metropolis
of the State, has already done great
deal, and promises to do much moro. A
charter has been obtained for the corpo-
ration, with an authorized capital of
$3.50, 900, of which the greater part has
been taken by Charleston's enterprising
citizens. Besides, the city council will
vote municipal appropriation of $4,000
moro, thus making total of $500, 900
from that city, which is certainly most
liberal contribution.
At the approaching session of the Gen
eral Assembly, which convenes in Colum-
bia next Tuesday, a memorial will bo
submitted asking for an appropriation
from the State treasury of $50, 900 to aid
in tho erection of the South Carolina
building and collecting exhibits of the
States resources. Whom the magnitude
of the enterprise, and it's far-roaching
results, are considered, this is modest
sum for the State to invest, and we trust
the proposed bill may meet with the
unanimous concurrence of both Houses.
In memorial addressed to the mem-
bers of the General Assembly by Presi-
cent f. w. Wagner tho case is stated
strongly when he says:
"Your honorable body is respectfully
asked to appropriate the sum of fifty
thousand dollars for the construction of
State building on the exposition site,
and to aid in proper exhibit of the agri-
cultural and mechanical industries and
tho material resources of the State.
'It is quite unnecessary to do moro
than allude to the great benefits which
will be derived by every portion of our
State from such display of our resources
as will be made. Visitors are expected
not only from every State in the Ameri-
can Union, but from the West Indies,
from South America and from elsewhere
abroad. Capital will be induced to invest
with us and important acocssions will be
made to our population.
Your memorialist further shows that
the project has been successfully brought
to the point of active construction, and
requires at this juncture the fostering
care and substantial help of the State
Government. It's full work cannot be
accomplished, nor can the best results DO
attained, without such help. The neces
sity for State aid in such undertakings
has been recognized in every State in
which expositions have been held In
the South we find, among other instances,
that in 1886 the State of Louisiana appro-
priated ono hundred thousand dollars for
tho New Orleans Exposition, and that in
1897 the State of Tennessee appropriated
fifty thousand dollars for the Nashville
Exposition and for the purpose of erect
ing building and displaying therein the
resources of that State. SO great has
been tho appreciation of such opportu-
mites by South Carolina in tho past that
her Legislature in 1888 cheerfully voted
ten thousand dollars for the purpose of
making an exhibit at tho Now Orleans
Exposition, and again in 1896 the sum of
six thousand dollars for tho purpose of
meeting the cost of State exhibit at the
Atlanta Exposition. The knowledge of
this commendablo action in behalf of our
sister States gives assurance that your
honorable body will now extend it bone.
ficent aid to our own State enterprise"