The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-12
WILL SAVE MONEY THEREBY
Regards It az Certain That Labor
Cost viii BE Greatly In
creased Later.

lana exposition written at the instance
of President Francis stress is laid
on the necessity OF making all pos
| sible haste in the construction OF this
! states building at the big show. The
letter is from G. NJ. Reeves, secretary
on state and territorial exhibits, and
| cautions the Montana commissioner
against the likelihood OF increased
cost of labor which 1t is said may
surely be looked for later, when the
rush will occur. Mr.. Reeves writes
that President Francis recommends
the letting of the necessary contracts
at the earliest possible date, as every
| one of the main exhibits buildings
will be under contract by the 18th OF
the present month.
In conclusion the letter asks that
information be sent at the earliest
convenience as to when Montana's
building will be begun.
What MIR. Mantle Says.
In speaking of the matter to a re-
porter for one of the Butte newspa-
pers Mr.. Mantle said:
THE commission is really just get
ting to work and in consideration OF
the suggestion of Secretary Reeves
we desire to get the plans and speci-
fi~cations in shapesas soon as it is pos
sible to do so.
I'VE desire to keep the expense as
low as possible, though we do not in
tend to allow anything to go by de-
fault because of a lack Of funds in
case the proposition is a worthy one
and within our means
ut is the intention Of the commits
sion and the executive committee to
use as little as possible of the expense
money-drawing on our wi personal
accounts rather than impair the build
ing fund. Every member of the COM
mission entered into this business
with the understanding that it is a
labor of love and not a money making
plOUOS1LlOA lOl IllOSC 11lLC4C0JCu. AME45
1--WE need the disinterested and
! pu~blic-spirited cooperation of the peo-
pie of the state in order to carry the
business through to a successful is
sue.
Their Aid Desired.
1T has occurred to the commits
| sion that the best way to gather ma
i, terials for exhibits is to ask the as
| sistance Of those educated and train
| ed men at the head of the various
| state institutions to aid in the selec-
ton Of the materials.
For instance, in the matter of
agricultural exhibit the officials OF the
state agricultural college could lend
very valuable assistance in selecting
the material.
The same is true Of the educational
exhibit. Montana has always prided
herself, and justly, too, on the interest
she takes in educational matters and
the amount of money that has been
spent In the erection of educational
institutions and the employment OF
| competent educators.
THE idea Of securing the cO-opera-
ton of the heads of the various state
institutions struck the cor1nittee as
being an excellent move and I intend
entering into correspondence with
that end in view.
Matter Of Doubt.
1T has been stated and rumored
that the building would be construct
ed entirely Of Montana materials.
Nov, it is not certain that 1t will
be. Nothing would please the COM
mission more than to have the Mon
tana building made entirely of Mon
tana material and built by Montana
workmen but there is a question as
to the ~practicability Of this propo-
sition.
ut is doubtful whether the labor
organizations Of st. Louis would be
willing to allow such an action. Tie
matter will be looked into. however.
and we will see what q be done
about it."
Concerning the exposition generally
Mr.. Mantle said that the assertion
at ST. Louis is that two such fairs as
the Chicago Columbian exposition
could be placed in the grounds of the
coming one, and there would be still
room for a race rack.
He says the Montana building has
an excellent site. being on an eleva