The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1903-08-01
A Trip to Omaha and the
Black Hills.


National Editorial Association,
composed Of newspaper writer's
and publishers, was held in the
city of Omaha, Neb., on July 8-11,
and was attended by delegates
from nearly every State in tho
Union, many of them being ac-
companied by one or more ladies,
the whole party numbering be-
tween four and five hundred.
Louisiana was entitled to eight
delegates, but only five or six
we're present, the entire delega-
ton consisting of eight, viz: Col.
John Dymond and daughter, of
New Orleans; Miss G. Callahan
and mother, of Washington; W.
E. Hamilton, of Shreveport; C..
E. Schwing, of Plaquemine, and
L. A. Sandoz and daughter, of
Opelousas. After leaving Omaha
the first six mentioned visited
Salt Lake City and the Yellow
Stone Park, and the two latter
went with a party of about fifty
to Deadwood and Hot Springs,
in South Dakota, afterwards Wis
iting Denver, Colorado Springs,
Manitou, etc.
Leaving Alexandria on Sunday
morning on the St. Louis, Iron
Mountain & Southern Railway,
after a pleasant evening spent in
our progressive sister town on
Red river, the next morning
found us in the great Union
Depot of the Worlds Fair city,
where tWenty-six railroads de-
posit their passengers, and where
there is room for thirty two
trains at one time. This magnif-
icent structure was completed less
than nine years ago, and cost al
most as much as the famous Eads
bridge, in the same city, which is
6,220 feet long and cost over six
and half million dollars. 1t is
yeritable human beehive, being
thronged with passengers and Wis
itors day and night from one
years end to another.
Our party having been rein
forced by Delegate Schwing, of
Plaquemine, q trip was made to
the exposition grounds, where
busy preparations are being made
for the greatest fair in the worlds
history: AS our readers know,
this fair will celebrate the one
hundredth anniversary of the
Louisiana Purchase, an event
second to no other in its import
ance to this country. For fifteen
millions of dollars President JEFF
ferson acquired from France in
1903 territory comprising mil
lion square miles, and out of
which has been carved II States
and two Territories, now contain
ing 5,000,0 900 inhabitants, or one
fifth of the total population of the
Union. One hundred years age
it's population was about 10000
while its area exceeded that OF
the original thirteen States.
There are 1910 acres within the
six miles Of exposition fence
There are fifteen great exhibit
palaces and many other large
buildings. In the palace of trans
portation, which covers fftee1
acres, there are four miles of tract
for railway exhibits, besides spac'
for automobiles, bicycles, vehicle
of all kinds, and an extensive ma
rine display. And this is only on
building, and not the largest, 70
the palace Of agriculture is fou
acres larger, covering nineteel
acres. Three of the great pal
aces-electricity, education ant
varied industries-are finished
and the landscape work aroun'
them is almost complete. Hun
dreds of large trees, IL to Is in
, ches in diameter, have been sue
cessfully transplanted, and eve
now throw a grateful shade upo
the asphalt walks and beautifr
lawns that surround them. Bu
most of them are far from con
plete, while many of the Stat
: buildings, Louisiana's among th
} number, have not been begur
and it looks as though there wi
yet be much to do after April 81
: 1904-the date of the opening
/ for the five thousand busy worker
who are rushing things at the
top-most speed.
The afternoon was spent
viewing the great city of 10000
!, inhabitants and visiting Shaw
9 Garden, one of its most famol
0 show places, established in 185
and added to every year. until
: collection of trees, shrubs al
: flowers from every cline NO
: seems complete. 1t is drea
: lof beauty, and in the cool of t!
evening an ideal founging pfae
ITO be continued next week.