The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-09-15
hibit from the State Historical society

hfbit from the State Historical society.
I think by all means this exhibit
should be secured. l learn this ever
ing that Mrs. Howey is in the city,
having come here for the purpose OF
meeting with the executive committee,
and l therefore trust that she will be
invited to appear before you.
Display Of Wool.
Commissioner Honorable j. H. Rice
of Fort Benton called upon me a few
weeks ago. 1t will be remembered
that he was appointed to take charge
of the wool EXHIBIT for the commls
sion. He reports to me that nothing
a be done this year, but that he has
made all necessary arrangements for
gathering a complete exhibit of the
very best fieeces in the state out OF
next years crop. He informs me that
he can secure all the f1eeces needed
up to 800. With respect to this wool
exhibit l peg to say that it properly
comes under the agricultural exhibit,
and will therefore fall to Professor
Linfield's care. The wool will, OF
course be washed perfectly clean and
put in an attractive form and will
have to be exhibited in a glass case.
This item must therefore be taken
into consideration in making an esti-
mate of the cost of the agricultural
exhibit. l am in receipt of a letter
from Mr.. Taylor, who is chief of the
agricultural department at st. Louis,
informing me that while the wool ex-
hibit properly belongs to the egricul-
tural exhibit, there is a movement on
foot to have all the wool exhibits gath
cred together at st. Louis. This,
however, has not yet taken definite
form. am also in receipt of a letter
from Ex-Governor B. F. White, a mem
Der of the commission and of the
executive committee, in which he in
forms me that after the meeting of the
executive committee he will go east
and will visit st. Louis. This is a
matter for congratulation upon the
part of the executive comittee, as it
will give him an opportunity to IA
miliarize himself with the conditions
existing there, and will, no doubt,
result in his securing much informa-
ton that will be. valuable to the COM
mittee in the future.
Assistance Is Needed.
l think it would be wise to pass a
fitting resolution for publication in the
press of the state, calling the atten-
ton of the people once more to the
necessity of aiding the commission in
it's labors. 1t may seem like a repe-
tition, but I am convinced that we
cannot appeal too strongly to the gen
eral public in this matter. Our ap-
preparation, while apparently liberal,
will prove inadequate to the demands
which will be made upon it in en-
deavOring to make a creditable display
of our various and splendid
But even were the appropriation twice
as large as it is, we still could not
make a successful exhibit without the
active aid and cooperation of the
public spirited and patriotic citizens
of the state. This earnest and active
assistance is absolutely essential to
a successful outcome of the enterprise
intrusted to our care.
Montana Art.
In my judgment it will be necessary
to name some competent persons to
make selections for the art exhibit at
st. Louis, Doth in the art exhibit
proper and also in the Montana state
building, which latter will afford a fine
opportunity for the display of the
historical and other exhibits of inter-
est. We have some artists in the
state whose work has already COM
manded widespread interest through
out the country. They certainly ought
to be represented in the art exhibit
at st. Louis.
The State University.
beg to state also in this connection
that l have received a letter from DR..
o. J. Craig, president of the state uni
versity of Missoula, requesting that
that institution be assigned some spe-
cial part in the work to be done in
making the exhibits at st. Louis. I
have replied, requesting him to give
his views to the commission, SO that
his request may be considered in some
form The doctor advises