The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-10
IT'S HOMELIKE
| But NOT SNOWY
CRITICISMS ON THE MINNESOTA
WORLDS FAIR BUILDING.
Commissioners Preferred Not to Put
All Their Scant Store of Money Into
the neutrality-suspicious. Having a
Fine Time.
From a staff CORRESPONDENT.

From Staff Correspondent. r.
st. Louis, June S.-Reference has
been made in these dispatches to the |
comparisons that are made between |
the Minnesota and other state build
ings. The general criticism of the
Gopher state building is that it does
not compare favorably with the struc-
lures erected by other states, either
In size, lmpressiveness or in the in
ternal arrangements and appoint |
ments. The whole criticism may be
summed up by saying that the build
ing Is too small and did not cost |
enough. ~
The Minnesota commissioners are
very proud of the building on account |
or its architectural uniqueness and
beauty. .t.
Alphabetically no fault can be
found tou1 with the building, unless it be
that there is nothing about it typical
OF Minnesota. The lines suggest New
Mexico rather than Minnesota. 1t
is certainly one of the prettiest build |
1ngs on the grounds. The Byzantine
style has been used most advan-
tageously This, with the wide doors
that throw the reception room open
to the spacious verandas covered with
awnings and rows of ported flowers
that line the front and sides Of the
building, give it an air of hospitality
that is attractive and we'll suited to the
pected here later on. The commits
! sioners say their sole purpose was
| TO provide a sort of Minnesota club
| house; they did not look upon the
| building as in any sense an exhibition
or advertisement for the state. What
they wanted was comfortable rest
| ing and lounging place for Minnesota
| people at the fair. They therefore
tried to make the building as demo-
cratic and homelike as possible.
1t more money had been spent on
the building, less money would have
been spent on the exhibits and in
view of the fact that the states total
| appropriation was only 100000, the
commissioners thought they would not,
! be justified in spending more than
$4,000 on the building. Other states
nave had much assistance in the way
Of donations Of labor and materials
for their state buildings. Michigan
has building that looks as if it
might cost $4,000, and yet the state
put only $4,000 into it. Contractors
gave services and materials to large
extent. Practically everything that
went into the Minnesota building had
to be paid for.
The architectural beauty of the lit
tie Minnesota building grows on one
from day to day, but the lack of i'm
presslVeness as compared with the
large buildings erected by many other
states In Minnesota's class cannot be
disputed. Those who find fault with
the buildings are those who think that
a large part Of the advertising a state
gets at a Worlds Fair is derived from
the impression the state building
makes on the crowds. Looked at in
this way, the Minnesota building is
certainly not on a scale prOpOrtionate
to. the magnitude of the state and
Its rank among the other states.
Whether the commissioners have
| in ut
money on the state building itself is
to be determined by the exhibits
proper, on which most of the money.
/ was spent: AS the exhibits are dis
IS not an easy matter to determine
how successful they are. That will
be left to another letter. p T.
But in any even if the people of
minnesota are not satisfied with their
building or their exhibits at the
selves. They ought to have appropri-
ated at least $150,000 instead of $780,
| 600. The commissioners have worked
hard and conscientiously; they have
done their best and are not open to
severe criticism because of their iudg-
ment in dividing the appropriation as
they have. ..-
Editors Still numbering.
The Minnesota editors made two
tours or the Pike yesterday, once in
the afternoon and once in the evening.
The doors We're thrown open to them
3 everywhere and they enjoyed the
! sights to the utmost.
Today they went as the guests of
the Minnesota commissioners on an
e automobile tour of the city and parks
A more Industrious crowd of sight
. seers never struck the fair and never
e will. The Minnesota editors get up
, early rubber long and go to bed late
= They are all duly impressed by the
S great fair; it surpasses all expecta-
q lions and the general feeling is that
a week is only about long enough to
1 get fair idea of the geography Of the
r grounds. -.
G. w. Stanton of Appleton, ex-presi-
, dent Of the association, displayed rare
= discretion at the exercises in dedicat-
g ing the state building. He was down
. for set speech on the Minnesota Edi-
: torial association, but when he found
: the program had been delayed an
;, hour he had the presence Of mind to
}. sacrifice his speech and content him
: SELF with a few remarks.
G The luncheon served to members of
1 the editorial party by the Minnesota
e commissioners after the exercises YES
= terday was delicious.
The editorial party has been very
!, we'll treated at the Inside Inn; they
E have all had good quarters, altho on
some days the hotel is already turn
i Ing aw9v npOn1a