The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-06-20
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1908.
LAFAYETTE AT THE WORLDS FAIR.

aAAN
There is grave danger that Lafay-
cite county may not be properly
represented at the Louisiana Pur-
chase Exposition. The conservative
MissOurians OF the river counties
have never taken to agricultural, hor-
ticultural and other societies Of that
kind designed to perfect organization,
stimulate interest, and exploit re-
sources. Nothing can prevent the
impression upon the Worlds Fair
visitor that the exhibits of the several
states and counties correctly index
their actual relative resources. States
which make a poor showing will be
thought to have very little to show,
and states which make systematic
exhibits Of all their resources will be
credited with more than they deserve.
MissOurians are so we'll satisfied
with their state aud the people Of
this and some of the other banner
counties 50 content with what they
have, that they are likely to neglect
an opportunity to greatly improve
their rating and increase their capital
stock.
Ten years ago at the Chicago
Fair California made a supreme effort.
The state appropriated s4O0, 900 and
the various horticultural and agri-
cultural societies, numbering, mining,
and manufacturing organizations con-
tributed 10 work and material prob
ably two or three times as much
more. No state in this country ever
attempted such an exhibition of
resources and no state ever made a
better business venture. The exhibit
cost but a trifling fraction Of one per
cent of the property value of the
state. But within two years property
values In the state increased forty
per cent. At the Chicago Fair,
California and Illinois divided the
honors and since that time land
values in Illinois have nearly doubled.
1t cannot be said that these increases
in property values were wholly due to
the showing made at the Fair,
especially in the "a of Illinois, but
no q al doubt that the effects
were powerful in that direction.
If Missouri falls short of her oppor-
tunities next year at St. Louis, it will
be a far worse calamity than the
drouth Of 1901. Missouri is more
happily circumstance in respect of
natural resources than any other
state IN the union. There is hardly a
cereal in which we ought to be con.
tent to take second place. The same
may in fairness be SAID of all kinds of
valuable tame grasses. We have
nearly quit raising hemp and tobacco,
but only on account of the difficulty
of getting labor. We should certainly
not tamely yield in the matter OF
either Of these products. We are
extensive producers of both cotton
and flax. We are probably as rich as
any other state in the union in hard
wood and we have hundreds of
thousands of acres of pine and other
soft woods. We have more coal than
Pennsylvania, more lead than Illinois,
unlimited iron ore of every variety,
and supply 81 per cent Of the worlds
zinc. The Oldest silver mine in the
United States is in Missouri. Our
quarrieS can show every kind OF
building rock from the hardest granite
TO the softest sandstone. Marble OF
endless varieties, onyx of every shade.
the whole flint family, and the finest
cement rock, Oil and asphalUum may
be added to the list of minerl.
resources. In live stock we have
the finest herds of every breed.
The Missouri mule is known in parts
OF the world where Missouri coal anC
Missouri corn have never been heard of
And yet while in quality of re.
sources Missouri is unsurpassed anc
in variety u%uapproached there II
grave danger that Missouri may moi
be worthily represented at the great
est Of expeditions and one held within
her own gates, 1t is simply impos
sible to buy an exhibit. If all tn,
revenues Of the state were devoted tt
the purpose it would not avail t,
prepare a worthy exhibit unless Thu
people took the matter to heart anc
lent enthusiastic aid. Every mai
who has anything Of superior charac
ter illustrative Of the resources o
the state shouid nromntlv rotif