The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-07-11
OLD SETTLERS DAY.
continued from second page J

OF B, O0O, OOU people. L Wlsn TO call your
attention to fact that is not gener'
ally known among you that
Minnesota has seaport that is mid.
way between the two oceans and it's
imports. and exports exceed those OF
any other port of the United States
We also have another waterway to the
ocean by the way of the Mississippi
river. Our possibilities are great.
But greater than all of these are the
people assembled here. A philosopher
of old when asked what constituted
the state, replied linen. So Mime
sofa with people gathered from every
part of the world will grow into a
great state.
You old settlers ought to enjoy the
present-the changed conditions you
have more to eat and wear, better and
warmer houses than in the old days.
People are coming to our state because
they can get good homes, and as good
or better land much cheaper than
east or south.
want to call your attention to the
magnificent school fund of the state.
What does it mean see the effects
of it in this beautiful city of yours,
and we see it all over the state. AS
Gov Ramsey has said, the educational
system has penetrated every part of it.
The fund has now reached SO, 900, 600
and when all the state lands are sold,
and money from other sources realized
twill reach $50, 900, 900. g. The income
from it is now $500. We owe this
magnificent fund to the wisdom of
Gov. Ramsey who vetoed the PROPOSE
tions of the land sharks. -
The governor then briefly referred to
the finances Of the state and said that
on a.recent visit to Chicago at which
time the governors of several states
were gathered he had heard them as
they gloried in the fact--that the bonds
of their great states had sold at per
cent, and it made him proud. to tell
them that Minnesota did not have to
sell its bonds, and it was able to build
a So, 900, 900 capitol without selling a
bond besides it has $S, 600. 900 worth of
bonds of other states in its strong box
and all it had to do to get the interest
was to clip off the coupons.
The old settlers, he said, had .evey
reason TO congratulate themselves,
and our people should be the happiest
of all. He had heard Gov. Ramsay's
remark comparing it with heaven,
and that it made him wish to be
there, but. Gov. Van SAINT said that
for himself much as he would like to
go there some time, he would prefer
to remain here for the next twenty
five years at least.
He then paid splendid tribute to
women and the work they did in
pioneer days. How lin every age and
on. all occasions they had played an
important part land .played it well.
He related several anecdotes. one.of
which was about the making of the
first flag for the nation. 1t consisted
of Is stripes and ..13 stars ..on field of
blue. Washington he said, - wanted
the stars to be six-pointed, but Betsey
Ross, who made the flag wanted it
FIVE pointed, and five pointed it was.
Woman could have her way them as
well as now. But though a woman
could thus easily knock one of the
points off..from. the stars on the flag. it
was..more than any nation had ever
been able.or ever would be able to &C.
complish.
Following the address of Gov. Van
SAINT, ssGen- Baker /. introduced Rev.
John P. Williamson, d. D. the first
white child horn in this section, hav
ing been born at Lac.qui Parle in
1885, and spent his life as mission
airy among the Indians.
= He said he was most happy to De
here on this occasion. He did not
expect to be here today, but he gave
Mankato credit for its searching pow
ers.and the manner in which it had
looked everywhere for old settlers. He
spoke of his early remembrances of
Minnesota and referred to the reasons
that prompted many to come here in
the early days Those like his parents, |
came to prepare the way for civiliza-
ton If this work which they. entered
upon in 1884 had been started back at
the time Father Hennepin and LIE
Sueur come through here, he believed
that the awful tragedy of later years
to which all old settlers especially |
could only turn back to with a shud- !
der, would have been averted. A
barbarian race cannot be rejuvenated |
in day, and the time from 1884 to
the Indian massacre had not been |
long enough to do the work.
He gave many experiences of the |
early day and told how his father and |
mother travelled up the river, to the
point where they were located. Every |
thing was in crude state, made here
on the spot.
Following Rev. williamson re-
marks Gen. Baker said that he had |
great surprise for old settlers and all |
and would call upon Hon. Daniel
Buck to reveal it, after which they
would adjourn for picnic dinner.
Mr.. Buck then briefly traced the
history Of. IAN old settler and distin-