The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-01
MANkATO FREE PRESS.
ST. LOUIS IN 1893.
Interesting Facts Anent the Comiog
Centennial.

interesting Facts Anent the COming
Centennial.
Robt. Lamm of this city is in re-
ceipt OF a letter from j. W. Hohmann
OF Minneapolis touching on the CEN
tennial of the Louisiana purchase, to
be held in ST. Louis in 1898, COM
mencing April 3Oth. The Free Press
takes pleasure in publishing the letter
in full:
April 30, 1908, will usher in the CEN
tennial of what is known as the
Louisiana purchase Little probably
did the French dream, nearly CEN
tury ago, that that immense territory
which they sold for no other reason
than to keep it from falling into
British hands, would prove the flower
Of the United States. The most potent
factor in this treaty between France
and this country was Thomas Jeffer-
son, and the purchase of the Louisiana
territory was the master stroke of all
his brilliant achievements.
Some years ago James G. Blaine,
commenting on this as yet uncrowned
diplomatic work, in an address to the
members of the Merchants Exchange
of st. Louis, said: your growth,
gentlemen, is the growth of the Re-
public, but" continuing, Il feel 1
have one reproach against the Trans
Mississippi department. My reproach
to every foot and to every inhabitant
of the territory of Louisiana is, that
on its surface, which represents third
part of the United Statdes, there is
not a statue or lasting monument to
the honor of jefferson. "
This reproach still lives, but will be
short-lived. 1t will die when we do
justice and honor to Jefferson by rails
ing a memorial to him, such as will
forever eradicate any censure which
up to the present time is justly and
undeniably ours.
In the city of st. Louis, the grandest
worlds fair that was ever promoted,
will be held in 1908. According to
proclamation issued on August go,
1901, by the president, the dates for
its opening and closing are May 1st
and December 1st respectively. 1t is
by this means that we are to wipe out
Blaine's righteous reproval. The enor-
nous sum of SIC, 900, 900 will be used
in behalf of this world fair. Of this
sum the city an citizens of st. Louis
have plegded and subscribed $40, 600,
600 and the national government,
thanks to the helping hand of one who
but recently left us, has appropriated
s., 600, 600. The state of Missouri has
voted $1,000, 900. This amount of
course will be used merely for the
purpose of building up and beautify-
ing the fair site, and making such
Improvements in this immediate loca
tion as is deemed necessary. The site
itself will be the western half of For
est park, leaving the fully developed
eastern part untouched.
The Legislatures of the various states
have generously responded to the call
for state appropriations, Illinois has
appropriated $3.50, 900. Chicago and
Kansas City will spend $1,000, 900
each, Kansas $3.50, 600. Colorado $50,
900. Arkansas $4,000 Wisconsin
$50, 000 etc. All have either made an
appropriation or have the matter in
allegiance, with no doubt of what they
will do.
The public at large, through its re-
representatives., has done its share.
The people Individually must do the
rest. 1t is the duty of everyone to put
powerful shoulder to the wheel. Let
Minnesota, the north and northwest,
display its enterprises of every kind,
whether mercantile, manufacturing,
agricultural, it does not matter of
what kind
The field is open to the world, and
it remains for each and every one of
us through this section, to show the
world, that we are not only keeping
pace with its terrific progress, but have
our own little hobbies in which we
can show the world our heels
The principal sections into which
the exposition will be divided will be
as follows: Agriculture, anthropology
and ethnology, athletics and outdoor
sports and games, chemical industries,
civil engineering, colonization, deco
ration, furniture, etc., diversified in
dustries, education and instruction,
electricity, fine arts, food stuffs. for
estry, history, horticulture, liberal
arts, machinery, military and naval,
mining and metallurgy, social econ
omy, textiles, transportation, wild ami
mails.
For any Information write to Walter
B. Stevens, Secretary Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition Company, st. Louis,
Mo.
J. w. Hohmann.